Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-09-08

his own house like thief. Here l was
"a man who had never done another
harm, il he knew i'll who Ind labored
all my life to get homc for those |
loved.-now to be compelled 10 sneak
around that home, and then 10 leave IL
because 1T was getting too warm for me.
| could have fought the whole lot OF cut
throats with q vim. had they been there.
and swore that | would not leave until
know The fate of my boys.
81 watched somo time for my wife TO
come Into the yard in order that ! might
speak with her. At last she came 10 the
well tor water. called her softly by
name, and she ran towards mo with n
cry-just as n wounded doc will run to its
dam when wounded by the huntsman's
rifle.
"'Fly husband; Fly! they WILL como
back and find you here
"'Have tho boys como back p | asked
mo she said but you cannot do
them any good. Don't let those horrid
men ind you here. They will kill you!
They will kill your
WIFE, | said. i shall never leave
hero until | hear from the boys. il die
for il : aud expect there was danger
GUS look in my eyes. for she shrank from
me frightened. Aud, youngster, l feA
dangerous. She sank upon her knees in
the damp grass and prayed 10 God to
Keep her darling boys from harm and
guard her husband from all dangors.-
And while she was praying ! iclt that
stony feeling at my heart grow sol. md
long before she finished | WAS shedding
toars ~ ilh her. 1t may have been unmanly
to weep in war times; but il any OF those
men had heard hor they would have been
sohened too. il they had possessed one
spark oil human or christian feeling.
"She brought mo somethin' to cat and
went back To my horse. | led him
around back oil The north hedge. and hid
myself in n fence corner, whore | could
see their camp-Ior they had only gone
up yondcr TO my mex, ncighbor's, to camp
Tor the night.
'Yuungster. that was = terrible night.
10 lay within sight OF my own house,
not knowing what moment ii might he
ournt; and hearin' those demons cusSin'
and swcarin aud laughiu'. thinking my
boys were perhaps prisoners there. sub
i,ct Ia their taunl, and insults: while ],
their latncr, was powerlcss To protect
them; il tcuS awful. The only comlott-
ns thing oi that terrible night WAS the
words ol my wite's prayer. that kept
ringing in my ears
The old man paused. The fire hsJ
burned low aud the twilight had deepen
ed; but | thought could discern uPo"
his lace rigid look, aud sec THAI The
hands were clcuched that rested upon
mis- knee. What were his thoughts? !
wondered. Was he planning revenge.
oi WAS his better nature struSglm. Tor
The mastery ? \ solemn stillnuss Tell uP
on Us, broken only by ohc soft. deep sigh
more like IA heavy breathing from the
depth OF the hcat. turned my head in
tho direction oi the sound. IL might
have been shc. but she was sitting with
her hand, casped in her lap. gazing III
lently at the lire. with look ol the past
II sad. dreamy look. She Is living
those times over again. ! thought softly
bu, spoke not. Tor would not break that
,,l.mn-ulmos, sacred-silence. AT last
he said.
"Youngstur, it stirs me up TO talk oi
those times, and | must quit when have
saiL few words more. Morning came
At last, and once more | crept TO my
house like thief. and found that the boys
had no, come. They came shortly alter.
however. and told their story. The vii
laius had made them turn back. accusing
them OF having been on. feeding bush
whackers, and used every means-threHis
and insults-to get them 10 own 1t. But
the boys stood 10 the truth like little men,
and in the morning were permitted to re-
turn home.
81 had 10 leave. and was gone Tor
months; where 1 went and how spent
the timo will take too long 10 tell. The
ruilians who used The wa" as a prctext TO
kill and pluuder have some terrible sins
to answer ior. For they did not belong
10 either side and were whatever best
served their purposes Tor the time. They
drove ME from my home; my boys into
The rebel army. and caused thousands 10
suffer untold misery"
Yes" she said. "thcy drove my poor
boy from home, and he now sleeps his
long sleep beneath the sod Of Arkansas.
My poor. poor boy"
The stiffness fell upon US again. The
twilight leepened into darkness. | rose
without word, pressed the hands Of the
oldcouplc, aud stepped out into the chill
night air-with chill at my heart more
acute. more cutting than that OF the
north wird that sung my cheek-and lett
them to their sad. sad thoughts OF the
past.
Bethel Centennial.