Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-07

Thcy ran ut fWt speed tOWdfd the hOaSe'
He ran hastily down the han and
stopped ut the dining room door aghast.
The smoking candles in the sconces
were throwing somewhat uncertain
light over Il scene of devastation and
ruin. The furniture of the table and
the accessories of the meal lay in q
broken heap ut the foot of it, tile chairs
were overturned. the curtains torn; the
great sideboard had been swept bare
of its usual load of glittering silver.
At his feet lay the body OF man In
the now familiar red uniform, blood
from CHASTITY sword thrust clotted
about his throat. the floor about his
head being covered with Ominous
stains. A little farther away Oh the
floor near the table there was the body
of another man in another uniform, a
naked sword lying by his side. He had
frishtful looking wound on his fore
head. and the blood was slowly ooZing
out of his coat sleeve, staining the lace
at his left wrist. Even as lie looked
the man turned little on the floor.
and the same low moan broke from his
lips. Talbot stepped over the first body
to the side of the other.
My God, it's Seymour" he said. He
knelt beside him, as Katharine had
done. Seymour" he called. "Sey-
mour. The man opened his eyes slow
ly and looked vacantly at him.
"Katharinew he murmured.
What of her? Is she safe?' asked
Talbot in an agony of fear
"Raiders-prlsoners, continued Sey-
mour Drokeniy in whisper, and then
fec Jly murmured, Water, water"
Here. Dick. get some water quick
ly! First hand me that decanter OF
wine." pointing to one which had for
tunately escaped the eyes of the ma
rauders. He lifted SeymOur's head
gently and with napkin which he had
picked up from the floor wiped the
bloody face, washing it with the water
the groom quickly brought from the
well outside.
Then he poured little of tie wine
| down the wounded mans throat, next
| slit the sleeve Of his coat and saw that
| the scarcely healed wound in the arm
had broken out again. He bandaged
It I'D with no small skill with some Of
| the other neglected table linen, and
| the effect upon Seymour of the stimu-
liant and of these ministrations was at
once apparent. With stronger voice
he said slowly:
"Dunmore men-Captain Johnson
colonel prisoner-Katharine also
God grant-no harm intended"
Hush, hush! l understand. But
wnere are the slayesW
Terrified. | suppOse-in hiding"
"Dick, see IL you can find any OF
them. Hurry up. We must take Mr..
Seymour back to Fairview tonight and
report this outrage to the military com.
mander at Alexandria. Oh, that l had
| a boat and few menu he murmured
| Katharine was gone. He would not
tell his story tonight. She was In the
hands of gang of rufiians. He knew
the reputation Of Johnson and the mo-
tives which might actuate him. There
had been struggle 1t was evident;
perhaps she had been wounded. killed
Agony! He knew now how he loved
her. and 1t was too late.
Presently the groom returned, fol
lowed by mob of frightened, terror
stricken negroes. who had fed at the
first advent of the party. Talbot is'
sued his orders rapidly. Some Of you
get the carriage ready. We must take
Lieutenant Seymour to Fairview Hall
Some of you go down to the landing
and bring up the bodies of three men
there. You 60 with that party, Dick
Ph9bus. you get this room cleared up