Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-12-19

y
That night, lis young wife
dreaming innocent dreams, Guy
Haughton was arrested for forgery
The stern arm of the law drew him
from the delights of his home to
the cell ola prison.
1t was a direful day. No light
could be seen TO lift the pail of
darkness.
A check had been presented at
one Of the principal banks of the
city signed by name which prov
ed to be falsely rendered. 1t had
/ been received from Mr.. Haugh-
toms gardener, Lon Mackenzie,
and Lon, on being searched for,
was discovered missing.
In the night, but few hours
previous TO the arrestof Mr. Haugh-
ton, he had left his home, a cot
!age on the sandy banks OF the
river.
But no one believed that the
young gardener Was guilty. The
trick was to bold, of too great
magnitude for the work OF an un-
educated man He had been tool
of others-of that sharp, brilliant
master Of his they said. And with
the notes found in Mr.. Haughton's
office-desk, who could doubt it ?
Only Lon had discovered his
danger and ran away.
SO the community said, but Flint
the detective, knew better. He
came and stationed himself on the
outskirts of the city, and did lit
tie trading between the freedmen
who had truck patches F." and the
shippers of Southern fruits to
Northern markets.
By-and-by he found beautiful
quadroon girl cultivating straw
berries. She spoke sweetly-she
could read and write.
Flint managed 10 see her every
day for three weeks.
She had told him that her name
was Rosy. She and her mother
owned the cabin and the strawber-
ny patch. She was industrious,
modest, respected, yet she looked
sadder than most of her class.
Professionally, she was an object
of great interest 10 Detective Flint.
He watched her face, he listened to
the tones Of her voice, to her very
breathing, when he questioned her.
She talked with him in a simple
modest fashion. She showed lit
tie interest in the trouble at Vue
d'Liere, even though she had occa-
sionally sold strawberries to Mrs.
Haughton. She nad seen the miss
ing gardener, Lon Mackenzie, once
or twice. she said.
She always went on with her
work steadily during these CONVEX
sations.
Flint knew that a Southern girl,
either black or white, seldom or
never chats and labors.
His watch of Rosy grew more
vigilant.
He went to the cabin one day,
making an excuse OF wanting
washing done by Rosy's mother.
Rosy came TO the door. She wore
white blouse, a red ribbon at the
throat, and 4 skirt of dark worsted
stuff.
AS she stood in the doorway,
shading her black dashed eyes with
her slim hand, the sun fell upon
her dress.
81 suppose now you have to
keep dog to prevent the niggers
from stealing your strawberries ?''
said Flint.
:No," she answered, quietly,
1--WE keep no dog"
Don't like them perhaps ?''
"Some dogs, "replied Rosy, look
ing sadder than before.
"What colored dogs, now ?''
| persisted Flint, in careless man
ner as he lit his pipe.
A faint crimson stained her
creamy cheek.
81 think brown dogs are the
prettiest," she said, thoughtfully
Thrown and curly"
At midnight all was still about
the humble cabin.
The salt tide swelled up the ri
ver. The white sailed boats fit
ted noiselessly down.
The trumpet-vlne stirred in the
breeze,on the old sea wall. The
bushes stood in dark clumps on
dusty banks.
Under these bushes man lay
smoking.
AT Slight s0nnd he turned the
fire from his pipe down among
the dewy grasses.
a dog came running down the
shore He leaped up the bank
sprang past him, and scratched al
Rosy'S cabin-door.
He was instantly admitted.
Half an hour and he was noise