Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-05-06
The Grange Tragedy.

Peggy Lunt was the housekeeper's daugh-
ter up to the Grange pretty back-eye lass,
red Tipped and rosy checked, and the most
desperate little eoquette that ever drew
breath
She might have. married over and over
again, and done well but she liked to lirt
too well, and to keep poor Win Mercer in
state Of tormenting suspense.
| Will was a fine, handsome fellow, well to
do in the word-he was the village black.
smith--and he loved pretty wayward Peggy
with all his heart.
He was faithful to her through all her fol-
lies, aud patient with her as well, though she
tried his patience terribly
He bore with her dancing with this one,
smiling on that, whispering with the other. to
his neglect and exclusion; he knew that at the
bottom the girl had good enough heart, and
he believed loved him.
But one day gallant came to the village,
who bade fair to distance all competitors for
| Peggy's favor, even with VIII Mercer.
The stranger was very good looking hand
somer than Will and dressed good deal fin
err; but he had black look about him, and
a pair of scowling brows that made some
folks speak i'll of him. His name was Dick
llareton and he seemed to have more money
than most folks thereabout.
There was no end to the fine presents he
made pretty Peggy, gay scarfs, and finger
rings, and new gowns, till it was no wonder
the head of the girl was turned by that, if
nothing else; for she was vain as she was
pretty, liked to deck herself out in fnery as
well as woman ever did in this world
Hareton had a tongue in his head, too, and
he told Peggy such tales of her good looks
and his devotion, and the sort of match she
ought to make, that she scarcely knew herself,
and quite cut Will Mercer in her silly vanity
and ambition.
| Will was heartbroken, but he would let no
one say word to him against his tickle mis-
tress, and went on loving her just. the same
as ever.
Village folks will gossip, and some said
one thing and some another, and nobody
thought Peggy Lunt would do well by mar
rying him.
Peggy would hear nothing against him, and
as her mother had always humored her she
had il all her own way now, and her way was
whatever Dick said
The Grange was a very fine country seat,
about mile from the village. The Loisers.
father and son, had owned it long time, and
being steady sort of family, with no dissi-
pated youngsters or idle spendrifts among
them, the property had accumulated from
year to year till they were the richest people
to be found for score of miles round.
The old squire was a prudent man. and
though robberies were scarce enough affairs
in that part of the country, seldom had much
money by him, for fear of something of the
kind
But just as the spring months were coming
in, he WIS t0lsou III, and as he would not let
any one else take the money to the bank, it
lay in the house in a strong box in his bed
room. He seemed anxious about il and ex-
pressed considerable desire for the return of
his son, who was absent at the time, that he
might consult with him.
One Saturday night, when the squire lay
the sickesi and Mrs Lunt was taking care
of him, Peggy had sat up very late sewing
on some fnery for the morrow's wear. OF
the other servants the squire's chief man had
gone on some business'of his masters, and
Bob the coachman, was supposed to be
asleep in his room.
Peggy, her work done, had begun to doze
in her chair, when she was aroused by loud
cries IRON the upper part OF the house, where
the sick squire was. At first she was too scar
cd to stir, but recognizing her mothers voice
she started running to 60 to her,
In the upper hall she was met by man who
stopped her roughly and knocked cut of her
hand the light she carried.
Peggy struggled violently, and managed
to slip from his grasp and run towards the old
squires room, which stood open and had
light burning.
But what sight was that which met the
poor girls eyes. Mrs. Lunt lay across the
threshold still struggling in the agonics of
death, her throat gashed quite across ii, and
she covered with blood. The squire pre-
sented the same bloody picture upon the
bed, which was torn and disarrsnged, as
though the old man had struggled hard for
his life. The strong box was out in the mid
die of the floor, and the wretch who was try
to wrench it open she recognized As Bob the
coaehman