The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-07

VI
y good!y company we,e vending their
way to Layton church, for the fairest flower
IN Layton parish was that day TO be taken
out OF It, stranger, who happened 10
be passing through Layton, stepped into
the church with the crowd.
She is handsome bride he observed
to farmer, who stood in the porch, look
ing in. 1t was Farmer Blount
'Ay, she be that. Some Of our younllers
have been mad after her this three or four
year, but Master Crane have walked off
with her at last lie amt bad looking nei
ther, for man
Extremely handsome, think. Who is
ler
The postmaster Of Higham, o. his father
was afo'e him. The OLD man died a wear
ago, and left a goodish bit Of property be.
hind HIM, but II turned out that Master
Walter there had anticipated his share; and
how he kept his creditors quiet till the old
one went oft was Il matter Of wonder. But
he has sowed his wild oats now they say.
aud unless be had, take it Miss Clceve
would have seen him further alore she'd
married him. She's well Oh. for her fathers
dead also, and there's fifteen hundred pounds
told do"n with her this day
Hes lucky dog
Its sheer luck with linn, tor he varu't
her first fancy. Young Ledbilter courteI
her at one Time, and she Was mighty fond
OF him. But lie run his head into trouble
-robbed the Layton mailbag. OF course,
W decent young woman could stand that.
though he slipped out Of a prosecution.
Since then he has been starving abou; the
country, thankful TO any farmer who would
give him days work. He's on my grounds
now
The stranger gave low whistle, forget
ting lie was IN the porch of a church Is il
moi hazardous to employ thief, oven rs an
out door laborerF
We'll, you see, the Ledbitters was so
much respected in the county, he and all,
TIL this came to light, SO that folks can't
help feeling for him, for tue sake O the
lamiy. There never was a breath known
again him alore, and nothing has come out
again HIM siuce-a likelier, steadier fellow
than lie was, I'd never wish to set eyes on.
But, law bless ye, sir, lie have got his tread.
mil upon him, il any one ever had, for
there amt a mad dog in the parish as is
SHE'D at more than he
The stranger nudged the speaker, for the
bridal party were returning from the altar.
Mr.. Walter Crane and his bride, no Ion
ger Selma Cleeve, walked first, next came
Anne Sterling with her father, and several
friends followed. The two young ladies
We're dressed alike, in lavender si,k-the
bride wearing orange blossoms ia her white
bonnet; Anne, lilies Of the ySley. They
brushed ihes stranger as they walked through
The porch, SO that he-to use his own ex.
preston had good stare ut them.
She's a regular beauty he remarked to
Farmer Bount; but for my choice give me
The one that follows her, tho bridesmaid
The first has got temper of her own. OF
never read an eye yet; the last has goodness
written on her face Farmer Blount orunt
ed iort an inaudible reply. None were
more aware OF Anne SterIing's goodness
than be: he had proposed to her in secret the
night Of the ball, three years before, and
she had refused him.
Bat another person was also looking on
The bridal party-a man in n smock frock
looking through gap in the hedge,
rom an obscure corner Of the churchyard.
II was John Ledbilter. Oh, what posi-.
ton was this unfortunate mau'N Guilt
does, indeed, bring its own punishment
as all Layton, and Higbam too, had repeat.
ed, with reference 10 him, hundreds of times.
Hunted down by his own class in lie, con.
demned 10 labor for common sustenance
with the hands who TILED the ground-lor
in any responsible situation, in an office. or
where money wou,l have passed through
his hands, mono would trust him-there he
stood, marked man, watching her, whom
be had onco SO passionately loved, led forth,
the bride OF aDother. A bitter curse rose
in his heart on that hour when be had first
ascended the maiIcart TO drive it TO Hig.