Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-07

and knew my boys would be 30 pleaseu
when got back and told 'em where I'd
been. | can sing, too" she added naive
ly, slightly dropping. her sweet gypsy
face.
Then give us a song TO pay for The
'bacca." cried Hawkins, The Kentuckian.
She looked up into his lace with her
bright. dark eyes. "Oh, Pm gong to
bring it back. sure. just as soon as ever
we get soma more. But Pll sing, too, II
you like
We lifted her up ou The tall stump OF
Tree hear by, and the little creature be-
gan 10 slug. She had not much voice
no child OF i've or six ever has-but 1t
was wonderfully sweet, and her powers
OF mimicry were marvellous. Some one,
perhaps the Captain Ned, of whom she
had told ~, had composed the song Tor
her, and sue gave it thoroughly in char
acter. Doubtless she had sung 1t hun
dreds of times before TO similar audi
ence. so that she was in no wise embar-
rassed when we applauded vociierously.
Our appreciation pleased her, however,
for she laughed gaily; but she soon
skipped nimbly down from her impromptu
pedestal. and went round among US,
holding ont her tiny hand to each in fare
we'll. with Infinite inianiile dignity and
grace. The boys would miss her," she
explained. iii she staid away too long"
When she reached the sergeant he sud-
denly stopped down TO her, caught her in
his arms, ,and kissed her full on her sweet,
rosy month.
"Ten,lou. squadp' ho called out when
he drew himself up again, and bis voice
was husky with emotion. We gave the
little creature escort across the stream
and watched her disappear among the
thick shrubbery which rose beyond.
1t was only quarter OF an hour or so
aiterward that we heard hoarse shout
arise from the enemy's camp on the other
side of the hill. II was the welcome
which those poo half-stsrved rebs were
giving to the little heroine and TO our TO-
bacco! We never stopped TO think. bu!
with q hearty throe-times-three we sent
back the cheer ill the woods and rocks
re-echoed tho sound far of to the distant
mountain range. And then we looked
sadly at each other 10 think how bsby's
hand had spun this thread which stretch
ed between brothers divided by such q
wide sea OF blood and suffering.
don't know whether il was the re-
membrance Of the child whose appear
ance had touched him so deeply or II pre-
sentiment of what was 10 come, but
on that night Ransom seemed 10 loso his
bright spirits. Even his promotion, which
came the next week. tailed to rouse him
from the detection which seemed 10 take
possession OF him. When he was made
lieutenant, OF course | ceased to share his
tent. and | believe be ielt the loss a.
much as did. Asany rate when be was
wounded aDd taken 10 The hospital he
begged that l might be allowed to wait
on him. And perhaps because was
more gentle than the other men the re-
quest was granted, and ! stayed with bim
through the three days which elapsed be-
fore he died. For he did die, bet not be-
fore he had told me part OF the painful
story which be had always shrunk from
approaching 10 bis days Of splendid
health.
He had married young, he said. and
very ioolishly. His wife had been q
brilliantly beautiful. vain, cspricious girl.
and both had been too young to realize
the responsibilities and cares that were
TO come with marriage. She had never
really cared for him. but she had borne
him one child-a baby daughter. he
was OF Northern birth, although living in
the South, and when the war broke out
his married life had already become 80
unhappy that it was scarcely An added
psin when she refused TO live with him on
account of his political sentiment. Only
the thought OF the child bouud him in
any WAY to the beautiful. intractab.e
mother. He went to her at her faiher's
house and begged. for the sake OF the
child. that sho would return TO him. The
father seconded bis request, but the girl
was like adamant. She would never
share the home of Yankee, she protest
ed. The only comfort that the wretched
husband could extort from her was
promise TO write of the child's welfare.
Then came terrible days in the South.
Months passed, and the once lair and
rich plantations we're devastated, ruined.
Ransom came North, and 10 his wretch
edness found the army the most hitting
place TO drive away the recollections that
haunted him. He knew the child was
safer in it's grandfather's home than 1t
could be with him, and beside this, the
brave soldiers heart was yet too tender
to strike the mother by claiming the child.
But one day came q letter from his wife
telling him the babe was dead. and after
this that episode OF his married life was
as a closed page TO him, to which he
never or rarely turned. This was all his
story, and he told it to me with eyes
bright with fever and lips that trembled
| :.L ooL,oes OF no snnka