Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-24
NUMBER 4s.

skin, through whose pores IL gently
stole its way. pain vanished, and the
sfficer felt that but for the presence Of
the two standing behind aunty's chair
he could have laid back his head and
sunk into the rsfreshing dreamless sleep
Of infancy.
II never saw anything like IT," hs
said gratefully. ''I felt better from the
moment you began taking of the band
age. don't understand how
"Cose yo' doan' obstend II, coss 20
Is nnffin but white man" :,
THAT must be II, aunty. l have had
some fear that one Of the bones was in
iured. Is II so-ohp'
She was kneading the forearm with
a vigor that sent thrill OF agony
through his frame and caused the frown,
the start and the exclamation.
'.Hushi Hain't yo' no sensef /
fought Marse Linkum's sojers had
some sense, but dey am as big fools as
Marse JEFF Davis. Yaas, de bone had
been brashed little by de bullet dat
ohscated IL, but il amt broke. Shall
I tell yo' sumfn ?"
The black eyes. with the iron specta-
cles resting on the bridge Of the hat
nose. flashed upward and looked into
the face so near its own. like vision
Of mercy from out OF the midnight.
81 shall be glad to hear it, aunty."
"Dat arm am gwine to hab good
'eal oh Instrumentation. Yo' must keep
quiet. Doan' fret, but it'll hurt like
creation fur few days"
lyon are sure there is no danger,
auntyf"
The question was asked by Mrs. e.
bridge, who was too accustomed 10 the
ways Of her servant TO be startled by
what she might say.
"Lor' bless yo'l Muffin at all tn
hurt, but de bones am as good as eber
an in week or two he won't know
what hab been de matter wild him. I"
"And aunty never makes mistake.
added Miss Eldridge. ''She Is the best
physician in the county. Do as she says,
and she will soon bring you around
Ny mother has already assured you
that you are welcome 30 long as you
choose to remain with us"
IL cannot express my thanhulness.
said the lieutenant with deep feeling.
"Since entered your state as an enc
nv, what right had 10 look for such
kindness
"The right Of those who profess the
faith Of the good Samaritan. replied
the mother. "God knows have suffer
ed enough at the hands Of your people.
My father and brother have given mp
their lives, one at Gettysburg and the
other in front Of Richmond. But we are
civilized creatures, and when my hus-
band was n prisoner Of the Unionists
he was treated as hope TO treat you. !"
81 remember General Eldridge well, "
said the lieutenant gently. ''No brsver
officer lives. / helped to capture him.
and my opinion is that Of all who knew
him. was glad when he was exchang-
ed, though" cleverly added the officer.
'T know il is just such as he that help
prolong the war. shall avail myself
Of your kindness to the extent OF per-
hsps week
"Shet upl" angrily interrupted Aunt
Marcie "Yo' hain't got muffin 70 say
how long yo's gwine to be heah. III
FIX dat"
Gas you please, aunty," meekly re-
sponded the invalid, who blushed more
fiercely than before, because at that
moment his eyes and those Of Miss FL
bridge met, and each smiled
Into the room walked at that mo-
ment a tall, severely featured woman
Of perhaps 25 or 80 years Of age. She
came through the front door, as IL she
were a neighbor She was attired in
black. and the light gray eyes, the thin
lips and the rigid figure were those Of
one who knows little of the quality Of
mercy.
"This IL Miss Hartman" Miss El-
bridge made haste TO say, mentioning at
the same time the name Of Lieutenant
Oakman and the misfortune that made
him temporary guest in that home.
The officer partly rose from the cush-
ioned chair in which he had been seat
cd. bowed low and expressed his pleas
ure at the meeting. Miss Hartman
looked angrily at him without the
slightest inclination Of her head or &C.
Of the introduction. The
thin lips closed for moment, and then
with a strange glitter in her steely eyes
she turned to the mistress Of the home.
The words that followed seemed TO be
shot out like bullets from between the
lips:
MRS Eldridge. do you mean TO let
that man stay herer'
"Such is my intention. replied the
elder with dignity, 'and have yet 10
learn that it is any concern Of yours. "
"Humph. and you claim to be
southern womanp'
al do. and therefore Christian wo-
man"
There was an ominous fash in the
eyes Of the daughter, who here inter
posed:
Miss Hartman, were not certain
that you have forgotten your self COM
mand and that you will soon be asham-
ed Of this, should not permit you TO
remain in this room.
Ashamed Of myself repeated the
woman with scorn. Never II is you
who will regret to your dying day hav-
ing given shelter to one who comes to
slay our people and burn our homes II
I had my way, I should not permit him
to remain another minute under this
roof"
Madam" interposed Lieutenant
~ judge you are q native OF
the north"
81 am" replied the woman. turning
upon him.
"Your words and manner led me to
suspect it,
"And l am ashamed of my misfor-
tune, which cannot be helped. "
"No more ashamed than the north Is
Of such daughters as you. and the woe
ful grief of it all is that the north Ia
equally helpless in its misfortune.
fro BE Continued
Changed Accompaniment.
One can hardly be expected to have