Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-06-27


am separated from my party owing e
the stupidity Of the driver OF the vehicle
which contains my crucibles and chem
icals. appeared at your door and you
daughter was kind enough to ask m,
in-not surprising, considering your IA
famed Tennessee hospitality"
"You are quite welcome, sir"
Mark bowed low, with his hand on i'll
heart, like South Carolina gentleman
Of the old school.
slave you suppedY asked Mrs. Fain
Eyes, madam, I succeeded In getting
meal by the way. A poor one, indeed
o very poor one, with burned beans foI
coffee. But since the abolition Lincoln
government has violated all rules oi
civilized warfare by this cruel blockade
intending to starvs Us into subjectior
i suppose We must take what We Car
Set. I repeat II, we must take what w
tan get, madam"
Marks eyes flashed with well feigned
Indignation.
at Is our duty to bear our deprivs.
tons cheerfully," said Mrs. Fain. "we
shall gain our Independence at last. and
that should DO an incentive"
ut should, madam, and let me tell
you we are about to see stirring times
and great successes. This region haa
become Of especial military Importance.
Our forces will be In front Of Nashville,
perhaps Louisville, very soon. while
General Lee can't fail with such noble
men as he has In his army-the very
flower Of the south-the flower Of the
south. inadam-he can't fail, say, to
drive the Yankees out OF virginiai"
"You are very hopeful"
While Mark was thus performing,
Laura stood with downcast eyes, and II
her mother had not been SO interested
In the hopeful words Of the garruloua
South Carolinian she would have noticed
slow heaving Of her daughters bosom,
with here and there slight spasmodic
action.
"And now. madam, ," said Mark, "may
beg nights lodgingi fear II Is too
late to find my party"
Certainly. sir. Call Miranda. my
dear"
Miranda was summoned and directed
to show the gentleman to the guest
chamber on the second door In the front
Of the house.
Mark went with the servant and 70.
mained In his room long enough to have
made toilet and then sauntered down
stairs. At the door OF the parlor In
which Mrs. Fain and her daughter were
sitting. he paused, as II waiting for an
invitation to enter. This was given him,
but he did not stay long. For hot
blooded South Carolinian, he seemed not
to bear the heat well. and manifested a
desire to get out on to the veranda. In.
deed he had u wholesome dread Of the
light. Besides he desired to be where
he could converse with Laura.
"If may beg you to excuse me, la.
dies" he said, 81 will 90 out for little
fresh air."
He strolled out into the night and
walked back and forth on the veranda.
"Laura," said Mrs. Fain, ''go out and
entertain Mr.. Rhett I'm afraid Of the
night air myself"
"Do you think 1t essential, mammaY
Certainly do. South Carolinians are
especially particular about the enter
tainment Of their guests, and ] wouldn',
have II go back to Charleston that we
had been remiss for the world"
Laura obeyed her mother and Joined
the guest on the veranda.
Mark lifted his hat respectfully to her.
"Tho moon is rising" he remarked.
ii see the waxing light. II you will
come this way" going TO the end Of the
veranda, lyon can see 1t better"
Laura followed him TO the position.
where they were out Of hearing.
The relief from keeping Mark con-
cealed In the garret, the success Of the
imposition Of the spurious South Caro-
linan on her mother. Marks talent for
playing his part, all combined to place
Laura Fain In an exhilarated frame OF
mind. Like most women she admired
daring, and like most women appre.
ciated that daring In one In whom she
was interested In proportion TO the ex.
tent Of the danger attending 1t.
"You ire safe for the present" sho
said. h.r eyes glistening In the moon.
light and a bright spot on each cheek.
Thanks to your courage and ingenu.
"Oh, no; no! That's absurd! For you
to speak Of my courage! Do You know
that the recklessness with which you
put your neck into ha,t,r Is as unintel.
ligible to me Us mathematics would be to
one Of our servants"
"For the cause" said Mark, "one
ought to-
"Nonsense, The causei You love
these dangers"
"There Is fascination in them, ad.
init. SO long as there Is one chance for
me, no matter how many there are
against me-so long rs have an arm or
weapon to fight with ! am q man.
When cornered and taken | am the veri.
est coward in the world. While In prison
In Chattanooga I moaned and whined
like frightened child. The truth Is
that danger Is fascinating only either be-
fore 1t Is encountered or after 1t has
passed. When I am In II want to get
out Of It; when ! am out Of It ] want to
get In 1t again"
II don't believe you know the mean.
ing Of the word fear"
"Indeed you are mistaken. II ! did
not feel fear there would be no fascina-
ton In danger"
"Then you have way with you OF
making people do what you like. When
you were here before you fascinated all
the servants. You completely captiyated
Uncle Daniel. who has talked OF no one
else since"
"Daniel is y good man. He'll be Of
use to me yet"
"Yes. of use to you. You use every
one either openly or by deception. ]
almost fancied you were professor
somebody, Just now, when you were dc.
ceiving poor mamma. You reminded
me Of Mephistopheles for all the world" :"
"You Aatter," said Mark In irony.
"You are Mephistopheles. You come
here and compel Inc to harbor you. You
are seeking ~ injure the cause l favor.
and I give you my brothers clothes,
when that brother Is fighting for that
cause. Why do not send for some one
10 come and take your
"On account Of your native lowell.