Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-22

tell him she had not meant all she SAT-
that day? No! she could not do that.
But in the evening, she slipped int
her fathers Office where he sat writing
and said to him with downcast eyes ant
a timid air, quite unusual for her
"Papa, l have little favor to ask o
you"
"Well, dearie, what is it? You shal
have it, if possible, even to the half o
my kingdom" he answered, drawing he
to his side and passing his hand fondl.
over her head. The Judge was a tende
father and any sign of trouble in tina
young face went to his heart. He hat
not failed to perceive she had growI
thin and pale in these days and perhaps
his sympathy was all the greater, tina
her proud reticence in regard to hel
husband forbade any open expression ol
it on his part.
I-I want you to write few lines t.
Harry to tell him that Buddie is we'll. ,
The Judge looked at her in surprise
"Why not write yourself, pet?"
"Oh, can't, papa" she said in low
voice without raising her eyes," II tol,
him when he went away that l wouldn''
write him."
The Judge needed no further ex'
PLANTATION. He had been scarcely less in
dignant than Ginnie at Colton's enlist
ment in the army of the Union; he
thought the man, even if uniOnist il
sentiment, might have remained
neutral, out of respect to the family into
which he had married. But the Judge
was not a man to widen breach be-
tween his daughter and her husband by
so much as word. If he could not helr
some secret admiration of her higl
spirit, true Southerner that she was, II
hurt him nevertheless, to see the poor
young thing breaking her heart, as she
evidently was, in order to keep hei
word.
There's an old saying, my daughter
that rash promise is better broken than
kept" he remarked after thoughtful
pause. "Are you quite sure yours was
not little rash?"
81 can't break it anyhow''-lifting heI
head proudly. "And please write few
words to Harry. You know Buddie
was very delicate in the summer and
Harry was so worried about him,-in
deed. he has always been afraid we
couldn't raise him. OF course he is
quite sure to be anxious about him, now
and | want him to know the little fellow
is all right, getting strong and hearty"
"Certainly he ought to know" said the
Judge gravely. He drew pen and paper
towards him and scribbled few SEN
tences, announcing to Cotton that his
boy was now wholly restored and thriv'
ING finely. He waited little before con-
cluding the letter, regarding her some
what anxiOusly.
"And have you no message to send
your husband? That wouldn't be vic,
iating the letter of your promise"
"No, papa, don't even mention my
name to him." she replied, shutting hel
lips tightly, for they were trembling.
Somehow that letter of Colton's had
shaken her strangely.
""I hope, Ginnie, this war won't last
long" he remarked significantly as he
folded and superscribed the letter from
the address she gave him. 81 don't 60
in for compromises in general, like some
of our timid Southern brethren; but ]
WV 80 S--''
case, my dear"
This half playful parting shot was all
he ventured, for he saw that poor Ginnie
was near breaking down, as she took the
letter and hastened from the room.
Cotton sent to the Judge brief note
of thanks for the information that had
relieved him of much anxiety; but il
contained no message to Ginnie and he
did not write her again. For weeks
afterwards, she got no news of him and
could only learn where his regiment was
stationed.
Cotton, after he became member OF
Judge Harwood's family, had not thought
it best to bring into his home much OF
the literature that was regarded among
Southern people as ''incendiary" but he
had allowed himself one small Republi'
can paper that was published in Iowa
Previous to his departure, Ginnie had
seldom even looked at it and was pri
vately of the opinion that it was lying
sheet. But happening to glance over II
one day not long after the reception Of
Colton's letter, she found it had cor
respondent in Grants army who was
member of the regiment to which Coltor
belonged. After this, she waited i'm
patiently for its arrival every week.. ano
eagerly scanned its contents. There was
no mention of Cotton, but she could al
least keep trace of his regiment.
Early in November there came the re
port of fight at point on the Missis
sippi. between General Grant and th'
rebel forces operating in that region
Colton's regiment had been engaged il
it and suffered severely. A sickenine
fear assailed Ginnie as she turned hur
riedly to the list of the killed and wound
ed. In the awful suspense of th'
moment, she saw such horror of grea
darkness before her, if Harry was among
the fallen. But, thank God! his nam
was not on the list.
Later on in the winter, she found a
one time in the correspondents letter,
bit of news that gave her a joyful sur
prise. Lieutenant Cotton had been pro
NOTED to a captaincy for successful con
duct of an enterprise that had required
not only rare degree of skill, but o
resolute daring. "Oh, Buddie, you've
father to be proud of-indeed you have,
she exclaimed, snatching up the littI
fellow in her excitement, to give him S
many hugs and kisses that his sweet blu
eyes looked up to her in astonishment
Then she rushed off to jim. "There
didn't tell you, old fellow, that Harr
would make splendid soldierp" sh
said triumphantly as she read the new
to him. A splendid soldier was kin
of demigod in Ginnie's eyes; she fel
almost reconciled just then to the fac
that Harry was among the boys in blue
But Jim was not greatly elated to hea
of the military honors bestowed on hi
brother-in-law. Some people do not ilk
to be proved false prophets even whe
they have prophesied evil.
Ginnie was half tempted at first
break her rash promise and write to Co
ton how proud she was to hear of hi
promotion. Her anger against him ha
long ago died out in the stress of SUI
pense, anxiety and hope deferred-ye'
the hope, secretly cherished for whil
that he would write again. He knee
how impulsive she was, how that mise
able impetuous temper of hers betraye
, her into saying and doing rash things tn;
; she afterwards repented of-could Il
!, really believe she had meant all she sal
to him that day? Oh, those mad wore
of hers, uttered in the insanity OF pa
I,;oni What IL the cruelty of them Ina