Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-20
The Hearts !
Highway 11ii,i; 14H5 ! /; ! !
CHAPTER XXI,

Y OAK Day were 10 De nelu OH
---:yi the New field $50 called)
s.s.-j adjoining the plantation Of
Barry Upper Branch. The stocks had
been moved from their usual station to
this p!,ce to remind the people in the
midst Of their gayety that the displeas-
ure of tie king was a thing to be
dreaded. AM that they were not their
own masters even when they made
merry.
On the morning of that day came my
brother Johns manservant to shave
and dress me and the physician to at
tend to my wounds. 1t was a marvel
that | was able to undergo the ordeal,
and, indeed. my brother had striven
hard to urge my wounds as Il reason
for my being released. But such nat
rrally strong constitution had l, or else
so faithfully had the physician tended
me, with such copious lettings of blood
and purges, that except for exceeding
weakness l was quite myself. Still ]
wondered, after l had been shaven
and put into my clothes, which hung
somewhat loosely upon Inc, as sat on
bench by the window. how ever / was
to reach the New field.
1t was hot day and close. with all
the heaviness Of sweetness of the
spring settling upon the earth, and my
knees had knocked together when my
brothers manservant and the physi
clan, one on each side Of me, led me
from the bed to the bench.
So very weak was that morning
after my feverish night, that, although
the physician had let a little more blood
to counteract it, verify seemed to for
get the stocks and what / was to un.
dergo Of disgrace and ignominy, being
principally glad That the window was
to the west and that burning sun which
had so fretted me shut out.
The physician. long since dead, and
an old man ut that date, was exceed
ingly silent eying everybody with an
anxious corrugation Of brOws over
sharp eyes, and he had always a ner'
vous clutch Of his hands to accompany
the glance, as II for lancets or the
necks of medicine TASKS, never leav.
ing patient unless he had killed OF
cured. He had visited me with as
much faithfulness as II l had been the
governor, and yet with no kindness, and
know not to this day whether he
was for or against the king, or bled
both sides impartially. He looked at
ME with no compassion, and l might,
from his manner, as well have been
going to be set on throne rs In the
stocks, but he counted my pulse beats
and then bled me.
My brother Johns man, however,
whom he had brought from England
and whom | had known as boy and
sometimes stolen away to hunt with,
he being one of the village lads, shaved
me as II it had been for my execution,
and often I, somewhat dazed by the
loss of blood, looking ut him, saw the
great tears trickling down his cheeks.
A soft hearted man he was, who had
met with sore troubles, having lost his
family, Il wife and three little ones,
after which he returned to England
and entered my brothers service,
though he had been brought up indie.
pendently, being the son Of an Inn.
keeper.
Something there was about this gen.
tie. downcust man, adding the weight
of my sorrow to his own, which would
have aroused me to courage If, rs l
said before. had not been in such a
state of body that for the time my con-
sciousncss of what was to come was
clouded.
There | sat on my bench, leaning
stiGiy back against the prison wall, a
strange buzzing in my ears, and /
scarcely knew nor sensed it when Par.
son Downs entered hurriedly and leant
over me, whispering that If / would
and could. my chance to escape was
outside.
"The feetest horse in the colony"
said he, "and. Harry, have seen Dick
Barry, and if thou canst but ride to
the turn. of the road thou wilt be met
by Black Betty and guided to safe
place; and the jailer hath drunk over
much burgundy to which l treated
him. and-and If thou canst, Harry
Then lie stopped and looked Mt ME
and turned angrily to the physician.
who was packing up his lancets and
via,s to depart. MY God, sir" he
cried. do you kill or cure? You have
not bled him again? Lord, Lord, had
but lancet and purge for the spirit
as you for the flesh, there would be not
only no sin. but no souls left in the