Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-11-14
CHAPTER XI.

When Lieutenant Oakman had walk
ed a hundred yards farther, he slacken-
ed his pace and looked back. The color
ed man, leading the horse, was just fad
ing from view in the moonlight.
"He's right l am fool. but /
wouldn't accept any favor from her. IL
nv life depended on it"
For man traversing highway for
the first time. the Union officer revealed
q knowledge which, TO say the least, was
singular A half mile from the planta-
ton Of General Eldridge he came to a
forking Of the ways.
~ am 10 turn TO the right, he re-
fiectcd. scanning his surroundings, "and
less than mile farther will find the
house where am TO halt and await
orders that Ia, il everything goes
right
Broad. open fields stretched on the
right and left At intervals the old,
roomy mansions Of the planters appear
ed, all standing well back from the
roadway and surrounded by shade trees,
with the negro quarters near at hand.
Now and then the starlike point OF Light
twinkling among the shadows showed
that some one was astir despite the
lateness Of the hour. but as yet the
| fugitive had not seen a living person
after leaving Pete. the slave.
But standing at the parting OF the
ways, peering about and listening. he
heard a startling sound. 1t was the
rhythmic beating Of horses hoofs on
the earth. Ii came from the rear and
steadily grew more distinct. proving
| that party Of horsemen were In pur-
suit Of him.
| They are the men who had plotted
| 10 visit the home Of General Eldridge
and to give me the 'witch's parole.
Captain Trenholm might have tried to
prevent it, but IL would have availed
nothing. Even IL he did try probably 1t
would have been all pretense, bitterly
| added the lieutenant. How ! could
laugh at these fellows IL / was in the
saddle of that horse which Pete offered
me. And yet II he were here would
still refuse.
Unquestionably the young man was
| in an unreasonable mood and gave an
other proof of the justice Of the opinion
expressed by the slave.
Lieutenant Oakman felt he had done
| the meanest act Of his life in sending
that message to Miss Eldridge. She had
made an honest effort to befriend him
after the tender ministration of herself
and mother, and he had repelled il with
insulting words instead OF accepting
the proffer with his profoundest graft
tude.
Whyf
Through fear that she might "offend
Captain Trenholm. as he expressed 1t.
Heavens, if she only would offend him
beyond the possibility Of pardon, how
the heart Of the fugitive would leap
with joyl
But perhaps he did net comprehend
the mysteries OF his own heart When
q worthy man has said or done an un-
worthy thing. his desperation urges
him to 20 to further lengths, which
fact will account for Lieutenant Oak
mans absurd but characteristic hope
that he might have a second opportuni-
~ to turn aside more pointedly than
before the gentle hand helpingly ex-
tended to him.
But the hoof beats increased in dis
tinctness The men were approaching
at q sweeping gallop over the main
highway. II they followed the same
course with him, he must soon be over
taken While there were no woods on
either side of the road. he was confident
Of escaping detection by climbing the
rail fence and lying fat on the ground.
provided he adopted the stratagem be-
fore being observed BY his pursuers.
Prudence demanded that he should
do this at once, but he was toe impa.
tient to throw away any time. He in.
creased his pace, continually listening
and often pausing to glance to the
rear.
When the sounds indicated that the
horsemen were Close TO the fork Of the
road, Oakman vaulted over the fenc<
and stood in the attitude Of intense st'
tention. The ground was dry for the
season. and In the stiffness the hoofl
rang out with unusual clearnesA There
were several moments when be was Ger
tain the party had turned 10 the right
and would soon pan the spot Before
secreting himself he meant 10 wait nm
I'll he could see the foremost horsemen.
i But they did not appear. and the 70
ceding sounds proved that they had nd
dan past the fork and were gallopine
up the main highway with unsbatsa
spsed.
ssHow long Win thsy resp at IT." b
asAsd himssk, climbing back into th'
roAd II don't sse how thsy can expsc
| to capture me whsn thsy must know
] am sars - discovw thsds apgcQaGh