The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-31

\ merry scene it was that night al Farm.
er SterIings's. 1t was the custom at Lay
ton and IN the adjoining PARISHES, for the
wealthy farmers 10 hold an annual enter
tainment. which were distinguished, one
and all, by great profuson OF dainties, n
hearty welcome and thorough enjoyment.
Dancing was always kept up till daylight
winter time, remember-then came
breakfast and then the guests went home.
At Farmer S!erljng's this party had been
omitted for the last two wears, in comse
qucncc OF Mr>. Stering's precarious state Of
health bR; now, rs She WAS somewhat bet.
ter, 1t was renewed agoju.
The ball began with a COUNTRY dance.
always the iirai at these meetings, TIE Vi.
car of Layton opouiu. il with Mis-, Sterling
He had Just been presented to tie living
very poor o.c, by the way-and rs yet
knew bat :cw Of his p@i;shionerS personal.
Iy, WAS young mau, and eujoycd the
dancing aN much as anybody. Next to
them stood young M. Crane a~d Selma
CIccyc ty far the hauisomc>t couple in
the room. Mrs. Sterling sat In an ana
chair by the fire looking pale and delicate,
and by her side sat the new Wears mother,
who had come to Layton TO keep house for
linn. The farmer, rs he had threatened.
was in the kitchen, smoking his pipe, knot
OF elderly friends round him, doing the
like, and discussing the state of the mar
kcts; but as they were a.. in full dress. the
farmer included, (blue frock coats. drab
breeclcs and sai,ers, and crimson necklc,.) J
their presence IN the bali room might with
certainty be looked !or by-and-by.
/; was nine o'clock when John I.edLit-
ter entered. Some OF the young farmers
nudged each other. Hes come to take
the shine out of Crane" they whispered.
lie dill take the slime out of him; for
though young Crane could boast OF his
good looks and fine figure, he was not
halt SO popular rs john Leibitter. lie made
his way al once to Mrs Sterling, and spoke
with her little while. He had a pleasant
voice, and the accent aud address Of "a gen
tIeman. Mrs. Cooper, the clergyman's mo-
thcr, looked after him as he moved away to
take lis place in the dance. She inquired
who he was
"Mr. John Ledbitter," said Ammo Ster.
ling.
81 thought-dear me, wLat an ex.raor.
dnary likeness" uttered the Reverend Mr..
Cooper, following John with all his eyes
'how like that gentleman is 10 the man
who drives the mail cart | was noticing
the man this morning rs he drove into
Layton, he appeared to manage his horse
SO sklulIy"
John ledbitter is the driver of the mail
cart, jnterposcd Mr.. Walter Crane, draw
ing himself up.
81 must explain it to YOU" said Mrs.
Sterling, noting the perpleXed look of the
clergyman. "Old Mr.. Ledbi,tcr, Johns
father. was an auctioneer and land agent
III Lligham. lie had the best business
connection in all the country, but his large
family kept his profits down, for ho reared
them expensiyely and never laid by-so
that when be died they had to shift for
themselves. John, this one, who was the
third son, had been brought up an agricu.
turst and obtained post rs oy6rIooker
and manager TO tue estate Of gentleman
who was then abroad However, the own
or was embarrassed, the property got sold,
and John lost his situation. This was
how long ago, Anne.'
About four months, mother"
"fes, and he had it about three years.
Well, poor John could get into nothing
One promised him something, aud another
promised him something, but no place
seemed TO drop in. One day he had come
over TO see Sir Godfrey Adams on business
for his two brothers in uigham, who are
auctioneers now, and was standing by the
post office here, when the driver of the mail
cart ieh down in fit, just as he was about
TO start, and died. There WAS nobody to
drive the cart back to IIigham, the after.
noon was flying on, and the chances were
that the Layton and Wexford letters would
lose the post So John LeIbitter said he