The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-11-10
SETH PECKHAM'S TROUBLES.

body knows it; but they will not stop 1t
that, but want to know why am bache-
lor, and now I am going to tell.
have been asked the question, "Why
did you never marry 2" several thousand
times, at least and now am going to make
il known to drowning world and take
the consequences. Some time ago I swore
vengeance against the next man who should
mention the subject in my presence, but as
The next person was maiden aunt gave
up the idea of keeping my secret. My
story does not commence with "A fair sum-
mer evening" nor "iOuce upon time but
simply this way.
l was farming few acres in Southern
State near the plantation of old William
Thomas Storrs. This William Thomas
Storrs had negroes, hounds and land, and
the incest girl q though them that ever
was. Her name was rs dear to me then as
my own (ahem y and the sound OF VIC
toria Evangeli.le used TO make my heart
beat faster than anything else unless it was
the dinner horn.
As the old man had never taken much of
a shine to me, our love affairs had been
kept secret One Sunday evening I had
made all preparations to pay visit to the
,Storrs Plantation and, if possible, get
word with Victoria Evangcline. But I was
disappointed on account Of three days
rain, which commenced on Saturday and
continued over Sunday.
During the next week I tasted no onions,
and smoked but once, and when Sunday
evening came I rubbed my boots thorough
ly with bacon rind, darned my pants on the
knee, and q few other places, and started
I had about three miles to 60, through
heavy timber, and small creek to cross on
the way. When had goue about half the
distance it suddenly began to grow dark,
and commenced to rain. got under
tree, but in FIVE minutes it was worse there
than anywhere else. %
If the man who invented getting under
q tree during rain-storm had been With
in my reach then, there would have been a
tragedy enacted there, and this story would
never have been told. The rain came pour
ing over my head and shoulders, and down
the back of my neck; but in half an hour the
clouds cleared away, and the moon shone
30 bright and inviting that determined to
push on wet as was. My only fear was
that the creek, which was within about n
quarter Of mile Of the house, would be
swollen by the rain so that l could not
cross it; for in that case, my journey would
be in vain.
When 1 was within Il few rods of the
creek, heard rush in the bushes near me
and Jumped for tree without waiting to
See what it was. I had reached the first
limb when 1 heard tie dreadful bayiug of a
hound under my et.
Now, if there is anything beside woman
that lam afraid Of, it is a dog. I never
was particular as to size. am just as
much afraid of rat terriers as masiffs; and
here 1 was, n prisoner guarded by one OF
Ill Storrs' hounds expected every nc.
ment to hear voices under me, and feel a
bullet or club, for I knew the Storrs were
death on the coon and possum hunt. There
sat shivering on limb, wet and chilled
all over. Nothing short of a gold mine
would have induced me to come down and
face that dog; but as no one offered me a
gold mine, or anything else, remained on
my airy seat. whistled, swore, and called
the dog pet names, and then went near the
ground and asked him if 1 could come
down.
All was still for few moments, and I
was making ready to jump to the ground,
when was startled almost out of my wits
by hearing an unealthly growl, ac-
companied by fearful bark and howl
combined This was too much for me.
was always little nervous, and this un-
welcome surprise totally unstrung me-
With crash and cry, mingled with a
howl, 1 fell downward, and struck square
on the dogs back. In an instant was on my
feet and making tracks in some direction
where knew not
After running for half an hour stopped
TO rest and find out where was going, and
see if was pursued Finding that l was
not, rested but where l was I could no
tell. I wandered on in the darkness, fol
the moon had gone down and I could hard
ly gee my way. I was very sleepy-felt
just as though could easily 90 to sleep or
the ground and sleep forever, if it had no
been for the hound had left behind me
On I went-stumbling over logs and strik
ing my nose against every tree that was il
my reach.
Suddenly saw before me what appeared
to be house. I made for it with rush,
and after falling three times 1 reached forth
my hand and felt wall. The next thing
to find was door, so commenced feeling
carefully round with one hand, and guard
ing my nose with the other. After going
along three walls in this manner came to
fourth, and there foYd door. knock.
ed and pounded, and yelled until I was
hoarse, but received no response. am a
very even tempered man on most all oc-
casions, but this was too much for me. l
stepped back about two feet spit on my
hands, and made g rush for the door,
intending to kick it open when ar
rived.
arrived and kicked, but that door es-
caped my avenging foot, for the latter
struck solid oak sill under the former,
and from that hour forth the sole of my
right boot was absent from its fellow, and
the favorite toe that, one short moment be-
fore Nhe collision) had been most promi-