Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-25
NUMBER II.
"Does I know. Souri,

severely.
"Recksn does. knows all Threads
bout hyar."
Mark looked at the boy and thoughts .
few moments without speaking. He
was o stupid looking child, but Mark
thought that II he could get him 10 60
with him II might avert suspicion.
Were he brighter he might bs Of uss
perhaps. At any rate, he would doubt
less serve some purpose.
"Jakey." he asked, show would you
like TO 20 with me on-a tripr
slow would like TO shoot squirrslsT
"You, Jake! Didn't I tell y & an
swer straighty' from the father.
"Yas, I'd like ter CO."
"rve q mind to take you, II your
father will let you Co." said Mark medi.
tatively.
.yIany feyers bout Chattanooga
asked the mother, taking the pipe out OF
her mouth and casting an anxious glance
at her son.
"what y goen ter do with himr
asked Slack.
81 only want MIN Tor Companion
to divert suspicion-and-well, ! cant
tell exactly what-for an emergency
perhaps"
whats q 'nergencyY asked Jakey.
| "well, IL I should learn something OF
importance might want to send you
back with the news, or II ! should b
caught In Ain a.
Tree, like coon, with Q gun or
dorg below" supplied Jakey.
That's II exactly. lmight want Y
send word about that"
"rm afeard he's too little ter be OF any
use that away" said his father.
"0h. Jakey can't go. He's got tel
stay right hyar n do hoen," chimed hi
mother.
"what do you say. Jskeyi Do ~,
want to goy asked Mark.
"would r.
"You, Jaker again shouted his father
Course want ter CO."
"Ill tell you what I'll do. II you vii
let him 90 I'll bring him or send hin
back safely and leave twenty dolla
greenback here with you for him on hi
return"
'Souri! Souriv' called Slack.
Souri, came In 80 quickly As to argu
that she had not been out OF heartngo
all that had passed.
.'Snack fur these two uns," said hs
father.
Souri, departed, and presently returne
with bundle containing cold eatablea
"Now, Jakey," said his father ss the
all stood at the front gate before the Dc
parture Of the two travellers, "remen
Der yer Unioner n treat the strange
far"
"Oh, | ain no slouch. Z ! am little,
replied the boy. with shrrg and
scowl, indicating that he regarded th
Injunction entirely uncalled for.
an. Jakey," called his mother. "don
yer 20 n sleep out nights n git u
ager."
"Never yer mind. nav. amt gos
ter git no ager."
The two started of up the road. Th
air was pleasant, and It was not to
warm for tramping. They passed out
the clearing, and were about enterin
the wood into which the road took thei
when they heard a step behind then
Turning, there was Souri,.
"How long d. y low y mought b
gone down thar she asked.
Mark looked into her face. and sb
lowered her eyes.
"Why do you want TO know, Sourir
"waal, NAV. she'll worrit bot
Jakey."
81 can't tell you"
"How fur y goeny
ITO Chattanooga. Perhaps farthe
but not likely"
"whatll tn do T. y ef they ketch ~
They'll probably lift me Of my fet
with hemp cord"
"They won't, will theyi Don't tai
that away"
She looked at him with her black ey.
and shivered.
III guess can get through all right,
said Mark reassuringly. "Tve done
before"
The girl stood for few moments b
resolute. Then she drewa red silk hant
kerchief from her bosom and handed
to Mark. It was the only bit Of finer
she possessed.
"what Is that for. Souri, asked MARI
affected In spite Of himself.
"Waal, ef don't see y no more.
mOught keep ct ter ter Mebbeef
git inter trouble y mought find chanc
A s.- IaEnx, st,n,nhf
it-'n Ill 20 down 'n-'n"- She turne
away. II was evident she could nc
clearly express her meaning, and he
voice was getting husky.
"Goodby, my little GIRL" said MARI
going up to her and taking her hand
II have notion that II II Is necessar
to the Union cause for my life to b
saved again you will be on hand {
save IT,"
Then the girl went back to the hous
and the travellers went on their way.
"Jakey," asked Mark, ''can your sii
ter read writingr
Reckon not"
"Can your
"Can sing like birdY'
"Do you mean that you can or 20
can'ty'
81 can't"
"well, your sister is good girl. an
Q smart girl, and courageous girl. Sh
has saved me once. and II get Int
trouble would rather have her near b
than sergeant and ten men,
"Reckon she Civ y tn hanshicuf te
send instead o. written"
Mark looked down into the sturi
face Of the boy beside him. He bega
TO think that the child's stupidity wa
not fiattering to himself. inasmuch q
Jakey had penetrated further than b
had into Souri's design. and her dif
dence as to confessing her ignorance.
IL hope therell be no necessity 70
that, Jakey. But we must arrang
what we shall pass for In Dixie. Nov
do you know what you sreY
"D0 II
Eyes. do your
"I'm y'r little brother"
Exactly. And what are We goingt
Chattanooga for, What shall We tel
'emY'
"Goen ter buy caliker fur NAV ,
Souri,, n galluses fur paw, n terbacks
fur you uns, n u squirrel gun fur me-
When he came to the squirrel gun hi
little eyes glistened under the rim Of hi
hat.
an. IN .x-..e. .-.t.,,,..t Ae..l i.,.,k