Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-25

!, at the water. Its runnen makes
seem sif y war goen straight when ~
goen crooked. Thar's q ledge O rocl
below thar and deep water beyond"
Mark fixed his eyes ON his guide, an
turning his horses head toward he
urged her forward. She picked her wa
slowly, a. II conscious OF danger, and 9
last coming to the brink stepped quickl
out of the water and shook herself.
"What makes you tremble soY b
asked Of Souri,.
II ain't," she said, coloring.
..Is that dangerous fordr'
"Ef y'd stumbled offen the ledge y
a drownded."
eve done some scouting before thii
but see now that haven't learned I
cross o current till today. Next tim
I'll look out for something on shore {
steer by"
Another ten minutes brought ther
home. They came upon the house fror
its rear. II fronted ON the road runnin
northward and faced east. Souri, le
the way to u rickety barn, where bot
horses were stabbed. She left Mark 4
the barn while she went into the hous
to inform the inmates Of his presence.
Presently she came out.
dad lows y mought come In fur
spell thout much resk. They won't kno,
O. y'r bein hyar yet awhile. Least
aways thar's no hurry. But dad reckon
y mought sleep In the barn with ON
eye Open"
IL shall not sleep anywhere tonigh,
must go on. But I'll 60 In with yo1
for awhile"
A man met them ut the door wit
white, shocky hair and stubble beard
He looked sixty. though he was ten o
fifteen years younger. He walked rs !
he were following the plow. His trou
sers were drawn nearly up to his arm
pits, double breasted waistcoat served
In lieu Of q coat, and an old woolen
hat covered his head to the back OF his
neck.
Them blue clothes looks kinder peart
TO we uns down hyar ez amt seen
nothen but gray" said the man. 81
lowed when you uns went up ter Chat
tenoogy last June and fred them big
guns ut the town y was goen to hold
onto these hyar parts"
perhaps II was mistake" said
Mark, "but never criticise the acts OF
my superiors."
"Come inter tn house."
Tho dwelling was composed Of two
square log houses, some ten feet apart,
under one roof, with O floor between
the two. The man led Mark into one
of these parts or houses. The articles
In 1t that struck the soldiers eye were
very high bedstead. heightened fur
ther by feather bed; q chest Of draw.
ers, and q clock on the mantle that
ticked loud enough to DO heard out In
the barn. There were some pieces OF
rag carpet OH the floor, two or three
hard seated chairs and rocker.
"what y got fur supper the old
man asked as his wife entered.
81 don't want any supper" said the
soldier. 81 only ate an hour or two
ago"
The woman, who was bent down
through some nervous disease, went To
the chest Of drawers. took therefrom a
cob pipe and some tobacco and began to
smoke.
"AIuch shaken among the sojes,
stranger she asked.
"At the beginning Of fight there's a
good DEAL" replied Mark, "but after
they're once In they get on without much
trouble"
Don't mean that kind Of shaken
ager."
"Oh, ague. No, I don't think there's
much ague."
"FeverY'
There's always more or less camp
fever. II seems as II every man who
campaigns In this country must have a
dose Of typhoid to get acclimated."
"Thar's q powerful lot o fevers bout
hyar. Thar's the typhoid. the broken
bone, the intermitten and the remitten,
and onct en- awhile we git yaller jack
when 1t comes up the Mississippi from
Orleans"
That's q good deal Of fever" re-
piled Mark; "but, to come down to bust.
ness. I want to say few words to you
people. You're sure you're UnionT
"Sarten," said the old man.
"Got young'un In Jim Browns com.
pany Of east Tennesseeans," said the old
woman. III hearn tn all had the mea.
sles in tn spring. Henery he'd It."
eyes, that regiment was nearly all
down at one time. Now, I'm going on
very dangerous mission. May ! rely
on-who are youY
A boy about thirteen years Of age had
come into the room. and squaring him.
self before Mark began to stare at him.
"Jake." replied the intruder. 81 have
something Of Importance to say to your
father and mother" Then to the par.
ents. "won't you please send him outy
Jest y like, stranger" answered the
father, "but mebbe Jake mought show
y tn way or somepn. He's purity
peart."
Jake's appearance did not bear witness
tO the encomium.
"well. let him stay. l would like to
rely on this house rs place OF refuge In
case have to get back here rapidly.
want you to take care Of my horse, and
II never come you can keep him. II !
do come I'll pay you more literally for
horse fodder than you ever wero paid be-
fore"
"Y' talk purity rich fer q common
sojer."
"Don't fear for that. have money
and Mark showed q roll OF bills that
astonished his host.
do you agreey'
"Sarten, but the money don't make
no differ. I'm Union man to the back.
bone"
"Have you any citizens clothesT
"Thar's Henery's store clothes ca he
left when he went to jine tn army"
evil they tit mey
"Reckon 80. Henery's bout your size. )"
Slack took the soldier into the twin
log cabin and there gave him suit OF
clothes which were intended for best
wear, but they had evidently been 50 In.
tended for years, with frequent devia.
tions from the intention. Mark took Oh
his uniform, which. with his rifle and pis-
tol and othtraccouterment he put under
the bed. Then he drew of his boots (so
loose that he could easily remove them
without unbuckling his spurs) and put
o H.. A falt ha q cos,, al ~ "A