The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-03

nau ne been strong and well, she
would have called Luke and Pat to take
MN In charge; but that pale face ap-
pealed to certain soft spot in her heart,
and she applied the restoratives she
well knew how to use, with such effect
that he soon returned to conscious
ness.
his wound was not severe, and had
less to do with his fainting-fit than
hunger and fatigue, as she was not slow
IN discovering; so she fed him first,
then dressed his wound. So far she
had asked him no questions, but she
thought it was no more than fair that
he should give some account of him
self; so she said:
young man, how comes it that YOU.
in that dress, dared enter the house of
a loyal woman?'
Are you, then, Unionist?n
You must be stranger in this re-
gion to ask that question Of Judith Cor
man.
" L am, indeed; but was in no situa-
ton to be particular. l was wounded
at Harper's Ferry"
Then there has been fighting therep"
Skirmishing.
"And who beatp'
That l don't know yet. 1 was
wounded early in the day, and fell un-
conscious, and when 1 came to myself
they had all moved on. l came so far,
and could go no further, and seeing a
light in your window ventured to rap.
| suppose | am done for now"
There's way out of it," said Miss
German.
"How?'
"By taking the oath of allegiance.
"What! desert my colors? That |
will never do, though l were a thous-
and times a prisoner"
"FOolish boy! don't ask you to de-
sert your colors. You did that when
you joined the Southern army"
my colors are the stars and the
bars of the Southern Confederacy,n
said the young man.
"Your Southern Confederacy,' as
you call it, is tub without bottom,
and jeff. Davis and his followers will
all slip through by-and-by. Better save
yourself whileyou can"
THANK you. Iprefer to slip through
with the rest; and so would you,
madam, in the same case"
In her heart Miss German knew that
she should, and could but admire the
young mans adherence to his view of
duty; while at the same time she was
vexed at herself for entertaining such
feeling toward one whom she consid-
cred was an enemy to her country.
"lf you are so true to your cause,
you can't blame me for being true to
mine. Why shouldn't call my men
and put you under guard at once?''
THAT'S just what 1 expected you to
do"
but they wouldn't mind shooting
you if you attempted to escape"
"Of course not. They'd be very
poor soldiers if they hesitated about
that"
my goodness, really believe you
,Cant to be shot! There, don't wriggle
about so, or you'll slip your bandage
and bleed to death, and I shall lose nv
prisoner The best thing you can do
now is to go to bed Perhaps you
won't be so obstinate in the morning."
The young mans handsome black
eyes twinkled with mirth as he followed
his captor to comfortable bedroom;
for he was keen enough to read the
workings of the tender woman's heart,
and knew that he was safe for that
night, at least
In the morning when he awoke, Miss
German was standing by his bedside
with suit of citizens clothes over her
arm.
You'd better put these on" said
she; they are Llewellyn's,-my neph-
ew's. If anybody should see you
around my premises in your uniform,
it might make trouble"
For a whole week the young man
stayed with Miss German, a prisoner
on parole, during which time he was
as tenderly nursed and cared for as if
he had been her own boy. But now
the question must be settled: "What
should we do with himp"
"What he needs is to 60 home to his
mother" thought she. eff l deliver
him up and they take him to prison,
he'll die sure" And then aloud,
Young man, if you got back to your
regiment, would they give you fur
loughP'
Undoubtedly"
"Why don't you go, them"
Because Pm your prisoner"
"Luke and Pat have both gone to
mill to-day"
"What of thatp"
"Can't you take hintP"
"Is it even so? Then good-by, dear,
kind friend!"
With pressure of the hand and a
parting kiss he was gone, and she sat
down and cried.
"Oh, Judith German, what fool
you are! You've aided and abetted a
Southerner! But there,-I couldn't
help it. How could IP do hope Mrs.
Kennette won't find it out"
And to this day Miss German never
has been able to decide whether she
did right or wrong. What do yoI
thinkP-Ruth Chesterfield in Youths
Companion.