Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-06-28

vision or himseif ana seth, contending
In all boyish sports In the grassless
quarter lot, came TO him helpfully-
Seth, always gentle and generous in the
contest; he, turbulent and ambitious;
Charlie. amiably neutral, and Liza,
pretty. arrogant, spoiled. the household
idol After all. the essential elements
OF home had been there. but he had
not recognized IL.
"Tell me about them, he said again,
with softening In his voice, 'and that
other one. Miss Colyer, the professors
daughter. Is she with my mother and
sister YETI"
Where else should she be? Who Is
there to look out for her. poor little
one? Her old father, the onlies' friend
she had In the world, only the good
Lord knows whether he is livin or dead.
She d rather know him dead than find
him inside uniform like yourn.
Hold your tongue, Seth Martin.
You are sentimental fool"
The officers brows contracted omi.
nously. He abruptly vacated the chair
he had drawn up TO Seth's side and
walked over to one of the front win
lows where he stood leaning heavily
against the easement, staring modify
out over the early morning stir in the
encampment. IL was impossible to stem
the current Of Seth's biting scorn.
Eyes, she would, Miss Mamie would.
Her and sissy are the bravest soldiers
know Of. They are just wrapped up in
the cause, Strong Martin, and the man
that amt ben true to the gray will
haf to hang his head before them two
spunky girls. They're grit to the back.
bone You may find shirks and towards
among the men-that's me-and you
may find traitors-false, black hearted
traitors - among the men, monsters
that's ready to lift their hands ag' inst
the very mother that sucked 'em--
that's you-but the southern woman
rings true every time, sir. She does, by
jimminy."
Through the long, silent hours Of the
night just gone Strong Martin had been
schooling himself for this interview
He knew how great shock was await.
ing his brother, and he knew how con.
tracted was the lens through which his
own departure from the traditions Of his
family would be observed. Seth's crude
violence fell upon benumbed sensibili.
ties.
He scarcely heard what Seth was say.
ing. He knew il was abusive, but what
of that? He turned away from the win
dow and faced the excited man, who had
remained seated from the beginning OF
this unpleasant interview. The sound
Of his brothers. high pitched, querulous
voice was exasperating to his tired
nerves He raised his hand authorita-
lively.
Hold up, Seth. What you are saying
does not amount TO n row Of pins You
are a Confederate simply from force of
circumstances and surroundings am
Federal from identically the same rea-
SONS This accursed war is practically
over, and you are on the losing side.
Tomorrow, at the hour Of noOn-today
rather, for the night is already gone-if
you hear l2 slow guns from the direc-
tion Of the gunboat lying of DeerMeck,
you may know that Robert 4. Lee has
surrendered and that the war is over.
That is the signal agreed upon in case
the rumor Of surrender is confirmed
That being the case, brother Seth, you
and have other work than quarreling
before u.s. You are on the losing size,
Seth. and | on the winning, but we
must stand shoulder to shoulder in the
work Of reconstructing home for our
loved ones There is no one left TO care
for mother and Liza but you and me. "
Seth removed his palmetto hat from
the human peg that was trembling vio-
lently beneath its slight weight and
SdICutJl tioWh ioA -
kerchief. His thin, sharp chin was quiv.
ering with excitement His pale, blue
eyes shot flames Of wrath into the grave,
patient face Of his brother
MY knowledge Of the country and
its resources recommended me in high
quarters You would not care TO hear
the story of my promotion That has
nothing to do with the stern facts star
ing us in the face today. am here. l
am here in a position TO befriend all at
Sans Souci, and IL was because ] want
ed to consult with you first rs to the
best method OF doing this without bring
ing down upon myself deluge Of that
sentimental abuse that is lavished SO
literally upon the invading army that l
sent for you first You owe it to your
friends to be rational. may be ordered
away from here ON moments notice.
Tell me how can best help them all. y
Seth looked at him through narrow
ing lids
"Help who? Help those women out
yonder Mt Sans Souci!"
"Yes What do they need!''
Seth laughed mirthlessly
Need? Well | reckon they jus
about need everything women foks is
used to havin The madam, she is got o
brand new dress-a mighty fine one.
She helped spin the yarn for it herself,
and sissy wove it on the hand loom. Lii
"a got TO be frs class weaver Mann
my's wearin petticoats made out Of old
bedtickin, but she declares they are
prime good. Sissy goes clompin round
in pair Of things called shoes that |
cobbled up fur her out Of an alligator
hide. They amt dancin pumps jus ex-
ac'ly, but they beat no shoes all hol-
ler. Mothers wearin pair of slippers
I figured out Of pair of wornout sad
dlebag flaps You see, We don't go in
for the fashions very heavy these days. !"
"But food? Every outside source Of