Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-26
CHAPTER Y

CHAPTER X.
PROMISE SOON BROKEN.
Colonel Maynard was in the habit Of
making frequent visits TO his wife and
without warning. Laura understood
perfectly the embarrassing position in
which he would be placed at surprising
q Confederate spy under the same roof
with herself and protected by her. She
had no mind to place him in any such
position. When Miss Baggs went up
stairs, Laura posted sentry in the per-
son Of Uncle Daniel TO keep sharp
lookout and give notice Of the colonol's
approach in order that Miss Baggs might
be got out of the way before his arrival.
Daniel sat Gown OH a bench on the We
randa and liz his pipe He was an old
man and prone to dose. Ii was not long
before Lookout mountgin across the
river began to sway among the clouds,
the nearer trees began to rock, the old
negro's head fell upon his breast, and
he slept.
Ii was nearly 10 o'clock when Laura,
having given up the coming Of her hus-
band that night and for once in her life
rejoicing thcroat, WAS about TO dismiss
Daniel from his responsible position
when she hoard step on the ycranda.
Thinking it was Daniel walking back
and forth to keep himself awake, she
paid no attention to il. There was a
turning of the knob TO the front door,
and in another moment Colonel May
nard stood on the threshold of the sit
ting room looking in upon Mrs. FaiD,
Laura Souri, and Miss Baggs. He was
about 10 enter when, observinga q strange
person, he hesitated. Laura advanced,
and taking him by the hand led him 10
another room. Ho had only once before
seen Miss Baggs and then in disguise
and did not recognize her.
why, sweetheart" no said to his
wife, you re trembling"
"You came in so hurriedly."
~ am hurried. We cross the river
tomorrow morning"
Tomorrow morning! oh. Mark, why
couldn't they wait q few days.
IF wives and sweethearts had the
giving OF orders, Uncle Sam would
have his armies always in winter guar
ters. p"
Why couldn't this happiness have
lasted just "a little longer?'
And then still n little longer. Come,
| have but u short time TO stay. Let me
say goodby TO the baby. ="
Laura led the way up stairs and drew
the curtains from the c. IDLE. exposing
the sleeping infant.
There was something in the inno-
cence, the absence of force III the little
slumberer, so different from the scenes
in which he was wont to mingle, to set
in motion train Of feelings in Mark
Maynard to which he had thus far been
q stranger. On the one side was the
wife he loved and the sleeping child;
OH the other, what now appeared toll
some marches, nights spent OIL wet
ground, Sickness mangling by shell and
bullets and saber cuts. A year before he
had loved these hardships, these dan
gers. Now new element had entered
into his life, and at least while he gaz-
ed on the little stranger (the only life
that had come to him among the many
gone since the war began he felt a
strange repugnance to entering upon
the coming campaign.
MY boy, my boy" he said huskily.
the thought suddenly coming to him
that he might never see wife or child
again, ''how can now risk leaving you
to struggle on to manhood unprotect-
ed:" Then, recognizing his weakness,
he said, with quick born smile, But
you have your mother, and must win
the star of brigadier for you to play
with
But wars quick and imperative de-
mands gave him little time for the in
diligence Of such feelings. He tried TO
turn away Again and again he drew
the curtains of the cradle, only to draw
them bac!, ior one more look.
Laura" he said suddenly, AL is
changed. Before you and he camel did
my duty as a soldier because it was not
hard to do and because it pleased nie.
Now it will be hard, and shall do II
that you and he may not be disgraced
in me. How can ever leave blot OH
my name and have that child grow up
to know it,"
Laura, seeing how hard it was for
him to draw himself from the cradle
took his hand and led him away.
Going down stairs, they found the
, house silent. All the family were IN
bed. Maynard knew that it was time
he had departed. 1t was very late ana
he must ride eight miles to camp and
be on the march with his brigade before
daylight But he could hardly tear him.
self away from the house. The sleeping
child up stairs seemed to have brought
from the unknown whence he came
maze of gentler emotions, which were
drifting like smoke wreaths about his
father, obscuring the way from their
peaceful influence.
There was one more embrace, then
another last one, then another final one,
then stirrup kiss, and Colonel Mark
Maynard rode back through the night
to camp.
Not long after his arrival bugles
sounded tho reveille It was 2 o'clock
| in the morning. and the men were
aroused to begin their advance to the
front Sending for Jakey Slack, the colo
mel gave him note to take back to
Laura at the plantation. He had repeat
ed his adieus so often in person that one
would hardly think it necessary 70 send
any more on cold paper. bat Aaynard's