Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-14

H. hall tsic old sailor walked
H,ssF1 over TO the body of the old
&c. ~ soldier. Many quaint dis
pu.r these two old men had held in
their brief acquaintance. and upon no
one thing had they been able to agree
except in hatred Of the English and
| love of their common country. Still
their disputes had been friendly, and II
they had not loved they had at least
respected each other,
81 wish | had not been so hard on
the man. really liked him." solilo-
quized tie sailor. Poor Blodgett, al
most forgotten. as Mr.. Talbot says!
| He died the right way. though, doing
his duty. fighting for his country and
| for those lie loved. Well, he was a
brave man-for Il soldier" he murmur.
ed thoughtfully.
Out on the river the little sloOp was
speeding rapidly along. Ride as thou
wilt Philip. she cannot be Overtaken.
Most of the exhausted men lay about
| the decks In drunken slumber. John,
son stood moodily by the man at the
helm. His triumph had been temper
| ed by Desboyough's interference. Two
or three Of the more decent of his fol
lowers were discussing the events of
| the night.
poor joe" said one.
"Yes, and Evans and Whitley. too
was the reply.
"Aye, three dead. and nobody hurt
for it," answered the other.
You forget the old fellow at the
landing though"
"Yes, he fought like the devil and
came near baking the whole game.
That was a lucky shot you got in, Da-
Wis. after Evans missed and was hit.
That fellow was brave man-for a
rebel" said the raider.
In the cabin of the sloop Colonel
Wilton was sitting on one Of the lock-
ers, his arm around Katharine, who
was leaning against him weeping, her
hands before her face. Desborough
was standing respectfully in front of
them.
"And you say he made good fight:'
asked the colonel sadly.
Splendid, sir. We stole up to the
boathouse with muffled oars, wishing
to give no warning. and before he knew
It half of us were on the wharf. He
challenged, we made rush. He shot
the first man in the breast and Drained
the next with his dubbed musket,
shouting words of warning the while.
The men fell back and handled their
pistols. | heard two or three shots,
and then he fell, never making another
sound. But for Johnson's forethought
in sending a second boat load to the
upper landing to get to the back OF
the house you might have escaped
with the warning and the delay he
caused. He was brave man and
died like soldier" continued the
young man softly.
"He saved my life at Cartagena. and
when | caught the fever there he
nursed me at the risk of his own. He
was faithfulness itself. He died as he
would have liked to die, with his face
to the enemy. | loved him in way
YOU can hardy Understand. res; ne
was brave man. my poor old friend
/ On the rustic bench beside the drive
way overlooking the river sat little
woman, older by ten years In the two
! hours which had elapsed since she
looked after the disappearing ngure OF
her son.
She heard the sound of wheels upon
the gravel road and recognized Colo
mel Wilton's carriage and horses COM
| ing up the hill. There were her own
two hos'ses following after, but neither
| of the riders was her son. What could
have happened: She rose in alarm.
| The carriage stopped near her.
What, mother. Are you still hereT'
said Hilary. opening the door and
stepping out, his voice cold and stern.
Yes, my son. What has happened!'
.Dunmore's men have raided the
| Wilton place. Katharine and her fa-
ther have been carried away by that
brute Johnson, who commanded the
party. Seymour has been wounded in
defending Katharine | have brought
him here. This is the way" he went
on tiercely. his majesty the king
wages war on his beloved subjects OF
Virginia"
".Thcy that take the sword shall per-
| ish with the sword,'" she quoted, with
| equal resolution.
And Blodgett is killed, too" he
added.
"What else have those who rebel
against their rightful monarch right
to expect?' she replied. "Is Mr.. sey
mour seriously wounded"
mo. madam" answered that young
man from the carriage, "but l fear me
my cause makes me an unwelcome Wis
itor."
NAY; not so, sir No wounded help
less man craving assistance can ever
| be unwelcOme s. t my-at the home OF
the Talbots, whatever his creed. How
died Blodgett, did you say, Hilary"
"Fightins for his master at the FOO,
| Of the path. shot by those rutiians."
$50 may it be to all enemies of the
| king" she replied, "but after all he
was a brave man. 'Tis pity he fel
in so poor cause
And that was thy epitaph. old sol
dier; that thy requiem, honest Blodg
| ett-from friend and foe alike-"Ht
was q brave man"