Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-10

mot quite yet" she said, petting hi
cheek as if he were child. and thel
opened her basket.
Eat now" she said, "and l will tel
you all | have heard. l don't thinl
they would even bother to send ou
after you If it were not for Lieutenan
Wynn, the adjutant. 1t is not as if yo'
were a trooper in the ranks. You pla!
the fiddle very beautifully and the cor
net in the band fairly well; but, yo'
know. an ablebodied private is wortl
five of YOU"
"Katy"
"Not to me, dear" she whispered
mo. They would let you go. but yol
insulted the adjutant'-
NO"
"Well, you told him the nasty truth
which Is the same thing, and you know
what he is. am afraid when he find
| you missing at tattoo he will send ou
n detail. That is why said you mus
be off at once have mapped out you
road. You have plenty of money, bu
you ought to leave the violin behind"
81 couldn't" said he quietly.
every WELL" she said, but look"
From the bottom of the basket sh'
took out some citizens clothes.
"Of course you won't keep to th'
trails" she said, "but even on the plail
until you reach the railroad you mus
not wear the uniform"
"You are my angel" he said. II new
er thought of it. just wished t.
20 away, to be alone with the violin
far from those-those FELLOWSHIP b'
free"
81 know, DEAR" she said sympathet
ically-"I know. The army is no plac,
for you Now you must be Off"
Katy" he said, couldn't you come
too-now, mean"
She shook her head and laughed.
when you are settled down. wher
ever it is, write, and l will come.
promise. Noel"
MY dearest, it won't be long"
Before the last note Of taps had diet
sadly away in the hills there was 81
lent hustle at the stables. Sleepy ant
growing men were throwing the sad
dies on the horses and leading then
out until half a troop was formed. Al
they came Corporal Healy turned tt
the sergeant in charge.
AN what the divil's eatin' the adju
tant now, sergeant" he asked, with {
yawn.
"Deserter," said the sergeant brief!
-"Faval of the band"
Healy swore gently.
"a bandsman, the wee man tha
plays the fiddle! Is it him we're max
in all this fuss about? Begab an be
COB, there's been ten good men taken {
walk in the year, an we let 'em go. an
now we're after a half built man, {
fiddler, whin the blankets Is hungr!
| fur us. Let him go"
$50 say l." said the sergeant sullen
ly. Prepare to mount! Mount! Righ
by twos, march! No talking"
They left the post and silently trot
ted down the road to the creek. There
they advanced by files and crossed t
the island One by one they disap
peared in the shadows Of the scrul
oaks.
katy, Katy" said the deserter. "'
am free. yet not free. Until you com,
| to me my heart must still be in the pos
with YOU"
He had eaten, had been in the thicke
and changed his clothes had received
his last instructions from the girl OH TIT
road he should CO. and now they wer'
standing again in the moonlight, ant
his arms were round her.
They stayed little while yet, ant
from across the creek came the hoars'
voices of the sentries on post, HAL
past 10, and alls we'll"
"Now, Noel, now. You must have
good start. They won't go after yol
until morning. and by that time yol
should have bought horse and be wei
on the way to the railroad. Goodby
dear; goodby! What? Listen. Wha
| was thatT
They separated suddenly and stood
lips apart, listening. Down the islant
were a crushing of leaves and crash
ing of branches and the snort of
horse. The deSerter's face blanched
and he threw his arms up despairingly
"AlreudyT he cried. They have sus
pected it already"
The girls face, too. was white. bu
she did not despair.
"Quickw she whispered. make TO
the canyon-the mountain! Quick! The!
will only search the island! Quick
Quick! Fly! Oh. Noel, fyp
He hesitated he was bewildered.
"But where" he cried-"where is m!
violin?
She took it from the rock and gave
him impatiently.
"Flyw she said. "Oh. quick. quick
quick"
The trampling of the horses was nov
distinctly heard and the command O
Sergeant Holmes, ITO ten yards, clos
distancew The girl pushed her love
from her, and at last he went. Sh
turned and ran back to the creek. Sh
sank down with cry Of despair. Fror
the upper end Of the island came tn
noise of more horses, Of another CON
mand in another voice, that of Ad5u
tant Wynn.
She listened breathlessly, and 500
she heard sharp challenge: "Wh
goes there? Halt, or you'll be fired w
on! Faval?"
There were pause, a momentar
eufie and a petulant, boyish cry o
,age. Then came the officers quiet
searching voice:
"Got him? All, l fancy he must b
cold lying out here. Take him to tn
guardhouse. sergeant, where he ca
get warm"
The girl, white and trembling, slippe
silently across the stepping stones.
"You fool" said Sergeant Holmes
bis prisoner. You should have bee
miles away. What made you han
around here? Do you suppose I wishe
to catch you?"
The unhappy musician looked up a
the grim sergeant's SCARED and ugl
face wrathfully.
"You are farther away from her tha
ever now" he said.
Mrs. Malone's moods were at mo:
times uncertain. but for weeks she ha
been without even temporary relaps
into amiability unless indeed towar