The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-29
some time. She flew to Frank for

some time. She flew to Crank for
all explanation.
'Bravo!' he answered, when he
had read the note. Bravo like
tic fellows spunk. lie forgivcs the
inestimable pleasure of seeing you,
Jane, because when he refused to
join the boys i'll jubilee after the
party, | told him he was afraid Of be-
ing a drunkard, like his father
You were naughty said Jane, in
a tone which, had not tho brother
been flushed with wine, lie would
long have remembered. 1T was un-
worthy of my brother; l would not
have come here tonight, if had
been i'll MIR. Browns place
'To be sure you would not; you
and he would make good match.
But yonder's party drinking bump
crs to nc; | cannot waste time with
you, Jane
Frank was gone to join his wine
drinking companions. AS she saw
him drink glass after glass, Jane
thought Of what she had once said to
Peleg about doing something for her
folks some day, and she pressed clo-
ser the little note she had that even
ing received, andwishcd.
When Peleg had taken supper
with his mother, and many times re-
fused TO .contilc TO her the cause of a
manifest depression of spirits he
walked down into the village, found
his way to his little room back of the
store, and, taking up an engaging
book, read and thought, and calcula-
ted, till a late hour. 1t was after
midnight when he began to rctrace
his steFs to the cottage. AS he
sauntercd slowly through q portion
Of the village sparsely inhabited, he
observed man lying across the di-
lapidated steps Of an untenated build
ing. He stopped to look at the IN.
fortunate tysgae ascertain wheth.
er he was icatcd, or had been
physically Sa by ruffians, when
something faaSssis .ssAaut the dress
arrested his s,s!aac dragged
the apparently lifcftss body towal ds
hotel few rods distant, and by
the light reflected from the bar-room,
was able to discover that he had
found--as it were, dead in the street
the only son Of his employer. His
birth-night spree had been too much
fer Frank Pridorc: he had entered
mantulIy upon the year of his najori-
ty.
Pelcg was gricvcd and bcwil,lercd
-Srievcd to find young Pridorc in
such situation, and bcwillercd in
respect to his duty towards him and
the family. He forgot all the harsh
words Frank had said to him, and
determined that he would endcavcr
to get him to his fathers house with
out calling such assistance as might
make public the young mans degra-
dation. lie applied at the hotel, and
succeeded in arousing the ostlcr,
who: for half a weeks wages, con.
sented TO assist Pcleg. Frank was
borne home. When they approach
cd the prilorc mansion. Pcleg dis
missed his help and knowing the
appointments Of the house, he ava.
kencd q servant without aronsing the
family, and told him that he wished
to see Mr.. Pridorc on important bust
ness, and that he must be awakened
without alarming any other member
of the household. The servant was
faithful---hc had often discharged
such dutics--aud Mr.. Pridoro soon
met Pclcg, who conducted him to
Frank, and explained the circum,
stances under which lie had been
found.
| Tho services of the servant who
had awakened Mr.. Pridore, were
further required, and Frank was Sc.
crctly conveyed into the house, and
silently placed III his own bed. When
Pclcs departed from Mr.. Pridorc,
the latter said:
4 am deeply indebted to You for
your discretion; neither Miss or Mrs.
Pridorc must krow word of this
Il have only done ny duty, sir,
returned Pclcg: Il should respect
you" feelings
Mr.. Prdorc wished Frank had
fallen into the care Of any young
man Of the village, rather than Pelc 2
Brown. As he stood by the bedside
Of his drunken son, he thought of the
time when he knew John Brown,
who died Il drunkal7l, to be wealthy
and respectable man; he thought
of the Christmas day Pelcg sawed
wood in his yard, and he reflected on
the encouragement he then gave his
now drunken boy, to take freely OF
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