The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-24
VOLUME XXII---N0. M

as il by magic, someSlife into her; the ce2qxs
slowly returned to her cheeks, and 49,
gan to weep. ii ss,es.s. ,..
"For the love Of co, ,she crisal \ !;
take me to prison. szhs money i q q ~ kss
didn't steal it; Bgot q honestly y
have the money! sssvery can't Z Iss sl5 4 /,
don't take me to ,prison-oh, dontdpn
don't" ~
|" ;.iMy heart went out in pity for the poor
creatursswho now laystretched senselessM On On !
the floor: To my mind, she neither looked
noracted like a. guilty person. She was soss
young-aBout twenty, certainly not nase:
$50 fair, and lovely! she.a thief! impossi:tS
bic! Shameful. shameful, to accuse her Of /.
such thing,'1 not only thought, but, IN;
the heat Of my pity and Indignation, said.
as much. -..,- r
"Young man." said Mr. Horton, with 9
tinee of sarcasm in his voice, don't let
your pity get the better Of your good sense :
please. I don't say this is not her first
crime, perhaps it is; but, nevertheless, sho
should be punished My motto Is: Fiat
justitia, r,lat ealum."
Miss Gardner by this time, Mrs. Smith
having poured water on her face, had re-
covered her senses. I was gazing at her
closely while Mr.. Horton spoke, and the
conviction that she was not guilty grew
stronger upon me with every passing Sec
ond. ., r. 4
Gentlemen 1 cried, ~ repeat that I
think she's innocent. It would be burn.
ing shame to confne that delicate young
creature in filthy st4tion-house all night
and if she is allowed to remain here to-
night will hold myself responsible for her
appearance in court for examination to
morrow morning. May not safely pledge
nv word to that eject, Miss GardnerE
asked, turning to her. -
Thank you,, thank you; God Bless yOa
for this" she murpnured, grasping my hand
and looking the gratitude she found itdifs
fcult to put into words. YES" she said.
when q moment bad passed and ahe bad
partly recovered her calmness, teeyon, may.
I am innocent, thsngh it will be difficult, +
know, for me to pTsre my innocence; but
YOUR kind words, Mr., Slccumb, have cheera
ed me up-phased my fears that I should
be unable to show my Snilaessness away--
md have made me brave" .... .-.-.s.-...
Mr.. Horton said he had no. special obiec.
ton, at which 1 was really surprised, for
thought I should have to take him aside
and talk him into it., He remarked that !
was being taken in bF an adveatwess, and
that should laugh as my Quixotic action
before o day had passed. The policeman,
after I had pressed Il fvc-dollar-bilI into
his hand also consented to leave his prison.
er in MY care.
The remainder Of my story can be told in
o very few words. r.' .... l.- ... ~.
Scarcely an hour after the departure of
the policeman and AR. Hortoa,.a a young la
dy, accompanied by her mother; called at
the house. She said sic had been engaged
to marry Jonas Sampson; and it was only
that evening that she had seen the notice
Of his death in q newspaper. ....;..
They were to have been married In two
weeks, she said, and she and her mother
having been busy preparing for her wedding
through the day, it was only when evening
came that she or her mother had g
chance to look at the paper, so that ac-
counted for their not having seen the death
notice earlier in the day.
mentioned Miss Gardner's cise to her,
and asked her if she knew anything about
Jonas Simpsons money. oh yes, she did,
he had given it to her, -...: s.-
On the day he received tie money, before
returning to his boarding -hosse, he had
called on his intended, and given her tho
whole amount to pay for her wedding out,
J ct and other things which are essential for
newly married people. .a
Thus was my conviction Of Miss Gardues's
innocence proved trre, and of course, Mi
Horton withdrew his charge, apologizing at'
the same time for his part in the affair
Miss Gardner was an orphan, and the
money found in hes trunk was left to her
BY her mother; she having no faith in the
safety Of banks, preferrins to take care Of
it herself.
! Another conviction soon grew on nc
that I loved Nelly Gardner; and for some
wears she has been Mrs. Slocomb.