Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-06-21

strangely. Corporal Greenleaf uncross-
ed and recrossed his military legs with
deliberation, toyed meditatively with
the rowel of his huge spurs and answer
ed confusedly: Blessed II do reck.
ON, however, it's safe to tell her that
you're in no danger OF being roasted
alive or passed through the sausage
grinder; not fat 'nough ON your bones
for that.
THANK you," said Seth, courteously
smiling faint acceptance Of the corpo
rails bread personalities before rcsum
ing the laborious undertaking Of writ
ing his mother the first letter he had
ever indited:
DEAR oiD MAMMv-Dont you 20 and get
scared now when don't turn mp about break
fast time. Tao Yankees out at scssumsport
want 40 lor su.ncthing o. ruiier, and I'm un.
der a esl. would have woke yuu up 10 tell
you Gil tl.s by word cr mouth. bat thought
you nec,ed all the sleep you could 81 after
yes, yu?v scare. cont sol n snybody's got
nu = ag'ir3s me. ! wisht they h-d more, but
| reckon they'll turn mc loose whor they find
out what small game they've bagged. The fel-
lcr that's wn,chin me while I'm writin 'Eis
tios,'t SCH 20 ...i.. ..ars anyt...us vcfy tGr
riiying ahead ~ me, 30 you my.s.n hc cu1-
Kin m any hing dreadful IL nin's hack
lo,. q ~ Il o'clock. please tell DoiDccr to bs
ii o. gnl hoe oar tho res. of tLe.n ...-nips.
had Lid OF 20 90 Il mySelf fust thin; this
mors,n. but e. ese rents IL 10 rrr.'li in thsir
invi,a,ion I'm bieestsi To 20 with EN-.
p. s.-The above Is Joke. With love to sis
Your attached son, &. ID. MARTIN.
Pallid, breathless, terrified, with this
note futtering in her trembling hand,
Mrs. Martin burst into the room occu
pied jointly by Liza and Mamie Colyer,
who were both startled into intense,
wide awakeness by her wailing cry.
Liza, oh, Liza, wake up honey. and
give me some comfort. My hearts like
to break. -
Liza, barefoot, rosy from slumber,
bright eyed aud disheveled, was by hcr
side in second.
what is it, minnie? The smoke
house?"
Smokehouse! Oh, my Lord, mol It's
your brother, your brother Seth. Tho
onlies' one had left. ;"
"Sethr'
Hes done took, honey. They've
rested him. The Yankees is got him
out at Sessumsport this ve'y minute,
and how do l know what they're doin
to him? And, oh. my Lawd. just bet
anything il was them red stripes down
the side Of his poor legs. He said them
stripes made him look like major gen
eral, and reckon them fools thought
he was. Poor boy! And him never hav
ing chance to shoot anything but beef
cattle"
She wiped her fast flowing tears on
the cuff Of her gown sleeve and sighed
rcsignedly.
You needn't say word, Liza. II
was them red stripes. But when women
has to cut their men folks breeche,
out n old shawls il amt always easy e.
tell where the stripes is goin to hit
Oh, my Lawd! Now, girls. You know IL
amt" and they mingled their tears to
gether while casting about for words OF
comfort.
port Seth was being ushered into the
presence Of the man who had ordered
his arrest.
The whole business was bewildering
in the extreme; the startling sum
mons, breaking up the solemn silence
Of his sentinel watch; the long, trying
ride, with nothing more flexible to
steady himself by than the leather
strap about Corporal Greenleaf's ample
waist line; the unfamiliar aspect of
Sessumsport, seen by the gray light Of
dawn, besprinkled with the white tents
Of III encamped brigade; the old court
house, transformed into military head
quarters, with the huge national flag
fiuttering Imply in the rain dampened
air; the room in Widow Morgan's cot
tage into which he was ushered by his
guard, with much show Of respect for
its solitary occupant That occupant,
rigidly erect in front Of table strewn
with maps and papers. turned toward
the door and rose as Corporal Greenleaf
saluted and informed him that his or.
ders had been carried out TO the letter.
And yhere's your man, major"
waving his hand toward Seth with an
air Of not considering the game worth
the candle.
"You can go, corporal, and put
guard before the door. am not 10 be
interrupted.
Then Major Martin Of the Fifth made
o step toward the trembling, bewilder-
ed prisoner standing alone, where he
and Corporal Greenleaf had stood to-
gether q moment before. The Federal
officer extended his hand. The rebel
prisoner did not notice it.
Brother Seth, we meet again.
strangely"
The sound Of the old familiar voice,
rich, mellow, unchanged, completed
Seth's downfall.
He covered his pallid face with his
work hardened hands. His tall, gaunt
form Quivered with the shock Of recog-
milton.
"Strongl Strong Martin! Oh. my
God, boy. that l should live to see yor
wearing that uniform!'
And tears trickled down his weather
stained cheeks
I'm av M rvIrrrnl