Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-02

"I'm hungry Jest a. sartin, and Jakeys
little eyes glistened at the thought OF .
hot supper.
The young lady laughed and went into
the house.
Mamma. there's q young countryman
and his little brother out on the gallery.
They want some supper and q bed for
the night"
An elderly lady. with two white pun
curls ON either side Of her face. looked
up from book she was reading. Her
appearance was dignifed and refined.
"The young man looks quite like Q
gentleman, II he 10 Q counryman,
added the daughter.
I'VE must be very cautious, Laura;
You know how we are situated; your
father and brother away and no man In
the house, we cant let strangers sleep
here. But they may have something
to eat. and perhaps It might do to let
them sleep In the barn II they look
right"
"where shall they have their supperr
slave It put on the hall table down
stairs"
The daughter paused moment and
thought.
"Do you know, mamma, cant ex.
actly feel satisfied to put the elder
brother In place given mp to the serv.
ants"
"what nonsense. Laurai We are tax.
ing great risk to let them into the
house ut all. Heaven grant that the
horses are not all taken before morning.
The man may be In league with band
Of guerrillas. for all we know"
The daughter withdrew. for the mo-
lnent quite impressed with her mothers
prudence. As she stepped out on the
veranda Mark rose respectfully and
stood looking into her black eyes with
his blue ones. Her mothers caution fed
away before that honest countenance.
"You can have some supper, she said,
Elf you care to eat In the lower hall, and
you can sleep-you-you can sleep-
Mark was bowling his thanks.
"would you mind sleeping in Shs
paused again.
"The barni Certainly not"
"You know these are troublous times"
she said apologetically. "and we are
alone. mean we haven't many men In
the house." she quickly added, conscious
of having made known the households
weakness to q stranger.
Mark smiled. The young lady was
looking at him as he did 30, and she
thought he had q very charming smile.
"we will sleep anywhere you choose
to put us. Leastaways we amt pur-
ticular."
The first sentence was spoken In his
natural way; the second In dialect.
Marks manner Of speaking to her was
singularly mixed.
"l'suppose your men are fighting our
battles" he remarked to relieve an swk-
ward pause.
"Papa Is away"
"Have you no brothersS"
ayes, one; he Is fighting for the Con.
federacy."
"And your father-is he at the war;
mo; papa does not care much about
the war"
"Perhaps he's Union man."
"Well. yes. Papa Is Union"
Mark concluded to hazard surmise.
"Was he driven outy' he asked.
"Not exactly" she said, with frown.
"He's gone north. though"
She did not like to tell the whole story
to stranger, who was gradually getting
a good deal Of information. Her father
had come to Chattanooga from the north
years before, where he had married o
southern woman. After the opening OF
the war. on account Of his pronounced
Union sentiments. he had been warned
several times to leave, and his family
were much relieved when he was well
away from the danger that threatened
him.
"You are divided" said Mark, "as We
are. Now. my leetle brother hysrs q
Union boy. I'm Confederate.
There was O pause, and the girl. re-
marking that she would see about their
supper, turned and went into the house.
There was delay In getting the meal
ready. Perhaps the negro cook demurred
at cooking for "poor white trash;" at any
rate 1t was quite dark before supper was
announced. The mistress Of the house
came out. and as Mark saw her eying
them both he knew that she came TO
have q look at them. Fortunately fer
him, the darkness prevented her getting
good view Of him. Mark at once com.
menced to probe q mothers heart by
dwelling on the tired condition Of little
Jakey. and kept 1t up till the lady was
quite unwilling to send the boy to sleep
in the barn. She inwardly resolved that
the child should have comfortable bed.
Jakey ate q hearty supper-the heart
Ter for the delay-and the two wayfares
were shown up stairs to large room
with big bed In 1t. A few sticks were
lighted on the hearth to dry the damp
ness. for the room had been long unused.
and there was q general air OF comfort
Jakey, who had never seen such luxury,
rolled his little eyes about and won.
dered. But he was too tired to waste
much time In admiration. He was soon
In bed and asleep.