Year: 1870

y


1.-THE blood from my hand was in blots and
snears all over my vest felt my heart turn
sick when I took heed gift.


ssbIaster viii clear n,e. j said.


uHe said It was you. said one Of the men.
at least, he nodded Yes, when we asked
him if you did it z ~


'Then old master s7as not right IN his
mind,' said. eIIe'a never be against me "


After that / heard the whole. Master had
paid the men aud displisssd Mark lie had
only said. . All right I'm tired of work"
and bad eaten his break last there, and leftin
sight scf all. But I was gone and when
they fotE6>tha at tnassee ,hos was always up
at eoeksefcw, did'not rise 70 dine. they opened
rhis door and found him on the floor senseless:
they thought dead, at first. He had been
robbed of his pocket book, watch. and an
old fashioned pin he always wore in his hand>
kerchief-the painted head of lady, set
around with what be used to tell us were
pearls-an ornament older than his grand.
father


They found nothing about me of course
but the quarrel aud my cut hand made the
case hard against me-


The master dying, as they thought his,
had been able to speak. at odd times and said
that to the best of his belief I was his assail-
ant. 1t was daak, to be sure, but in the
struggle he felt that the man wore cap. and
was the only hand who had anything but
straw hat. Besides, he came from the inner
| passage and down the stairs, and did not
break in through door or windows as bur
glar would have done. And was the only
missing member of the household So laid
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, begged them, until
she must know it


"And they were kind and did it; and her
letters were sent to me in prison. 1t was
weary time, and the one drop of comfort in
it came with those letters l had five from
her when, at the end of one, came this:


"De0r jack: L never hide anything from
you, and not to boast of my eonquests, thing
I'd never do. but just to let you know that l
keep no secrets to myself, must tell you
what has happened.


"Our master has hired man, lazy fell
low that disliked at first sight, Mark Hulk
er by name; and what should he do but take
notion to me, or pretend to do so, trying
his best to set up with me after work hours,
and following me about whenever had hol
iday. Then he tries to make me like him by
telling me how rich he is, Four hundred
dollars he has laid by, he says, and has gold
watch like gentleman. The other Sunday
was dressed for church, and up he walks.


"Why Peggy says he, you've no pin to
your collar


"Said I, Il can't afford money for fnery."


"Then says he. 'How lucky it is that I've
one to give you, and he pulls pin from his
pocket.


"Jack, I couldn't help looking at it. 1t
was lady's portrait, with hair all white
though she was so youug-like an old wo-
mans He said it was powdered as they did
in old times and pink dress-and all about
tiny stones, and no bigger than silver quar-
ter, altogether. How he came by such
thing, goodness knows But of course l
wouldn't have it. Says he: Now do take
it, Peggy. 1 want to keep company with
you. and now you know the truth


$50 says [ Il neither want your company
nor your presents, and please remember that
hereafter


at was rough, l know, but hate him so.
And [ was none too rude. for he bothers me
now as much as ever. Though you know if
he were ever SO good and handsome. am al
ways your own Peggy, and think of no one
else.'


''When read that you could have knocked
me down with feather. The pin was the
one the old farmer had lost. 1 knew. and it
was Mark who was the thief, and who bad
tried to murder him.


'I sent for the lawyer who was to take my
side, and who had all along believed me in
nocent. gave him the letter.


"It's old masters pin, l said. what shall
do, sir p


"And he said, 'You can do nothing, my
poor fellow, but wait and hope. l have a
clew now, and I'll follow it.


"Theu he went away, and afterwards I
heard what he did. He went down to tile
place where Peggy lived, aud took her out
of danger of eaves-droppers, and told her all
that had happenad. The brave girl trembled
and wept, but she spoke out.


"He's innocent" she said. "Id not believe
him guilty if an angel told me be was"


"And the lawyer said, out of his heart,
though she was but a serving lass:


"He's worthy of you, Peggy Grey, do
believe, and that is saying good deal"


"Then he asked her about the pin, and the
two had long talk. 1t ended in Peggy
bursting into tears, and promising to do any
thing and everything he asked, if he would
tell me why she did it.


"He told me afterwards, and it was hard
work for little Peggy with her honest heart.
Bless her. She turned herself around and
made different creature of herself, and she
tried to make Marx Hulker think she had
been c0quetting all the while, and-oh, how
she cried when she told me that she let him
kiss her, and put his arm about her waist
But she gained her end it. One night my
good old lawyer and two other men were shut
up in the pantry with Peggy's master. and
she dressed in her best, and waiting for Mark
Hulker.


THAT night she had promised Mark to take
his pin, and if he proved ne had the money
he Dragged of, to promise to marry him. and
Mark came as merry as could be, and little
the worze for liquor"


"NOw lass" said he, ia promise is prom
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