Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-07-11

supply"
The house occupied by Major Tslis-
ferro belonged TO q family who had
gladly given up portion Of Il Tor the
safety insured by the presence Of com.
manding officer. The major was given
q room down stairs for an office, and q
bedroom up stairs. When Il was decid.
ed that Mark and Laura should remain
he gave Mrs. Green, a. he called her,
the use Of the latter for the purpose Of
arranging her toilet before supper.
When Laura was up stairs Mark was
looking out Of the window Of the ma-
jor's Office. He saw the men ride OF to
overtake Mrs. Fain. To his constsrna-
tion another cavalryman, with Q letter
In his belt, mounted his horse and dashed
down the road.
Laura came down ut that moment, and
Mark said to her anxiously.
II am detained ON suspicion. ! shall
be taken back to Chattanooga" and he
pointed to the courier.
The color left Laurs's cheeks. They
had got 30 near to safety, and now, after
90 many dangers, the end was at hand.
She could scarcely sustain herself a. she
tottered into the room occupied - the
office.
This IL the letter the courier bore
northward. II was addressed on the
envelope to Captain Cameron Fitz Hugh.
near Dunlap:
ANpERsoH, Aug. ~, is64
nv DEAR CAMERoN-A man purporting 10
bs Thomas Green, with his wife, formerly .
Miss Fain, Of Chattanooga, is here, desiring .
pass to the Union lines. There u something
suspicious about the man. The couple are sep
arated from the wife's mother, and the father
lies very III at Nashville. ] dislike TO detain
them, and do not regard it safe To pass them.
Can you help me out Of the dificultyf Your
very truly, WALLACE TALiArEkho.
Major Taliaferro soon Joined Mark
and Laura In his Office, and Offering his
arm to Laura led the way to the supper
room. His treatment Of both was most
deferential, but It failed to deceive either
that they were prisoners.
.re was o strength Of nerve In Mark
that would not break while there was
hope. He chatted with the host or jailer,
whichever he might be called, with ease,
and at times with gayety. Notso Laura.
The situation was too frightful for her
to endure without some manifestation
Of anxiety. She ate nothing. She did
not hear what was said to her. and her
eyes plainly showed the troubled spirit
within. Mark made no reference 10 her
condition till after supper. Then, when
all three went out ON to the verands, he
said to her:
"Come, let MS take stroll. You have
been travelling all day, and this delay
troubles you. A walk In the air will re-
vive you"
Mark assumed with such apparent
carelessness that he was free to walk
about where he liked that Taliaferro
had not the will to stop him. Besides
he had no heart to interfere with the
pleasure Of woman whom he was pre-
tending to treat rs q guest. The couple
walked lrisurely down the road, Mark
looking at the sunset tints with well as
sumed Indifference, occasionally point.
ing to some object by the way or In the
distance, calling Laura's attention to 1t
mt the same time. He knew the majors
gaze was fixed upon him, and he was
doing all this for q purpose.
The road led straight from the house
u short distance and then entered 3
wood. As soon Us they Were concealed
behind the trees Mark stopped suddenly
and turned to Laura:
"My God, this Is terrible!'
"You are lostg' said Laura family.
She could scarcely speak the words.
"I2 Yes, /. But you-what have
led you intol Why was 1t not over on
that morning when 1t was intendedl
Then you would not be implicated; now
your good n"me is
"NU cne Il trouble me-" she gasped.
But you-they will drag you
"You have protected ne-s spy. Not
,nly that-that Is nothing In comparison
with having passed rs my wife. There
8 q blight"
81 can bear It."
There IL but one way out Of this dis
grace. You must be married before we
return to that house. And to whomy'-
his voice changed from u rapid, excited
tone to deepest gloom-"to one who must
ilie-die on the scaffold. At any rate
you will be free. You will lie widow"
Laura stood, the very impersonation
Of despair.
"All can do to atone for this" Mark
went on rapidly, "and 1t Is nothing-is
to make you my wife, since ! have passed
you as such. Laura, will you marry mer
She looked ut him earnestly. Her
eyes were big with deep emotion. There
was a look In them that he could not un.
derstand.
"No!'
"Then can do nothing for you."
III will marry only the man who loves
me, and whom love-"
"Oh, Laura" he said, "if your heart
were only mine, then It would be diff
ferent I love you 40 well, worship
you with such fervOr that would go
back to that dreadful jail without q
word could I place you where you were
before you met me. But you
With cry she threw her arms around
his neck.
.Laura, sweetheart" said Mark. Ca
ressing her, 1--WE have but little time.
We know not whom we shall have To
face. Ny true character must soon be
known. Will you give yourself to ono
who will doubtless tomorrow be claimed
by
Pale as ashes she put her hand over
his mouth that he might not speak the
word death"
"will your Speakr
eyes, now. quick; what can we dor
"Marry ourselves"
"Howr'
He grasped her hand. There was n
ring upon it-a plain gold band. He
took 1t Of, and putting 1t ON her finger
again said:
III, Marx
els 1t really MarkY'
eyes, I am Mark Maynard. I, Mark.
take you, Laura, to be my wife. Do you
take me to be your husbsndY
"I do"
"Then we are man and wife In the
sight Of God"-
"And for man we care not"
"Man and wife under the law. We
are really married"
Scarcely was this hurried ceremony
over when cavalryman came riding
leisurely from the direction Of head.
quarters.
rhere was nothing left for them to do
- --a..-.. A. sl,a hnuaa Az thov xvalkod