The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-28
CHAPTER vi.

CONVALESCENCE.
, Aunt MARCHES diagnosis of Lieuten
: ant Oakman's case was accurate. TIL.
comparatively slight wound gradually
grew more angry and inflamed unit
his system was afire with fever and his
sufferings We're intense. He walked the
door two entire nights, stepping softly
lest he disturbed the sleeping ones who
could give him no more than their SYM
pathy, and he rested only when nature
succumbed.
The fact that the old colored woman
foretold unerringly every phase of his
case kept his confidence in her at par.
In her crude way she explained that
the bullet, which ranged along the fore
arm under the sleeve Of coat and shirt,
had carried some of the cloth with it,
and it was this foreign substance that
was still within the wound which caus-
ed the irritation. Until that was re-
moved by her treatment the inhamma-
ton and pain would continue, but the
mlschlevous INSTANCE would be exuded
at some hour on the fourth day, after
which his Improvement would be rapid.
And 1t came about precisely as she
said Indeed the relief was 80 marked
that, as he expressed it, the change was
like heaven itself.
A strong man desires to be let alone
when he is suffering. Words of SYM
pathy do no good and generally are a
bore Lieutenant Oakman was glad that
Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter under
stood this truth and forbore intruding
upon him. The effort to show the cour-
tesy and gratitude due them would
have intensified his pain.
But there were delicacies sent to his
room, accompanied by kind wishes
borne by Aunt Marcie, that were the
sweetest Of balms How these people,
reduced to the most painful degree of
poverty, could furnish him with such
delicate and nourishing food was in
conceivable to the guest All the slaves
had run off excepting Pete, his wife
and the boy Rastus. The plantation
had been going to waste for long time, |
and it would seem that the production 4
was not sufficient for the sustenance Of
one person.
And here were mother and daughter,
accustomed to lives of refinement and
luxury, besides the three servants, none
of whom showed evidence of actual
want, though the poverty of attire, the |
substitutes for genuine tea and coffee
and the meager fare itself spoke elo-
quently Of the painful change of condi-
ti0ns.
1t is probable that this exemption
from the distress that came to thou 4
sands of other homes was due to a vari-
ETY. Of causes. As is known, the section
lay in the very heart of the Confeder-
acy, where, until the visit of Sherman
and his army, the real presence of war
was not felt. Although the men at
sached to the plantation had long since
gone to war, taking the most valuable
horses with them, Pete and his wife
we're able to give more help to the
women than would be supposed. Their
owe for the mistress and her daughter
ed them to self denial that no one
besides themselves suspected.
Since Lieutenant Oakman was not
fling in body and the arm which he
arried in sling was mending rapidly,
here was no call for him to stay within
oors. The second night on which he
7alked the floor was the most wretched
his life. A drizzling rain fell steadily
trough the dismal hours, and the pat
sring on the roof, the endless dripping
the caves, the soughing of the wet
ranches, drove him almost frantic, but
18th his sudden release from anguish
lie autumn sun burst forth in splendor,
J if rejoicing with him over the blessed
lrcease from misery.
Stirring news had come to the Union .
'isoner. From some cause General
herman made an abrupt turn to the
'rthward in his line of march, thus
aying the Eldridge plantation good
number Of miles to the south. This :
as an enormous relief to the officer,
no knew too well the plundering pro-
whites of many of his countrymen,
hich led them to regard everything
orth taking as legitimate spoil. He +
eaded visit from them, though ex- !
citing it, until he learned Of the
ange in the line of march. Several z.
uads of cavalry had been seen hover e
3 in the neighborhood, but they van u
led without molesting the women, X,
10 uttered a prayer Of thankfulness
len convinced that nothing more
uld be seen Of the invaders.
Of course in the event of a hostile f
1T the officer would have defended v
} household to the last, but he was y y
y one unarmed man against what W
ght have been score or a hundred.
'haps his chivalry would have avail -.
perhaps it would not; 80 it is we'll %
t 1t was not put to the supreme test.
ITO be Continusd.)