Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-05-19

be comfort to ME, whatever came. SO
turned my steps in that direction, and
kept on until night fell. Then, faint and
weary, I lay down under some bushes and
fell asleep.
'Out of that sleep I was aroused by
shot and the clutch Of strong hands,
Men stood about me. One shouted my
name. They held me fast and bound me.
L struggle, but it was no use. Num-
bers were against my single strength.
What are you Robbers ? I've moth
ing worth the taking I said, at last;
when standing still. saw faces | knew
about me-these of the farm hands at my
old masters.
'Yoa know well what we want, Jack
Mariomc,' said one. If he did speak an
i'll word at last, he was good man in the
main, AMI you'd worked for him three
years You might have answered him as
you liked, but to try to murder him was
too horrible. We didn't think it,
Murdered = cried. Is old master
murdered ? Why lay it to me ? swear |
never hurt him
If he is not quite dead it's none of your
fault cried another man. Don't perjure
yourself-look at the blood on your cloth
es.'
The blood from my hand was in blots
and smears all over my vest. | felt my
heart turn sick when took heed Of it.
Master will clear me, said.
He said it was YOU SAID one Of the
men. AT least, he nodded Yes, when
we asked him if you did it,
Then old master was not right in
his mind, | said. He'd never be against
me-
After that I heard the whole. Master
had paid the men and dismissed Mark
He had only said, All right Tn tired
of work, and had eaten his breakfast
there, and left in sight of all. But [ was
gone and when they found that master
who was always up at cock-crow, did not
rise to dine, they opened his door and
found him on the floor senseess-they
thought dead, at first. lie had been
robbed fhis pocket book, a watch, and
an old-fasho1ed pin he always wore in
his handkerchief -the painted head of
lady, set around with what he used to tell
US were pearls-an ornament older than
his grandfather.
They found nothing about me of course;
but the quarrel and my cut hand made
tn case hard against me.
The master dying, as they thought
him, had been able to speak at odd times
and said that to the best of his belief, |
was his assiant 1t was dark, to be sure,
but in the struggle he felt that the man
wore cap, and was the only hand who
had anything but straw hat. Besides. he
came FROM the inner passage and the
stairs, and did not break in through door
or windows as a burglar would have done.
And I was the only missing member of
the household So laid in prison with
this awful charge upon me, until they
knew whether master would live or die,
and my greatest grief was for Peggy.
Keep it from her. begged them until
she must know it,
Aud they were kind AMI did it; and
her letters were sent to me in prison. 1t
was weary time, aud the one drop of
comfort in it came with those lett ers.
had FIVE from her when, at the end of one,
came this
Dear jack never hide anything
from you, and not to boast of my con-
quests. thing I'd neaver do, but just to
let you know that I keep no secrets to
myse!y, 1 must tell you what has happen
ed.
Our master has hired man, lag
fellow that dislikcd at first sight, Mark
Hulker by name and what should he do
but take notion to lne, Or pretend to do
so, trying his best to set with me after
work hours, and following me about
whenever | had holiday Then he
tries to make me like him by telling me
how rich he is. Four hundred he has
laid by, he says, and has a gold watch
like gentleman. The other Sunday l
was dressed for church, and up he walks.
why Peggy says he, you've no pin
to your collar?'
Said I, L can't afford money for 6nery.
Then says he, How lucky it is that
I've one to give you,' aud he pulls pin
from his pocket.
Jack. I couldn't help looking at it. 1t
was lady's portrait, with hair all white
though she was so young-like an old
woman's. He said it was powdered as
they did in old times A.; and pink dress
and all about tiny stones, and no
bigger than silver quarter, altogether
How be came by such thing, goodness
knows! But Of course wouldn't have it.
SAYS he Now do take it, Peggy. L
want to keep company with you, and now
you know the truth
so says : L neither want your COM
pany nor your presents, and please
remember that hereafter
1T was rough, [ know, but [ hate him
so. And was none too rude, for he
bothers me now as much as ever.
Though you know if he were ever SO good
and handsome, am always your own
Peggy, and think of no one else
sWhen I read that you could have
knocked me down with a feather. The
pin was the one old far.ncr had lost, |
knew land it was Mark who was the thief
and who had tried to murder Linn.
L sent for the lawyer who was to take
my side, and who had all along believed
me innocent. gave him the letter.
It's Gu masters PIN, | said. what
shall do, sir 2
And he said, You can do nothing. ny
poor fellow, but wait and hope. | have
o clew now, and I'll follow it
Then he went away and afterwards
heard what he did. He went down to