Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-03-12
CHAPTER XIV.
AN rNMIIlOMR PRISONER.

II was s o'clock in the morning.
Colonel Maynard pushed back the tenn
flap, intending 10 step outside aud 60 TO
the mess tent for breakfast. The bright
ness Of the morning seemed reflected IN
his countenance. His step was firm, his
bearing full of youthful. manly vigor.
BE had been rapidly gaining the conf
dence Of his officers and was coming TO
be admired and beloved by his men. All
misgivings ia 10 his fitness for his re-
sponsiblc position had melted away.
Colonel Mark Maynard was the man
most to bc envied of those no Older than
himself in the Army Of the Cumbor-
land.
He had scarcely passed from his tent
when, glancing down the road beside
which his camp was located, his atten-
ton was arrested by an ambulance com
ing slowly along driven by a man in n
soldiers blouse and smoking a short
clay pipe. On either side rode cav
alryman Tho colonel paused to watch
the coming vehicle and its ATTENDANTS
Had il not been guarded no would have
supposed il TO contain sick soldier GO
ing TO hospital. As it was, it must ei-
ther hold an officer of high rank or sick
or wounded prisoner. Whatever it con-
tained, there came to the man watching
il an uncomfortable feeling that il was
in some way link between himself and
misfortune. The bright, happy look OF
a moment before disappeared, to be re-
placed by troubled expression, though
he could not have given "a reason for
foreboding. When the ambulance stop
ped opposite his tent, he mutterod with
knitted brow:
"What does this mean?"
One OF the attendants dismounted,
went to the door Of the ambulance,
opened il and handed ont woman, who
descended 10 the ground with some diff
ficulty, m though in weakened condi-
ton. The two then came directly to
where Colonel Maynard was standing
The woman was attired in striped
calico dress. Her head and face were
bare. The colonel knew at glance that
he had seen her before, but could not
tell where She walked slowly. for she
seemed scarcely able to drag herself
along, and he had time to study her
features as she came on. The two stop
ned before him. The soldier saluted, and
drawing an envelope from his belt hand
ed it to Colonel Maynard. The colonel
took it without looking at it. He was
still studying the features OF the wom'
an.
"a communication from General
-, colonel" said the man who band
ed him the paper. As the soldier spoke
Colonel Maynard recognized the woman
he had met at Mrs. Fain's. His hand
trembled as he grasped the envelope
and tore it open.
HEADQUARTERS - DIVISION,
ATNY or THE CUMBERLAND.
In THE FIELD, Sept. =, lS2
Colonel Mark Maynard, Commanding the IN
Cavalry Brigade:
CoIoSEL-I send you woman who this
morn::ir was caught tampering with tho teie
graph line and who has evidently been taK.
about to move on this morning, take the nd
erty to send her to you under guard, with the
suggestion that you do with her as seems best
to you. have use for the limited number OF
men present for dnty on my escort, and tins
is my apology for troubling you Yours Is the
nearest command to which can send her. j
am very respectfully your obedient servant
Brigadier General
Colonel Maynard read the missive
over twice, slowly, without looking up.
He had not read dozen words before
he knew that he held in his possession
one whose life was forfeited as his own
life had been forfeited to the Confeder-
ates q year before His keeping his eyes
ON the paper was to gain time, to avoid
speaking when his utterance was chok'
ed with a strange emotion. His thoughts
were far awsy. He stood on the bank OF
the Tennessee river below Chattanooga
It was in the gray Of the morning. de
saw q skiff tied to the shore He jump
cd down to seize 1t and found himself