The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-10


leaving you SO soon. ] owe you all
great deal in this household. and now
that our forces occupy the country. If
you require anything. let me know it.
What can do for your"
There was silence for few moments,
which was broken by Mrs Slack.
"Waal, now, colonel. dye know
hain't had cup o. coffee TO- nigh on
ter year?'
"You shall have some as soon as
cam reach my commissary. Anything
else?"
Souri, frowned even at the request Of
her mother. and no one named any 9TH
er requirement
"Jakey." said the colonel, 'you
haven't forgotten how, when l went
through here year ago, asked you to
go with me on my way to Chattanooga
to get information Of the movements Of
the Confederate army?"
''Hev forgot when war yer adder
campf Oh. no, no. hain't forgot.
well, hadn't much inducement to
offer you then unless the sharing of q
prison may be called an induaement.
Now, If you will 20 along, I'll promise
you the best that Mrs. Maynard can
provide at the plantation. Will you go?"
"Will I? Course will Paw, can
hev Tom?"
''Sartin. boy, and the farmer turned
and went to the barn.
Won't you need IA luncheon?"
asked Souri,, whose hesitation was an
effort to avoid the word smack, the
only name she had known for cold
bite before she went north to school.
''Oh, no, said the colonel. "We shall
ride directly to the plantation. Well
get plenty to eat when we arrive"
Meanwhile Jakey had followed his
father to the barn. Mrs. Slack stepped
into the house to make up bundle for
the boy. Maynard and Souri, sauntered
aimlessly in the yard. Presently they
found themselves at the wellhouse.
Souri, leaned over 1t and looked down
into the we'll. There was something
she wanted to say. but found 1t difficult.
II thank you very much for what
you've done for me. 4" she said.
"Why, Souri,, what have / done for
you compared with what you did for
me?'
Didn't you find me poor white
girl year ago, and haven't you sent
me to school. with Jakey, and helped
me to look into world thas would have
been always closed to me except for
your
And wouldn't my world have been
entirely closed to me except for your"
Souri, was silent.
''6ouri, when you speak to me of OBJ
legation you remind me how deeply l
am obliged to you. When was impris-
oned at Chattanooga, charged with be-
ing a spy, tried, convicted and about to
be hanged, you came and effected my es-
cape. Why. child, were it not for you
my bones would this minute be molder-
ing in the jailyard at Chattanooga
"But Mrs. Maynard, she"-
Souri, paused. She was bending low
over the side of the wellhouse, her face
In the palms Of her hands, her elbows
resting on the board beside the bucket.
and looking down as though seeking for
something in the dark disk below.
"She completed what you began,
the colonel finished for her.
1T was more for her to do 'Twasn't
noth--anything for me. You uns-you
was Union, and SO was /. She was Con-
federate."
There was depth of feeling in Souri,
which threw her of her guard and made
IL difficult for her to adhere to her train
ing in expressing herself.
'Souri am indebted to two lovely
women for every breath / draw. You
opened my prison doors. She who is my
wife concealed mo when was hunted
for my life Let us talk no more about
It. The very mention Of the narrowness
of my escape gives me choking sensa-
tion about the neck. F"
Jakey came trotting out of the barn
on Tom, the rim of his felt hat Tapping
up and down at each step.
The farmer followed, and Mrs. Slack
came out with Jakey's bundle Then
with handshalsing all around, and a
''God bless you, my little girl, from
Maynard to Souri,, the two started ON
their way. not on foot, as on their for.
mer journey, but each with q good
mount