Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-08

| was unwilling to disturb any hope the
latter might entertain that was gone.
My plan was to wait till she was out OF
the way, and then place myself at the
disposal of her husband.
Meantime a solemn silence seemed to
settle on the house and all the neighbor.
hood, My nerves had become so excited
that | could with difficulty keep myself
from uttering involuntary cries. Hour
after hour | heard the deep cathedral
bell. Had it not been for the hope
entertained, in common with the colonel,
of saving Fanny's feeling from a shock,
and her wifehood from suspicion, should
have come forth at once, and have made
an end Of my misery. Sometimes, as all
around me seemed so still, fancied that
the married pair had quilted the sitting
room. But felt that if tried to leave
the house, watched as | knew it to be,
my capture on her doorstep would COM
promise her loyalty.
Time moved like eternity. At last
the morning market wagons began NOV
ing, the dawn came peeping into my re-
treat. There was another violent pull at
the street door bell heard the colonel
rouse himself to answer it. | heard
Fanny start up to her feet, while coarse
voice called out loudly in the passage.
What. up by peep of day, colonel:
Yes; | had report to write up.
Claypole has left everything in disorder"
81 thought I'd let you know, colonel,
that that spy we were talking Of last night
is in the hands of the marshal. | was
mistaken about his being seen about this
place. The police got on the track Of
him last evening, and took him at the
nest of secession, Mrs. Charles Gareys."
As the street door closed upon this
visitor, | heard Fanny give suppressed
sob.
Then he was not-himf' said her
husband, careless of grammar at that
supreme moment of reconciliation.
mo. no." she cried. "He said he
was poor prisoner who had jumped off
the train"
Poor little Fanny brave little Fan
said her husband, and, | guessed, though
could not see, how he was comforting
her.
Let this be lesson to you not to play
with treason. Henceforward leave it
alone severely. You must be one with
me, dear wife, and such things are not
allowable in our position. Now go and
call Bridget, and tell her to get breakfast.
| must get the office early. And, Fanny,
he added, "tell her to slip down tho alley
the first thing, and tell Williams, who
owns the dray, that when he has harness
ed up his horse for this days work, ! am
determined to get rid OF everything that
belongs to my sister Fanny. I'll send
her trunk away. I'll clear the house OF
treason and secession. Tell Bridget that
| say so. 1t may be warning to her,
love"
In half an hour Bridget announced the
dray.
"Send in my orderly" said the colonel,
land see if YOU can see anything, around
the corner, of the policeman
As Bridget was executing this order,
the colonel entered the store room, and
closed the spring lock of the trunk lid.
"Have you the key of Fannys trunk,
my love-
IL don't know"
"Give it to me-" he said, decidedly.
'Since your man is not The spy, l share
your treason for this once, that henceforth
you may always side with me. Ha po-
liceman,' he added, as he threw open the
outer door of the store. room, which OPEN
ed on the alley, will you help the dray-
man and my orderly to get this trunk OF
my sisters on the dray: She has been
sent South, as you know, and | decline to
keep her things. Yes, suspect it may
weigh over two hundred pounds. 1t is
powerful heavy as you say. But that
is the way always with ladies"
BY this time | was hoisted on the dray.
Now, Williams" said the colonel to
the drayman, carry this trunk to Mrs.
Legrand's. She is friend of my sister,
and very Secesh lady. She will no
doubt know what to do with it. Take
the key, and desire her to open it the
moment it arrives. She must find the
way to send it to Miss Fanny if she
thinks it necessary"
"All right, sah," cried the voice OF the
negro drayman.
l tainted, suppose for want OF air, and
knew no more till l found myself surrou-
ded by Southern ladies in the back parlor
or house well known for Southern sym
pathies and hospitality. / told my name
and story, only emitting the adventures OF
the night in Colonel Lewis's store-room.
"But how on earth did you get here in
Fanny Lewis's trunk ? The drayman LEFT
the trunk and key, with message that the
trunk was to be unlocked Immediately"
''Ah, ladies'" / cried, ''it Is too danger
Gus secret. / dare not breath 1t into the
ear of any one OF you"
'But we know all kinds Of dangerous
Secrets" pouted one fair lady.
II nave no uOuDt you DO, anu Ill DiXie
knows that you can keep them; but this
one you must not ask me-"
II declare l believe that Colonel Lewis
himself had something to do with it."
"0n my honor, ladies, never saw Col
onel Lewis in my life. What does he look
like, anyhow z"
This question was never answered till
about six years later, when l was intro
n C1lA II Il. ,l,..n ia
Avenue. He took me to his house in
n ,rhara \ mot both tho EanpvS