The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-28

who uttered prayer Of thankfulncss
when convinced that nothing moro
would bo seen of tho invaders
Of course i'll the event of II hostile
visit the officer would have defended
tho household to tho last. but ho was
only ono unarmed man against what
might have been II scoro or u hundred.
Perhaps his chivalry would have avail
ed. perhaps it would not: so it il we'll
that it was not put to the supreme test
The situation of Lieutenant Oakman
was unique. Ha felt that he ought not
TO prolong his stay. and yet what means
should he adopt to dcpart2 He was Il
prisoner on parole and uncXchangcd
Scurryinss back aud forth on the flunks
ana III tho wake of the Union army
were multitudcs of Confederate cavalry
mon. through which it would be we'll
nigh impossible for him to make his
way Some of them were irregular
forces or guerrillas. who. enragcd by
disaster. would show scant considera-
ton to the United States uniform
They were liable to visit the homo Of
General Eldridyc at any hour
~ must take the first opportunity to
leave was Oakman's Thought MY
| arm is only slightly sore. and if mount
| ed on good horse. with my revolver
ut command. wouldn't hesitate to
chance it. Poor Fanny 1t isn't likely
we shall ever meet again, and as for Il
| revolver"-
lie checked himself with IL thrill of
hope In the furry of his encounter
with his captors the weapon was drop
PED while riding the mare ut full speed
Forgotten for the time. it might be he
was the only one who recalled tho fact
What Il godsend if he could recover it!
Since his rapid convalescenco the
officer spent much of his time in wan
dcring about the old plantation. He
| loved to sit under the grand old shade
| trees. where seats had been placed long
betore Sometimes he chuttcd with
Uncle Pete Or Aunt Marcie. and mas
much M they refused to accept any
thing in the form of money from him
| he filled the pockets Of Rastus with
| greenbacks. until the dusky urchin
threatened to become Il budding mil
| ionaire.
Mrs Eldridge and her daughter were
considcrate. responding kindly to his
greetings and expressing their pleasure
| at his recovery. bat the situation was
| SO delicate to him that ho avoided both
Ills sense of honor would not permit
MN to attempt in the rcmotcHt degree
| TO take advantage of his position
| AS for Miss Hartman. the situation
| may be said to have been one OF armed
| neutrality Mrs El1rdgc must have
| spoken sharp words to her. for nothing
| more was heard of her biting sentences
| She avoided the guest. never sitting at
the table with him. and being absent
/ from the house sometimes nil day and
| night The most that was said of her
| by Miss EidridSe was to explain that
her full name was Marian Hartman,
that she had come from New England
1 Just before the breaking out of the war.
| and. because of her high recommcnda-
/ lions. had been engaged by General
EldlldSe as II gOverDcSs or companion
| for his daughter. who contemplated a
| European tour with her mother. but
| was prevented by the opening of hostil-
| tiles
Brief rs are the words recorded of
| this yonng woman. they arc sufficient
| to show her intense southern synna.
thles She was more extreme than those
among whom she lived and sometimes
| brought reproof upon her head for her
ice uttcrances
Lieutenant Oalman remembered the
spot where he dropped his revolver
| when he was struck by the bullet. of
Tim Masters Sauntcring to the place.
l he sropcd only few minutes among
| the cotton shrubs when he came unon
| the weapon lying precisely as it had
| Fallen With II cry of joy he snatchcd
| 1t up. slipped it into his pocket and
started homeward
tTo BE Continued u