The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-06-28

"Oh, grandmother, cried Dolly, 81 did not
mean TO frighteh him but there is need fol-
| haste, indeed, indeed there is -
! "There is none, responded the old woman,
! heroically. "Do you suppose ! am not ready
! for this? Do you think have hid and guard
. ed him these ten years to let them outwlt me
nowW
Looking about, Dolly then for the first time
perceived evidence Of preparations for flight.
"How did you know?' she asked; "Where
! is father?"
"My son is safe," mysteriously replied the
old woman. 'He bade me say to you that
YOUR tears and prayers were answered that
God helping, for your sake, he would lead
better lifo."
Dolly wept.
The old man arose in vague alarm andwrung
his hands as he feebly paced the floor.
At this sight the devoted old wife turned
savage. -.
How dare you scare my poor darling
she cried "Have you no thought for him y
She went to him, and with a strange, grim
tenderness stroked his gray hair.
"Have no fear" she said to him; trust
me. saw the man lowering about here last
night, while the child prayed with her father
prayers for them, watching for me. l have
only waited to look once more at her pretty
face that thought to have seen so many times
now am ready to lead you to a safe place.
Be easy and trust me, darling"
With the confidence of a sleep walker or a
monomaniac, the old woman led her charge
forth toward wood at the rear of the cottage.
She appeared to have utterly forgotten Dolly
who was left sitting there blankly, entirely
alone.
Some words of tie old woman still rung in
her ears.
81 saw some one lowering about here last
night while the child prayed" Was Edward
there, her Edward, the representative of a law
and justice that would destroy all of hers
Dolly was no sophist to question the recti-
tude of her position. If her hands fell list
less in her lap, if her blue eyes filled with tears,
it was because she had lost her lover, not be-
cause she had helped to eyade justice.
In this detected attitude she sat too much
engrossed in mourning after her lover to see
him enter.
"Dear, faithful, true, girl, have found you
out at last" said voice that electrified her:
"Dolly, the whilom proud, piquant Dolly,
threw herself in an attitude OF supphcation at
the feet of her lover.
"Do notch, do not !" she cried, "hunt
him down. If you could see him, if you knew
of his repentance, his misery-oh, spare him J"
"Why, bless your dear heart, answered the
detective, raising Dolly in his arms, 81
wouldn't touch him If he'd eaten my grand
mother. How could I know? was in hot
pursuit of the five thousand dollars reward to
set my little wife up in housekeeping in style
worthy of her. Now she will have to be con-
tent with something palmer. But know, you
are my prisoner. can lock you up In jail II l
will. Now beg me not to !"
'Can you tolerate me, knowing all; can you
overlook my being
''If YOU will ask with your arms around my
neck l think can hear it" answered the de-
,ective. "In fact don't think l could tole-
rate your being the least bit in the world diff
ferent from what you areE"
Two hours later they appeared before Mrs
Perkins. Dolly beaming, Edward looking like
horn Samson, and asked her consent to
speedy marriage.
That evening Mrs. Perkins triumphantly ex-
planned to her husband that he was altogether
mistaken about Dolly having anything to do
With the murderers
.:How do you know, dear?" he asked.
"Why, she is actually to be married in
week to the detective who is here hunting for
them :"
This was conclusive, and the Hon. Mr.. Per-
kins calculated "Ohr