THE CAROLINA SPARTAN. t . ._ _ - L - -. .. ^ .. - f- ^ ^ BY CAVis & trimmier. Dewrtefo to Southern ftigljts, Politics, Agriculture, ani> Hits eel long. - 82 PEE annum VOL. XIII, SPARTANBURG, S. C.f THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1856. ' . . J*^ rnstrnj^mmmmmmmaBs^mmmsss^emmmm^L. \ \ i ll-uIu mmj . mumrnsrnm i ? i TlTB n A HAT TW A o?* *>" * ? ? ? * ' v??vrjUAiiA orAAl ANi QQ[ BY 0AVI8 TRIMMIER. Jo ? . ho T. 0. P. VBBKOH, Associate Editor. tw Price Two Dollars per aunurn ill a J ranee, or $2.50 at the ond of the year. If not paid until ac< after the year expires $3.00. tot Payment will be considered in advance if made etv within three months.^ nis No subscription taken Tor loss than six months. . Money may be remitted through postmasters at , our risk. ~R .. ... ltu Advertisements inserted at the usual rates, nod it 1 contracts made on reasonable terms. The SfASTAN circulates largely over this and . adjoining districts, ahd offers an admirable medium to our friends to reach customers. 1114 Job work of all kinds promptly executed. act Blanks, Law and K'juity, continually on hand tlx or printed to order. ljJ( THE MISSING TETTER. ni ' - .. A few days nftor this, Higham great marfcet was held, the first in the new yenr. ?f Amongst other farmers who attended it was Mr. Sterling. About threo o'clock in Pal the afternoon, when his business was over, -*c he went into the post-office. Mr. Grame *5" and his son were both there, the latter sit- "e itimr Hiiivn ofi.l .uo/Imx. T. l)i>! 0 ?w.. u ...... .viwiuij n . XI r"( wat not a busy hour. VH' "Good-day, Mr. Granic," said the farmer. ^'Good day, Master Walter. I have come ? about that letter. I do think it must l?o 'ns lost. It neror was so late before, that I re- ,uc collect." "What letlor?" inquired Mr. Grnrao. i rc^ "Why, that letter?with my fifty pound 1 in it. I don't expect any other. You are I 'i sure you have not overlooked ill" i j? "The letter! It went to Layton days 1 ^y ago!" responded Mr. Grniue. "Have you . '''* not received it?" arr Farmer Sterling's eyes opened wide with ! iU" perplexity, nud his mouth also. "Went to I COA Layton days ago!" he uttered at length. ( ^e< "Where is ic then?" .? "If you have not had it, theio must be ! ll' some mismanagement at the Layton office, j c,1| But such negloct is unusual with Mr. 1 ' Marsh." J Pl,! "Qood a mercy? I hope it has never been 6tole." * | "a4 "Which morning was H the letter came, Walter?" cried Mr Grume, appealing to his : son. "Oh?I remember?the day you and | the girls were going o?cr, It wan the very ^ r morning of your wife's ball, Mr. Sterling." , 1 "The morning afore, or the morning at- j ,nc iorj" asked the bewildered farmer. -The same morning, the tith of January, I ""3 when Waller and the two girls went over ro'dn the evening." nt "Now, whv didn't you tell me it was come, Mr. Walter?" extiostulaUnf tiro far- ' mer. l,al 1 never thought of it, replied the young 1 Ul" man. "And il I had thought of it. it would 8?' only have l>eeii to suppose you had receiv- )" ed il. Yon ought to huve had il that af- ,lfl ternooii. Had you happened to mention . it, I could have told yoti it was come." "Now look at that!" groaned (lie farmer. "What with the kick up that night, the J*8 smoking, and the eating and drinking, I'm j * blest if I didn't ca??l ca?? to the winds, and ; J'8' the letter never came into my head sit all. , Are you quite sure, Mr. Giame, that it was | the very letter?" * j "I ain sure it was a letter addressed to I you, and that il came from London. 1 mnae llie remark lo Walter lliat your Set- , ci ler was couie at last. I have not lite blight- 1>0! est doubt it was the letter." I ^ "And you sent it to Lay ton!" 1,1 "Of course I did." ( vv "But Anne called in at the post office j ' yesterday, and old Marsh assured Iter there \ of warn't nothin o* the sort arrived for me." ! on "I put it iuto the Layton hag myself, i'os and secured it myself, as I always do," re- ' turned Mr. Grume, "und the bag was never ( Bu out of my liauds until 1 delivered it to John ; lirt Ledbittor. My son was preseut and saw tie me put it iu. risJ "I did," said Waller. When my father ; exclaimed your letter was come .at last, Mr. utl Sterling, 1 looked over his shoulder at the j uin address, and I saw him drop it into the bag. They must have overlooked it at the wil Layton office. am "Old Marsh is such a careful body," debated the farmer. to "lie is," assented Mr. Gramc. "I dou't sat suppose he ever overlooked a letter in his 1 life. Still such a thiug might occur. Go to the office as soon as you return, Mr. sn< Sterling, and tell him from mo that the let- fro tor wont on to Layton." wii "It's a iollv vexatious thine* tn hnvn nil w:i ? *" "" | this bother. If tliat 50/. note's gone, il's tot my loss. SeKna'a father never wanted to , 'Ni eerui 'era through the post-office, but i told ! L'h iiiin I'd run the risk." Aud perhaps hero lay tho secrot of Far- ! An ^ mer Sterling's anxiety about the safe arrival an these lettors?because ho kn w that the ? ere /noney's being forwarded in this way was I v in defiance of the opinion of everybody. ' coi The letter never reached Lay ton?so old ,
?
tor for Farmer Sterliug was not in it. Mr. '
Marsh's word was a guarantee in itself. He wo
had held the situation two score years, and
was perfectly trust-worthy. mil
So the cuspiciou foil upon John Lelbit- ??,
tor. Indeed, it may no bo too much to the
say that the guilt was traced home to him.! '
The postmasters of Ilighnm and Lay ion roa
were known, tried public servants, above >
all suspicion. The one had put the letter wh
in, and secured tho bag; the other, when dro
he opened the bag, found the letter gone; see
and no one could or did have access to the wh
hag between those times but John Ledbitter.: opt
> He w^s dismissed from his situation as dri ! V
?r, but, strange to say, ho was uot brought ace
I to trial. Farmer Sterling declined to '
prosecute?be warn't a going iuto a court y
o' Justice after keeping out of 'em all bis you
?, uoi no?ana no instructions wero roved
on the subject from government; but I
bit Ledbi tier's guilt was as surely brought i
me to him as it could have been by
elve jurymen. Of courso he protested i
t innocence?what man, under a similar
rasalion, does not!?but his crime was <
> palpable. Neither the letter not its
closure could bo traced. Mr. Cleeve furlied
the particulars of the lost note, and
was stopped at London ai}d country l
uks. Handbills describing it wero also 1
ug up in the different public-houses; but
was not presented for payment, aud was 1
rer board of. "Saucy Sir must have eat
jp with his hay," quoth the joking far- |
;rs of Lnyton, one to another; but if they i
:idoc!ally met tho gentleman-driver?as 1
>y were wont to style John Ledbitter? I
jy regarded him with an aspect very dif- I
ent" fiom a joking one.
IV
John Ledbitter never entered Mr. St6r- 1
g's house but once after the committal '
tho crime, nod that was to rosign Solina
seve?to release hei from the tacit en- '
gement that existed between them.
>wever, ho found there was little necessi- i
for his doing it Selina released herself, i
arrived at lire Hill Home for this pur- 1
se at an inopportuno moment, for his ri- '
?as ho certainly aspired to be?was
ire before hrm. ?
It was Sunday, and wlren tho farmer and |
family got home from church in the i
airing, they found Walter Oramo there.
0 had ridden over from llighnm. lie I
eived an invitation to remain and par* i
:e of their roast grtskin and apple-pie. '
; meat fed at Fanner Sterling's was not 1
he despised; neither was apple-pie made 1
Anne. After dinner, tho farmer took
pipo, his wife lav back in her cushioned (
n chair on the op|H?sito side of-the lire,
1 ?i.;u a...? .i - ?
.% ?? iniu initio JIIC^IUCU U?Cr illU WIIIU ?
vslip and port, a bottle of the latter
'anted in compliment to their guest? |
watched Selina Cicero. The con versa- ?
11 turuod upon John Led bitter and the <
no. j J
T do not sco how ho could have accom- ! '
died it," exclaimed Mrs. Sterling, "uri>
ho stopped the mail cart and undid the <
I in the road." 1
Well, what was there to prevent him <
ng so!" ro.xpor.iled (ho fat nier.
Hut such a deliberate theft," repeated >
s Sterling. ?l can understand?at least, i
hink 1 can?being overtaken by a mo- I
nt of temptation; but a man who could
p his horse in a public road, unlock the i
t, and untie the bag for the purpose <>f 1 |
bing it, must be one who would stand <
no crime of n similar nature."
Why, that's just what I told hitn." cried '
i farmer, "when he come to ine at llig- I .
in, a wanting to excuse himself, and j (
ike believe he was innocent. 'What's ;
no with tlie letter and money,' I said, 'if!
u have not got it?" And that shut up !
mouth; f.?r ail he couid bring out was, i
it lie wished he knew what had gone ,
;It it,"
All,' broke in Walter (iraute, 'Ledbillet
lit down amazingly with some folks but
rented the rascal in him. And liiglinm
rer noticed, till now, the singulaiit) of
having taken to driving a mail carl.'
The farmer took his pipe I'rom his lips,
i how, Master Walter?'
JL>id any one l?efore ever hear of a genman?a?
Ledbilter may be termed?a. !
uing a inonial ollicc, only suited to a !
it-boy, under the plea of keeping himself
til idleness? Trash! It is the opinion 1
ilighaui that the robbery uni planned '
en lie took the place.'
What, to crib that same identical letter (
mine:' gaxjied the farmer, laying his pi[\e
his knee, while a start!od look of dismay
ie to Anne Sterling's face.
'Not yours in particular, Mr. Sterling. ;
t probably yours happened to bo the [
>t letter that presented itself to my gen (
niati, as beiring an enclosure worth the ;
It.*
'The villain!?the double faced rascal!' j
erod the fanner. 'That's putting the
itler?and him too?in a new light!' j
At that moment Molly entered the room [
111 some silver spoons, large and small,
1 shut the dour h,.1iinil
'It'# him,' bho abruptly said, coining up j
tbo table, with a faco of terror, 'lie |
?"8 ho wants to seo Mi?s Selina.1
'Who?'demanded everybody, in a breath.
'That dreadful Ledbitlcr. Ho come a
inking in at the kitchen door?uot the '
lit way, or you'd n seen him from this 1
ndcr, but right across the folJ-vnrd. I !
s took all#of a heap, and nxed if ne'd walk J
0 the parlor, for 1 whs hfumed on him. ?
0,' says he, 'I'll not go in. Is Miss !
jevo there!''
'Yes, she is,' I said, and missis, and Miss
ine, and Master, and Mr. Waller Grnine, '
d Joan's close at hand, a skimming lite !
am.' For i thought he should know as
varu't alone in tho place, if ho should ho
no to tako anything. '.Molly,' said ho (
ite humbly, 'go in and ask Miss Cleove
he will step out and speak a word with '
1.' So 1 grabbed up the spoons, which, 1
ill-luck, was a lying on tho table, and '
ay 1 come.'
Miss Cleevo rose from hor chair.
'Selina!' said Mrs. Sterling, in a reprov
; tone.
Aunt,' was her rejoinder, 4I have also a (
rd to say to him.'
liut, my dear! Well, well, just for a . '
uute, if you must. Hut remember, Seli-;
we cannot again admit Mr. Lodbittor to !
1 house.' !
I'd as lievo admit tho public hangman,' 1
,rcd out tho farmer. '
Scarcely had Selina Cleevo left the room, 1
en Walter Grame darted after her. lie 1
w her, with the hand of authority, it '
nted. into the bust narlor. the door of 1
ich, adjacent to their aitting-room,stood 1
in. <
Miss Cleeve!?Selioa!?you will uover 1
r>rcl an interview 10 this man!' |
Vea.'aijo aaawcruJ. 'For the last lirue.' ]
Good Heavens, what infatuation! T>on't' t
i believe in his guilt?' I i
'It is impossible to disbelieve it
murmured, looking wretchedly ill, an
10 wretchoJIy cross. 413ut upon tho
we were, a lost iuterview, a iinai u
standing* is necessary.'
'What terms}' he savagely uttered
cannot be that you wero engaged to
'Not engaged, but '
'ilut what? Trust me as a friend,S<
'Had it not been for this?had Led
remained where ho ought?wo should
been.'
'I am yrieved to hear it. It is a
escape for you.'
'Oh, and it is this which makes lr
gry,' she bitterly exclaimod. 'Why d
monopolize my society, soek to nink
like him, wheu he knew himself to
base, bad man?I, w ho might have c
from all the world! Let me go, Mr. ti
I shall bo inoro myself when this is
'You can have nothing to say to
now, but what may bo said throt
third party,' he persisted, still holdinj
'Suffer mo to sec him for you.'
'Nonsense,' she peevishly answered,
cannot say what I have to say.'
She broke frofu him, and walked
a haRty step along tho passage. 11
not dare to follow her, but to judge t
looks he would have liked it, and to
boxed her ears as well. Tho two scr
were whispering in tho kitchen, but S
could see no signs of Mr. Ledbitter.
pointed with her linger towards the d<
tho best kitchen, and Solina went in.
IStauding in the middle of the cold,
fortlcss room, his eyes fixed on the enti
as if waiting for her, was John I.odl
She walked up, and confronted hiin
DUt speaking, Lor action and counlei
expressing both anger and scoin.
*1 see,' began Mr. Ledbitter, as ho
sd at her, 'I need not have coinc
High a in to do my eirand this afteri
11 has been done for inc.'
1 feel it cold in this room,' said S
'lancing round, and striving, pretty
:essfuliy, to hido the agitation sho i
felt under a show of indifference. '1
;oo?l as to tell me your buaiueis, tl
nay return to the tire.'
'.My business was partly to seo hov
Accusation had affected you towards
I see it too plainly now. Had it
jlhorwise
J Ie stopped, cither from emotion, oi
i "loss how to express himself. Hu
stood as still as a post, and she did no
liim mi.
'Then 1 hate only to say fnrew'el
resumed, 'and to thntik you for the
liappy houts we have spent togelln
ante to say something eUo; but no u
1 see now it would be u>elev-.'
'And I bog,' she said, rai-illg hcrsi
that you will forget those hours you
of, and which 1 shall never reflect oi
with a sense of degradation. I blu
blush,' she veliementlv repeated, 'to
that the world may point to me. as 1
through the streets, and say, 'There
die who was engaged to tho felon,
Ledbittcil' I pray that I may neve
your face again.'
'You never shuil?by my seeking. >
I over hold converse with you again
linglv, it will be under different au>]
lie .joined the rooui, stalked tin
the kitcuen, and across the fold yard
the side lane, his In east heaving will
donate anger, for she had aroused a
lion within him. Molly ami the
maid pressed their noses against the
im window, ami stared after him till h
beyond view, us they might have stare
some extraoidiuai v foreign animal be
exhibition there, and with .piiic as
curiosity; whilst Solma Cleeve, rep
softer emotions, which seemed inclii;
make themselves felt within Iter, sir.
shake John Ledhilter out of her lhoi
and to say to herself, as she returned i
sitting iooin. that she had shaken hit
>f theiu forever.
V.
Tho years passed on, nearly two, an
postmaster at liigham was stricken
lIlllfWA I f U -lienutA .? II.? -
:>ne, lasting i ver several mouths, d
which time he was confined to his hoi
Is is son managed the business. Oue
just before his death, Walter wji
ling in the roonij when the old mac
Jenly addressed him.
' Walter,' he said, 'I shall soon be
*n.l after that they will make you pes
:cr. He steady, punctual, diligent in
laily business, as I trust I have bee
lust and merciful in vour dealings
four fellow-men, as 1 have striven to 1
more urgent than 1 have ever boon in
ug your Maker, for there the Very b
js fall short. You have been a dutifi
lo ine, a good son, and I prav that,
urn, your children, in your old age,
!>o such to you.'
Mr. Walter fidgeted uneasily ii
dinir.
"There is one only thing in business
crs which causes me regret for the
resumed Mr. (>ramo?"that the parti.
So inected with John Ledbittei's theft s
ocvor have come to light. It is a weig
my conscience, having suffered hiin t
mine a post for which his position tu
niiu. If lie sought it with the ink
loing wrong, iny having refused hii
situation would have removed the tc
lion from his way."
"You need not worry yourself over
\ crotchet ns tl *?t, father," respoiulo<
younger man. "A fellow bent upon(
w Ledbit'er must have been, if he do<
find opportunity in one way, wi.l seel
another. If there's anything to bo i
led in the matter it u the not having br
liirn to punishment: he ought to have
made stand his trial, and despatched <
ihe country. The tiling would have
Jono with then, and have gone out of
minds."
"lie has had his punishment/' r<
Mr. (trainc. "Abandoned by bia rein
corned by bis friends,shunned by all
men, and driven to get his living ir
she fields, as a day laborer! Many a mnu would I lir
id al- have sunk under It." lb
terms "1 cannot think why the fool stops in ' ve
nder- Highamshire. If bo would be off to a dis- sli
tnnt part, whether county or kingdom, ru
. 'It where his crime was unknown, he might
him?' get up in tbo world again."
j "No harsh names, Walter," interrupted
dina.' I the father. "John Ledbitter did uot offend '
hitter against yon. Leave hiui to the stings of his a
I have own conscience." j th
Mr. Walter (Iramo muttered something j tn
lucky which did not reach tlio sick-bed and quit- . uc
ted the room. It was irktorao to him to ' A
to an- remain in it long, lie was nbscut about !
lid ho an hour, and during this peiiod Mr. Cirniuo th
0 me dropped asleep and dreamt a vivid dream 1 dc
be a ?so vivid, that, in tbo first moments of se
boson waking op, he could not he persuaded but m
mine; it was reality. The coloiing his thoughts ar
ovor.' had taken was no doubt imparted by tbo | re
1 him, previous co vernation. lie dreamt that in
igli a John Ledbitter was innocent; he did not m
j her. see or understand how, but in his sleep lie fo
felt the most solemn conviction that the ( fr<
'You ! fact was so. i on
Walter, Walter!' ho gasped forth, after in
with his confused relation of it, 'wlien his inuo- in
o did ccneo is brought to light, do you try aud Tl
>y his ! inako it up to him. I would, it 1 were di
have alive.' j an
vanis | n nm tus inuoecnco?what do you ih
Selina I moan, sir! You must bo asleep stiIt. A 111
Molly 1 dream is but a dieain.' I Jc
,>or of 'Well?if it comes to light, if it shall be or
proved that he is an injured man, do you . nr
com- endeavor to compensate him for the itijus- v.n
ranee, tice that has been heaped on bis head. It fo
bitter, is a charge I have y>m.' t th
with- 'The old man is wandering,' whispered to
nance Mr. "Walter to thet nurse, who was then ' tli
1 present; and it was through her that this
look- ; dream of the postmaster's got talked of in dc
from lligham, though not for long afterwards. Ik
noon. 'L< t me give you your composing draught, in
' sir.' ; in
eliua, iu
sue- VI bj
really ; A goodly company weie wending their d<
te so ' way to I.avton church, for the fairest flower | lit
Hit 1 ! in Lay ton pi.in-h was that day to be taken , w]
out of it. A stranger, who happened to dc
v tliia j be passing through Lnyton, stepped into w]
i me. | the clmrcli with the crowd. ea
been j 'She is a handsome bride,' lie observed th
; to a farmer, who stood in the porch, look- bl
r from ing in. It was Farmer Mount. bo
it she j 'Ay, she be that. Somo of our younkers of
t help ; have been mad after her this three or four so
| year, but Master (irame have walked ofl . l?o
I ' he W|th her at last, lie ain't bad-looking nei- ; cli
inanv iher, for a man.' m
;r "j ' 'Kxtrcinely handsome, I think. Who is ; kt
tatter, | 'lc- ^
'Tito postmaster of lligham, a., his father ti?
, . ^ 1 ffu-i afore him. 1 he old man died a year pi
k ,lS4>? nn