Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-15

farmer people, mlgnG suspect heT Hus-
band of any lack of courage, moral or
physical, for cowardice was the one un-
pardonable sin in her eyes. Colton's
displeasure melted away like frostwork
in the sun; it was impossible to be angry
with Ginnie! Looking into her dark
eyes, full of tears, reminded him OF the
days when he was lover and she was
his pupil, so humble and fearful over
her mistakes and stupidity, that he had
longed to catch her in his arms and
comfort her. So he did now, with the
assurance that his little rebel was freely
forgiven and need not trouble herself
any more about the matter.
And Ginnie rewarded him by being in
one of her most charming moods during
the remainder of their drive. To his
surprise, she had no criticisms to make
on the speeches, not even the fiery one
of the Virginia preacher. The truth
was, the glorification of the old flag, of
which she had heard so much that day,
aroused again the fear that Harry might
be enthused anew to go and fight for IL.
She was thinking to herself she must try
harder than ever "to hold him fast" !;
she would be very careful never to bring
up the subject of their differences; she
would restore, as far as possible, the
peaceful, happy days of their honey
moon when the hatchet was buried so
deep!
It was truer even than Ginnie feared,
that the talk and speeches at the unionist
rally, the inspiring sight of "Old Glory"
had revived afresh in Colton's mind the
question of his duty to his country.
He heard there was a regiment being re-
cruited in Iowa in the county just across
the line and that some of his acquaint-
ances had enlisted in it. Sometimes he
actually decided that he must join it and
even went so far as to arrange his busl-
ness affairs for leaving. But how to
broach the subject to Ginuie? She had
been so gentle and loving of late it
would be harder than ever. Sometimes
when she lowered around him with her
caressing ways, with those beautiful
eyes smiling in his. he questioned, how
would she look, what would he see IN
that face of hers when he announced his
purpose to her? Would it be possible
to convince her that in fighting against
the South, he would not be fighting
against her? There was the rub. I'm
doubtedly it was weakness in him, so
he told himself, to let feeling on her
part altogether unreasonable and child
| ish, hold him back from his duty as
a patriot; yet hold him back it did from
one day to another. His dread of hurt
ing her made coward of him.
One morning in the latter part OF that
month, he sat reading on the vine
shaded veranda of the Harwood man.
sion, when Jim came rushing up from
town, looking very much flushed and
excited.
| "Glorious news from the seat of war,
Professor" he exclaimed with a grin, as
he dropped down on the steps OF the
veranda and tossed a newspaper TO
Cotton.
The latter unfolded it with beating
heart. The staring headlines announced
the disastrous battle of Bull Run, the
panic and disgraceful rout of the whole
Union army, for so ran the first grossly
exaggerated accounts of the affair.
Cotton grew white as he read.
Meanwhile, Jim watched him, chuck
ling with delight. He had always stood
somewhat in awe of his quiet, dignified
brother-in-law, whom he had never
really liked and now less than ever,
since the war had emphasized the diff
ference in their politics; but this morn
ing an extra glass at the grocery in
honor of the occasion, had loosened his
tongue. The temperance reform had
not been heard of then at Waterloo, and
the grocers dispensed beer and whiskey
over their counters without any trouble
1nfi nr rpStrlptlOnS
"Ha. ha. Didn't the Yankees run.
Must have thought the devil was after
them, sure-threw away guns, KNAPP
sacks, blankets, everything, and run so
fast you couldn't see 'em for dust
never stopped running till they got to
Washington, thirty miles OIL! AN
always lowed the Yankees wouldn't
fight" :.
Cotton made no reply to the half
drunken fellows stream of derisive talk;
but sat like one stunned. Nevertheless
thought was busy. "Duty, stern daugh-
ter of the voice of God" no longer spoke
to him in uncertain tones; then and
there the conflict between his love and
his patriotism ended.
"There is one Yankee who will fight,
if I mistake not" he remarked quietly,
as he rose and left the hilarious jim
| to himself. When he entered the room
where Ginnie was, he found her in a
transport of enthusiasm.
"Oh, Harry, there's been big battle
near Washington and our men have
whipped. Papa has just been reading
to me the account of it. 1t was glori-
GUS victory"-she stopped short, catch,
ing sight of Colton's extreme pallor and
a look in his face she had never seen
there before. "Oh, excuse me, pet,
forgot it couldn't be good news to you.
Ruf of course we can't feel just the same
about it." Then she added with evident
concern, 81 heard jim laughing out
there on the veranda, and suppose he's
been going on in that hateful way OF
his-the idiot! / dare say he's half
drunk and his talk isn't worth minding."
Cotton used no circumlocution in an
nouncing the purpose he had formed.
He faced the ordeal before him at once.
"Jim's talk matters little to me. But
this news has made my duty plain. l
must 90, Ginnie, and help to retrieve the
disgrace that has befallen us. | think
every loyal man must feel as l do-that
he must go, if he can"
Ginnie stared at him in amazement,
her own cheeks growing white as his.
"You don't mean, Harry, that you
are going to enlist in the Union army?
"Yes, Ginnie," he answered firmly.
"a regiment is being recruited over in
Iowa Just now and l have decided to
ioin it. l shall have to leave immediate
| iy, and that is best, perhaps"
Virginia turned and walked back to her
chair with head proudly erect. 81 will
never forgive you, Harry, if you 60 and
fight against the South" she said with
flashing eyes. 81 thought hoped you
had given up all idea of it."
Cotton felt as if a knife had pierced
him. "Oh, my wife! If you only knew
how hard have tried to persuade my
self that, for your sake, ought not to
90 into the war! But now that our
army has suffered this terrible defeat
and disgrace, feel that l should be a
sneak and a coward to hold back any
longer. mast CO."
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