The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-07
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John Ledbitter never entered Mr.. Ster-
hngs house bat once after the committal
OF the crime, and that was to resign Selma
Cieeve-to release her from the tacit en-.
| gagement that existed between them.
However, he found there was little necessi-
" for his doing it, Selma released herself.
lie arrived at the Hill House for this pur-
pose at an inopportune moment, for his ri.
sal-as he certainly aspired to be-was
there before him.
TWAS Sunday, and when the farmer and
his family got home from church in the
morning, they found Walter Grame there,
who had ridden over from Higham. He
received an invitation to remain and par.
take OF their roast griskin and apple-pie.
Fig meat fed at Farmer Sterling's was not
to be desPised neither was apple.pie made
by Anne. After dinner, the farmer took
his pipe, his wife lay back in her cushioned
arm chair on the opposite side of the fire,
and while Anne presided over the wine
cowslip and port. bottle of the latter
decanted in compliment to their guest
he watched Selma Cleeve. The conversa
ton turned upon john Ledbitter and the
crime.
81 do not see how ho could have accom-.
plished H." exclaimed Mrs. Sterling. "un-
less he stopped the mail cart and undid the
bag in the road"
"Well. what was there to prevent him
doing So" responded the farmer.
"But such a deliberate theft" repeated
Mrs Sterling. " can understand at least
! think | car-being over,aken by mo.
ment of temptation; but man who could
stop his horse in public road, unlock the
box, and unite the bag for the purpose of
robbing It, must be one who would stand
at no crime o. a similar natnre"
why, that's just what told him" cried
the farmer, "whcn he come TO me a, Iiy-
ham, wanting to excuse himself. aud
make believe he WIS innocent. Whats
gone with the letter and money said, III
you have not got itf" And that shat up
his mouth; to- all he could bring ont was,
that he wished Ire knew wha. had gone
with it,
All, broke in Walter Crane, Ledbitte,
went down amazingly with some folks. but
! scented the rascain him. And Hiuham
never noticed, till now, the singularity Of
Ills ha'ing taken to driving mailcart'
The farmer took his pipe from his lips.
AS how, Master Walter.'
Did any ore before ever hear of a gen.
tleman--as Ledbitter may be termed Eac.
cepting a menial Office, only suited TO n
postboy, under the plea of keeping himself
from idIeness? Trash! 1t is the opinion
in Higham that the robbery was planned
when he took the place
What, to crib that same Identical letter
of mineF gasped the farmer, laying his pipe
on his knee, while startled look of dsmay
rose to Anne Sterling's face.
Not yours in particular, Mr.. Sterling.
But probably yours happened to be the
first letter that presented itself TO my gen
tleman, as belring an enclosure worth the
risk
I The vilIain!-the double faced rascalr
uttered the faimer. That's putting the
matter-and him ioo--in new Kghlr
At that moment Molly entered the room
with some silver spoons, large and small,
and shut the door behind her.
It's him. she abruptly said, coming up
to the table, with a face Of terror. He
says he wants TO sec Miss Selma
'WhoF demanded every body, in breath
That dreadful Ledbitter. He come u
sneaking in at the kitchen door-uot the
front way, or you'd seen him from this
w'nder, but right across the fold.yard
was took all Of heap, and axed if He'd walk
INTO the parlor, for | was afeared on him.
No. says he. I'll not 90 in. Is Miss
Cleeve therel'
Yes, she is said, and missis and Miss
Anne, and Master, and Mr.. Walter Crane,
and Joan's close at hand, a skimming the
cream For thought he should know as
| warn't alone in the place, if he should be
come to take anything. Molly said he
quite humbiy, so in and ask Miss Cleeve
IT she will step out and speak a word with
me- So | grabbed up the spoons, which,
by ill-luck, was lying on the table, and
away come
Miss Cleeye rose from her chair.
selinaP said Mrs. Sterling, in reprov-
ing tone.
Aunt was her rejoinder, Il have also a
word to say to him.
But, my dear! Well, well, just for a
minute, if you must. But remember, Sell.
ma, we cannot again admit Mr.. Ledbitter to
the house,
I'D as lieye admit the public hangman,
roared out the farmer
Scarcely had Selma Cleeve left the room,
when Walter Crane darted after her. He
drew her, with the hand of authority, it
seemed, into the best parlor, the door OF
which, adjacent to their sittingroom, stood
open.
! Miss Cleevel--Selina, you will mover
| accord an interview 10 this mani
Yes she answered. For the last time.
Good Heavens, what infstuatioDl Don't
| Won heliara In his n1iIfr