Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-17
CHAPTER II.
AN INTERRUPTION.

| An lNIEhhtrlION
The fret notice that reached Lieuten-
ant Oakman was the sound Of laugh.
Ordinarily the emotion Of mirth IL con-
tagious. but in this instance IL sent a
shiver down his spine. for Its meaning
was conducive TO anything but merri-
ment He had been discovered while
engaged in o most delicate and danger
ous business
The officer turned his head like fash
and saw standing on the edge Of the
wood behind him negro boy not more
than i2 years old, barefoot, with trou-
sers held in place by single suspender
and rickety hat without n crown.
The ebony face was bisected by grin
which displayed q set Of teeth that q
princess might have envied, while in
his right hand he held Q switch, which
he had proba bly, broken from tree that
he might carry it for his own amuse-
ment.
When he observed the angry counte-
nance Of the horseman turned toward
him, the urchin remarked:
ii seed what yo' war doin.
What was l doing. young manr"
demanded the lieutenant severely.
"Tryin to flirt wild Miss Adele. had
ny eye on yo'."
Whom do you mean by Miss Adelet"
Instead Of making direct reply the
aegro lad threw back his head and
oroke into uproarious mirth. The ques-
ton struck him as the funniest thing
be had ever heard. and he belonged to
a race that laughs upon the slightest
Wovocation.
The officer grew angry. he saw q,
peril that must be nipped in the bud.
and, wheeling bis mare around, he
pricksd her satin flank with his spur.
She responded with q switch Of the tail
and Q leap that almost brought her
down upon the urchin, but the latter
was frisky and whisked behind the
nearest tree trunk. from which his big
eyes peeped with the dilapidated hat
above them.
81 amt afeard OBJ 20. bet yo' can't
cotch me.
Seeing that other means must be
tried. the lieutenant changed his tone.
"What Is your name. sonnyP
"Rastus"
"What is your fathers namef
"Pete. an mammy's name Is Aunt
Marcie. We lib in de cabin down yen
der, little way back oh de house.
What are you doing here,"
"Standin ahind dis tree 20 yo' can't
run ober me-.
"Do you belong TO General Eldridge,
who lives in the house yonderr"
"Yaas, sir, an am yo' one OBJ Marse
Linkum's sojersr"
Eyes; we have Q big army Q little
way of. and rode over here to take a
look at the country. Who lives In the
house nowf
"All de darkiss hab gwine away but
rs dat ! tole 20 bout, an dere's no
body at home but de wimmin folks "
where are the men," asked the
lieutenant. whose question was wholly
mperfiuous, since he knew that all the
white men in the state were in either
the Confederate or Union army.
"De gin raj am KILN Yanks. OATS
what he's been doin fur de last 400
years.
"Do you know how many he has
killed."
"Ain't sartin, but heerd 1t was 'leben
hundred million"
81 am afraid, Rastus, that your in
formant has slightly exaggerated mat
ters; but will you tell me what ladies
are at the housef"
"No, sah," responded the boy, with
admirable pluck.
"Why notr
"'Cause 20 wants to cut dere heads
o6."
The earnestness of the urchin made
the officer smile in turn.
"You are mistaken, my boy. !
wouldn't harm one Of them for the
world.
"Am dat sol Will 20 take yo'
oathf'
eyes win take my oath that I
win not injure . hair Of their heads.
"Cross yo' heart"
The officer gravely drew his gauntlet
cd hand down and across his breast.
That removed al difficulty and won the
confidence Of Rastua