Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-07-31

and down the stairs, and did not break in
through door or window as 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 for
Peggy.
Keep it from her. 1 begged them,
until she must know
"And they were kind and did it; and
her letters were sent to me in prison. 1t
was Il .Scary time, and the one drop of
comfort in it came with those letters. /
had had five from her when, at the end
of one came this:
| "DEAR JACK: Incvcr hide anything
from you, and not to boast of my con-
quest thing I'd never do, but just to let
you know that keep no secrets to myself,
must tell you what has happened.
"Our master has hired IL man., lazy
fellow, that | disikcd ut frs sight, Mark
Hulkcr by name, and what should he do
but take asnotinn to me, or pretend to do
so, trying his best t., sit UP with me after
work hours, and following me about
wherever | go of Il holiday. Then he
trics to make nc like him by telling me
how rich he is. -Four hundred dollars lie
has laid by, he says, and has II gold watch
| like Il gentc'aan. The other Sunday l
was dressed for church, AMI uphc walks.
"NVhy Peggy, says he, you've no pin
to your collar
said i, 4 can't Afford money for
fincry.
\ hen lie, ilSsowshow 1ucl>y it is
fitliat Eve one 10 give YOU and he pulls Il
! pin from his pocket
slack, couldn't hclploo ing ut it, 1t
was Il lady's portrait, with hair all white,
though she was so yomng-likc an old
1 woman's. He said it WAS powdered II.
| thcy.did it i'll o!d times and II pink dress
and all about tiny stones, and no big
gor t''an silver quarter, altogether
How he came by such II thing, goodness
knows! But OF course wouldn't have
| il. Says he; 'Now,lo take it, Peggy
| want to keep company with You, and
now you know the truth
so says | Il want neither your com
Ipany noryour presents, and please rcmcm-
Der that hereafter
al was rough, / know, but l hate him
/ 80. And was none too rude, for he
bothcrs ne vet rs much ns ever. Though
YOU know il he were ever 20 good and
handsome | am always your own Peggy,
and think of'no one else"
"Whcn | read that YOU could have
Knocked me down with feather The
pin was the one the old farmer had lost,
knew, and it WAS Mark who was the
thief, and who had tried to lnur,lcr him.
81 sent tor the lawyer who WAS to take
my side, and who had all along believed
me innocent. gave him The letter.
cts old masters pin said. What
shall do, sir?'
"And he said-You can do no.hng,
my poor fellow, but wait and hope.
have clue now and I'll follow it,
"lhcn he went away, and afterwards
heard what lie did. lie went down to
the place where Peggy lived, and took
her out Of danger Of caves. droppcrs and
told her all that had happened. The
brave girl trcmblcd and wept, but She
spoke out.
Hes innocent she said. I'D not
believe him guilty ifan angel told me he
was
"And the lawyer said, ont of his hcart,
though she WAS but u serving lass
"1ic's worthy Of you, Peggy Grey, l
do believe, and that is saying good
deal
"'rhcn he asked her about the pin, and
the two had II long talk. 1t ended in
Peggy bursting in'o tears, and promis-
ing to do anything and everything he
asked, if he would but tell me why she
did it.
Gle told me afterwards, and it was
laal work fer !.ttio Peggy syiti hey l.cs,,