The Honourable William Dangerfield,
Raleigh, N. C.:
Your extremely diverting telegram in Appleweight case received and filed.
Charles Osborne,
Governor of South Carolina.
She met Griswold’s obvious disappointment with prompt explanation.
“You see, the governor of South Carolina cannot stoop to an exchange of billingsgate with an underbred person like that—a big, solemn, conceited creature in a long frock-coat and a shoestring necktie, who boasts of belonging to the common ‘peo-pull.’ He doesn’t have to tell anybody that, when it’s plain as daylight. The way to answer him is not to answer at all.”
“The way to answer him is to make North Carolina put Appleweight in jail, for crimes committed in that state, and then, if need be, we can satisfy the cry for vengeance in South Carolina by flashing our requisition. There is a rule in such cases that the state having the heaviest indictments shall have precedence; and you say that in this state it’s only a matter of a ham. I am not acquainted with the South Carolina ham,” he went on, smiling, “but in Virginia the right kind of a ham is sacred property, and to steal one is a capital offence.”
“I should like to steal one such as I had last winter in Richmond,” and Miss Osborne forgot her anger; her eyes narrowed dreamily at an agreeable memory.
“Was it at Judge Randolph Wilson’s?” asked Griswold instantly.
“Why, yes, it was at Judge Wilson’s, Mr. Griswold. How did you know?”
“I didn’t know—I guessed; for I have sat at that table myself. The judge says grace twice when there’s to be ham—once before soup, then again before ham.”