Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-30

panion had strengthened certain doubts
which had at times come up to trouble
her as to the ultimate success, the real
motives which underlay her cause, and
with her intense, devoted nature had
led her to feel that all this vast effort
put forth by her people might in the end
avail nothing or would only, If success
full, perpetuatc wrong. Her lover saw
her troubled expression. He did not at
tempt to comfort her by recalling what
he had said. He pushed on further.
"Darlin. he said, ''ye're right when
ye say Oi IN needed i'll Oireland Gowith
me, darlin. Be me wife. Let all this
intense effort, this sacrifice ye're put
tin into a cause, which Oi foresce is
doomed. be given to ms tenants. The
estate is large one, and there are hun
dre,,s of people for ye to befriend. There
20 can work to purpose. There yer ef'
forts in behalf Of really downtroddcn
people will be for good.
And leave my brothers in the midst
Of this horrid struggle? will stay here
till the last gun is fired, till the last
blow of the hammer has riveted our
chains"
Born and bred in the south, Miss Fitz
Hugh had never seen except with south
ern eyes. Here was man who was CIV
ing her views never before open to her.
She had mind capable Of graspine
them and saw the strength, the solid
sense, beneath them when properly pre-
sented.
"Darlin," said the young baronet,
"the world moves Oh quickly. II yer
people succeed in this war, in less than
q quarter Of century ye'll either free
YER slaves or be q blot Oh the face OF the
earth"
"Oh, Rats she exclaimed, "why
did ever meet you? You've sapped the
strength possessed for my work. can
never again do my duty as have done
it thus far.
"Darlin, he said, drawing her neare'
to him, "Oi'll replace what Oi've taken.
OiIl give ye other duties, tho dutie:
that belong to the mistress OF q fine es
tate, the duties Of woman OF high de-
gree in a country where birth Is re-
speoted far more than here. With your
vigor, your strong impulses"-
"Guided by your more steady light y
"Ye may become one Of the most in
fluential women in the three kingdoms. =
| In her eyes came that humorous
twinkle he had once seen before wher
she stood in her buggy in the road uI
in Tennessee and tantalized him for hi
stupidity in having been duped by her
i 'It would be nice to boz
| ITO be what, darlin?"
Lady Rats, +" and she hid her blushe'
in the pillow on which his head rested
! The sun setting over Lookout noun
tain shone directly in the faces OF May
nard and his party as returning from
Ringold they rode into Chattanooga. i
was a glorious October evening, and tn
heights towering them, covered by un
seen Confederates, reposed about TIT
town like huge lions watching wound
ed animal, confident that at last 1t mus
fall into their power.
u Dismounting before his tent, Maynard
entered it, and there found lette
from his wife. She begged him to oom'
to her IL It were possible, and II not q
write to her. He read and reread th'
letter again and again, and then made
an attempt at q reply. After writing
half dozen. all Of which he tore up
he abandoned the task in despair Hi
, position was too uncertain. The sen
i tence Of the court martial hung owe
him like sullen cloud. What could b
,, say 70 her to comfort herr He vel
knew that the only comforting sh
needed was to know that no was no
miserable. and Of that he could nos ~
r sure her.
u And 80 matters hung for week
, Having no duties to perform, the tim
/ passed all the more slowly. The Con
federates were sending occasional shAll
from Lookout mountain, and = the'