Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-10-17
LIGHT0UTOF DARKNESS
By Nm. HENRY WARD BEEoHER
lcspyrish. iaa By oeasy Pshl,aAias osn-
pany.l
CHAPTER XII.

followed speedily by telegrams from Rose
to assure the anxious home friends that,
although the first In the conflict and the
last to leave the field. her brothers thus
Tar had ~ mercifully preserved un-
harmed. Dunbar's horse had once been
shot under him. but he escaped without
injury. His brave men. however. had
suffered terribly. More than 20 Of
Georges gallant 100 had fallen. and ~
moro were now In the hospital. watched
over by their gallant captains sister with
o tenderness and hearty sympathy that
made her like an angel In their midst.
Then cs,usanother pause. during which
the regiments had leisure to Gil up their
broken ranks. recruit their exhausted
strength and restore order again In their
camps. But Il was only the quiet Of the
tempest while II gathers force to burst
again upon the earth with fury and desc
lation.
Our friends ut the farm had enjoyed
one Of those quiet. delightful Sabbaths
that July sometimes bestows after se-
we're thunderstorm. Toward evening all
were on the veranda watching the shad.
ows falling over the clover fields, while
the sun edged the grand old hills with
Hre as he slowly sunk to rest behind the
dark mountains that overlooked the plao-
Id lake.
Just then horses hoofs were heard.
and the next moment Q horse and rider
were seen rapidly approaching the house.
lt was an uncommon occurrence on the
Sabbath. and every face betokened alarm.
As the rider halted at the steps Mr..
Newton rose and received dispatch.
The boy fingered one moment and then
rode quickly away. To how many does
the sight Of a telegram bring fear and
forebodings Of evil. even when from busi.
ness necessities they are Of frequent 90
currence, and how one not accustomed to
receiving them shrinks from the first
glance Of the contentsl Thus stood Mr..
Newton. while every eye turned anxious-
ly toward him. His own face was very
pale aud his hand trembled when at last
he opened It. As his eyes took In the
message a heavy grosn burst from his
lips. but he instantly controlled himself
as his wife and daughter exclaimed:
"Oh, my boys!" MY husbandf'
"Be brave. my dear ones. Il IL from
Rose. A fearful battle at Bull Run. We
are shamefully beaten. Eustace slightly
wounded. but George and Ralph are
missing. Come-come to me quicklyr
All, was not this Q bitter cup! How
will they bear iti The noble father.
the tender mother. the loving bride
and sister and the dear younger brotherl
Their faith and trust In God must be
strong indeed to carry them safely
through these deep watersi
Lillian was the first to speak.
I'VE muct 20 at once, dear father.
Eustace will be well cared for. but Rose
needs counsel and support Immediately"
"Yes, my darling. But there 10 no
train that we can reach till early Mon
dry morning. :.
"My dear wife, you are not well. ]
dread this rapid and exciting journey
for you. Will you not remain at home,
leaving Lillian and myself to do what
we can for our children, yet keeping you
informed by daily telegramsy'
In the early morning Alfred returned.
GOOD news. telegraphed to Rose as
soon as I reached the city and received
this answer not 10 minutes before was
obliged to leave" handing the dispatch
to his father.
"George safe with US. Eustace doing
well. but Ralph Is o prisoner. Let al.
fred come with Lillian. Father and
mother can do nothing toward Ralph's
release"
Great was the Joy at this release from
part Of their fears, but 1t was with did.
Guilty that the mother could be persuaded
to relinquish the idea Of going herself.
She at last consented on one condition
that her husband should accompany Lii
Ian. leaving Alfred to supply his fathers
place at home.
Mr.. Newton and his daughter reached
the camp without any delay. sending
back by the magic wires an immediate
report Of their safe arrival and the com
fort their presence gave the anxious chill
dren.
At noon the next day came the fol.
lowing:
"Ralph IL safely with rs. Expect
letter the next mail"
The letter came In due time, "a fol.
lows:
"Dunbar's wound In tho left arm,
from a bayonet thrust, was slight, and
would not have kept him from his work
. day, but ut the same time he was
knocked from his horse. rescued by his
men and carried from the field.
"George and Ralph have been wonder.
fully preserved. Their regiment was
among the most fearless anc daring"
In q letter to his wife Mr.. Newton
thus describes how Ralph appeared In
the Union lines,
Yesterday afternoon a. we were
seated In Eustace's tent u loud shout from
his men outside brought us all upon the
grounds. Great excitement was mani
tested by all. and repeated cheers from
the front sounded strangely out Of place
where ell but u moment before had been
quiet. moody or despondcnt. As the
men saw the colonel leave his tent they
made way fer US to pass toward the front.
and In the distance We saw that horse-
man riding furiously was the occasion
Of the excitement. The instant Dunbar
espied him he exclaimed; 'Looki Surely
cannot be mistaken. That Il Pinte.
but such uniform-who can the rider
teY Il was their colonels well known
horse the men had cheered 20 heartily,
but they now stood anxiously waiting for
nearer approach to recognize the rider.
ut was but o moments suspense be-
fore, without checking his headlong
speed. he stripped the rebel coat from his
shoulders, threw Il from him and raislng
the cap from his head tossed II high In
the air to fall In the ditch beyond. with
q full, Joyous 'Hurrahr which was an
swered by the most deafening checrA
We all recognised that voice. Rose
sprang forward. crying 'Ralphl Ralphl
my darling brotherr As he dashed into
our midst flung himself from the pant
ing horse and clasped her In bis arms."
The letter still further explained that
ON the FIRST night Of Ralphs capture
those who had charge Of the prisoners en-.
camped In . wood not many miles from
Bull Run. being unable TO proceed tar
ther and confident that our army bad
been too greatly dispiritsd to rally sum-
sisntly to regain what they had 20 need
lessly lost. From the hrst Ralph was
i determined to eacapo boforo ho reached