Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-19

D
we didn't think it."
Murdered" :" | cried, "is old master
murdered? Why lay it to me- | swear
never hurt him
"lf he is not quite dead it is none of
your fault" cried another man. Don't
perger yourself; look at the blood on your
clothes" The blood from my hand was
in blots and smears all over my vest.
I feel my heart grow sick when l think
of it.
Master will clear me- | said.
"Hc says it was you said one Of the
men. AT least he nodded yes when We
asked him if you did it,"
"Then the old master was not right in
his mind" I said. He'd never been
against me-"
After that, I heard the whole. Master
had paid the men and dismissed Mark
He had said 'al right, | am tired Of
work : and had eaten breakfast there,
and left in sight of all. But Twas gone;
and when they found that master who
was always up at cock crow, did not rise
at nine, they opened his door and found
him senseless-they thought him dead at
first He had been robbed of his watch
pocket book, and an old fashioned pin he
always wore in his handkerchiet-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 around me, of
course, bu, the quarrel and my cut hand
made the 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 knowledge and be-
lief, Twas the assailant. II was dark,
to be sure, but in the struggle he felt that
the man wore a cap, and Twas the only
one who had anything but straw hat.
Besides he came from the inner passage
and down stairs and did not break in
through door or window, as a burglar
would have done. And | was the only
missing member of the household, So |
lay in prison with this awful charge upon
me, until they knew whether master
would live or die; and my greatest grief
was Peggy.
Keep it from her." | begged them, un-
til she must know it."
And they we're kind and did it; and
her letters were sent TO me in prison. 1t
was weary time, and the one drop Of
comfort in it came from those letters. |
had had five from her, when, at the end
of one came this:
DEAR JACK | never hide anything
from you, and do not want to boast Of
conquests, thing | never do but just to
let you know | keep no secrets to myself,
| must tell you what has happened Our
master has hired man, lazy fellow,
that | disliked at first sight. Mark Hulk.
er by name, and what should he do but
take notion to me, or pretend TO do so,
trying his best to sit up with me after his
work hours, following me about whenever
got holiday Then he tries to make
me like him by telling Inc how ric he his.
Four hundred dollars he has laid by, he
says, and gold watch like gentleman.
The other Sunday | was dressed Tor church
and up he walks. Why, Peggy says
he, you have no pin for your collar" -
Said |, II cannot afford money for fnery.'
Then said he, chow lucky it is that I've
one TO give you," and pulls pin from his
pocket. It WIS lady's portrait, with hair
all WHITE, the0gh she was young, like an
old woman's. He said it was powdered,
as they done it in old times and n pink
dress, and no bigger than silver quarter
altogether. How he came by such Il
thing goodness knows But Of course |
would not have it. Says he, Now do
take it, Peggy. want 10 keep company
with you, aud now you know the truth.
Says | II want neither your company 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 yet as much as ever
Though you know if he were ever so good
and handsome, am your own Peggy, and
think of no one else.
When | read that you might have
knocked me down with feather. The
pin was the one the old farmer had lost
and | knew it, and Mark was the thief
who had tried to murder him.
sent for the lawyer who was to take
my side, and who had all along believed
me innocent. gave him the letter.
ITS old masters PIN" said |. "What
shall l do sir ?''
And he said-"You can do nothing,
mr. poor fellow, but wait and hope. [
have clue"
Then he went away, and afterwards |
heard what he did. He went down to the
place where Peggy lived and took her out
of danger of the eaves-droppers, and told
her all that had happened. The brave
girl trembled and wept, but she spoke out: /:
"He's innocent" she said. "I'd not be,
lieve him guilty If an angel told me he
was"
And the lawyer said out of his heart,
though she was but serving lass:
"He's worthy Of you, Peggy Grey, | do
believe, and that's saying good deal."
Then he asked her about the pin, and
the two had a long talk. 1t ended in
Peggy bursting into tears, and promised
to do anything and everything he asked,
if he would tell me why she did it.
! lie told me afterwards, and it was
hard work for little Peggy with her honest
heart. Bless her! She tnrned herself
around, made different creature OF her
self, and she tried hard to make MIR.
Uultar think sbe had been coauettin0 all