Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-11-28
CHAPTER XIX.
CONCLUSION.

CHAPTER XIX.
CONCLUSION.
The wooing and winning Of Miss
Adele Eldridge by Captain Ledyard
Oakman would form a delightful story
Of itself, but it is not our purpose to
dwell upon it. In due time he found
the necessary pretext for journeying
southward. and when he presented him
self at the hcme Of General Arthur FL
bridge he was warmly welcomed by the
old veteran. his stepson. Captain Tren-
holm. the latter's mother and lastly by
the young lady herself.
One piece Of good fortune was in the
hands Of the ex-Union officer He pos
sessed abundant means. His southern
friends. like the vast majority in TINT
section. were impoverished by the war
Oakman could not offer them pecuniary
help. but he did persuade Captain Tren-
holm 10 join him in q business venture
in which the knowledge and experience
Of the ex- Confederate formed fair
offset to the capital invested by Oak
man. Then. too, svaluable iron deposit
was located on the plantation Of Gener-
al Eldridge, which. being developed, the
soldier. before he was aware, found him
self in comfortable circumstances. And
then the wedding followed in due
course.
But several years passed before the
happy husband dared to tell the happy
wife the secret Of that first visit Of his
to the old plantation in Georgia
1t Is fact which may not be general
" known that among the most valuable
spies in the south were numbers of
northern women who went thither and
engaged in teaching when il became
clear that war would soon break out be-
tween the sections
This. statement was made to me by
General Sherman himself. and in my
sketch Of that great Union leader i
have given n typical Incident as IL fell
from his lips. One Of the most daring
and valuable female spies was Marian
Hartman, from New England. As has
been stated elsewhere, she secured an
engagement as governess and coinpan-
ion in the family Of General Eldridge.
with the real purpose Of gathering in
formation for the Union armies. Gen
eral Sherman knew her exact location.
and when he started on his march from
Atlanta TO the Sea and approached her
neighborhood he detached Lieutenant
Oakman and one Of his scouts to com
municate with Miss Hartman and
bring back whatever she might have 20
send TO him.
Previous 10 the visit Of the officer,
Sam Borland, the scout. appf'sed her of
the situation, 30 that she was expecting
the visit Of the lieutenant. The two
knew each other when they met, and il
will be conceded that they played their
parts well. The woman was 30 bitter in
her sentiments that she was rebuked by
Mrs Eldridge and her daughter. She re-
fused to REMAIN under the same roof
with the Union officer, which was a
convenient arrangement. since it gave
her the opportunity she needed TO carry
ont her farreaching schemes She made
her home with Mrs. Benware and her
sister, they being the only two persons
in that section whom she trusted with
her secret. Thus located only few
miles distant, she was able 10 meet
Oakman now and then secretly and
maintain perfect understanding with
him.
Her well known sympathies enabled
her to gain the confidence Of several Of
the Confederate leaders, from whom she
obtained valuable information. She
proved her nerve by riding consider
able distance to their headquarters. and
through arts intuitive with her sex she
wove together in the form Of drawings
and memoranda on the sheet Of paper
that which Lieutenant Oakman declared
General Sherman would pay fortune
to obtain.
The chief difficulty with the female
spy was to get the paper to the Union
commander 1t was imprudent for her
to undertake its delivery, and the visit
of Oakman to that section. therefore,
was to secure il from her.
It will be understood that when he
was captured in the home Of Mrs Ben
| ware the call was close one, not only
for himself, but for Miss Hartman.
Had the all important document been
discovered. il inevitably would have
been tra9d to her. despite every effort
Of the young man, and il often happens
| in time Of war that the sex Of spy
does not render her an immune.
The legerdemain used on that Occa-
sion would have done credit to the late
Hermann. Lieutenant Oakman passed
the document to Miss Hartman. and
she. in the most natural manner con-
ceivable, stood Just behind and at his
side, denouncing him in scathing terms
And the feat was accomplished under
the eyes Of the squad Of irregular guer-
rillas, eagerly seeking an excuse for tax
ing his life.
Mrs. Benware, failing TO see the light
ninglike transfer, groaned in spirit over
the seemingly fatal misfortune.
When the moment came in which Q
doubt thrown upon the alleged hand
writing Of Captain Trenholm by Miss
Hartman would have insured the shoot
ing of the prisoner. she interposed BY
declaring unreservedly Though with
painful regret) that the writing was
his.
That assertion saved the lieutenant
for the time, but, as has been made
clear, his captors were "irregulars,
who manifested determination to hit
upon some pretext. - in the venerable
incident Of the wolf and lamb. fo'
thrusting him Of the earth. he wal
still in great peril. and only by des
perate rush could he gain possible
chance Of saving himself II has beer
shown what he did. and It remains Il
add that Miss Hartman took good cart
not to indulge in the privilege OF he'
ssx and scream until the signs Of return
} ing consciousness on the part Of the hal
strangled soldier warned her that 1t va
prudent to do 90.
"By this time, /" said Captain Oak
man. in recalling the incident. II haa