The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-05-28
THE OAKS SECRET.
,rs+e Brashwell Makes Restora-
ton and Wins a Prize.

Twas when Sherman was marching
6.,.gh Georgia. A house which
-.rsd. rom its outward appearance,
tss,ve been closed and barricaded for
lspse or deserted altogether, was
Ounded by perhaps dozen soldiers.
lglst an az" cried one, ''and We'll
zsak IN the doors. "
n had scarcely ceased speaking be-
dozen blows shivered the panels
+ the oalxen door and made an en-
s,aee for the crowd and one after
a0ther they fled in.
Fhs house had indeed been deserted
lzits former occupants. Much of the
Eniturs had been removed-certainly
ihc silver plate and other valuables,
nothing Of that character was visi-
The men searched every room in
IL house, but found nothing to inter
them until they reached the cellar.
Here we are!n cried one, ''wine in
.Arndance: the rarest brands, I'll
srli
Iiwine was their object, they had
gsOnplished it with little trouble.
ne cellar was stocked with it; there
rs enough and to spare. Bottle after
Aale was handed out, until at last the
alar was rifed of its store.
The men held high carousal in the
srious dining hall. They drank long
ndaeeply, and what they could not
ansume or take away with them they
ssoyed on the spot. Then they went
Hslng On their way.
: II had been proposed to burn the
house, but this proposition, for some
RasOn, was overruled by one of the
ty-she youngest of them all.
no he said, ''why should we burn
u Ithas afforded us pleasant enter.
hament, and besides it may be some
poor fellows home who has lost every
hhg else"
twas little strange that this young
nan slipped away from his reeling com
pnions on the way to camp and re
hrned to the house they had deserted
But they would not have thought i
slraage could they have OWNED his Oh
He retraeed his steps. In through
ae shattered door he passed and de
ended to the cellar. A light dis
aosed the fact that in one corner
e0ek ofthe stone floor had been re
aoVed and replaced again, evidently il
hary, for at one end it protrude
move the level Of the floor. His keel
70 had detected this, while his com
enons were making merry over tn
Enei and it lad excited his curiosit
sndsuspieion.
With the assistance of an AK he SUE
@eled IN removing the stone. Th
sAa beneath it bore evidence of hay
eeen recently disturbed-it wa
sas and fresh. There was spade
work
nedd not work long before he di,
ssered a small iron box-smau, br
gy. 1t required some strength
y ls-nut once out in the light with
usfe was no doubt in the young man
lila that it contained valuable trea
~ .or did not the gold rattle as
Nould he open it there? No! Fl
lpaalons might miss him and return
~ " resolved to be more secre
u some difficulty he lifted the be
~ Placed it on his shoulder, the,
1ne ak also, he passed out of Il
ana INTO the wood beyond.
Wright was coming on, and with
falds OF storm-low, rumblir
er and dark clouds glooming
AoFth Into the wood the thi
sssteo With his heavy burden-in'
\, 1saaow and the silence, where
ills secret would be safe.
nefF' It is a bitter, burning wor
~ speinea to hear it at every step. II
seemed to hiss it in his ear; t
sa.s s-ses roared it to the world; the 81
81 s0 = at him through the trees al
y olackest shadows to hide
ss nom sight.
Ihiefp
IS base of a great, towering o
p~ his burden down. '.It is
cried, looking around the pla
Peeting an audience and in 8
an accusation. ssIt's a lie.
vas thief Ais fair in wa
he lmelt down and pried /
open with an ak.
sure enough-gold and sill,
Ountsd to thousands of dolla