Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-12

| The young officer appeared extreme
| ly embarrassed. "I-well. the fact is.
sir, nothing 1t all" he stammered.
Not, ing" said the general loudly.
with rising heat; nothing, sir! Did
YOU not cross the river as l directed
yoU:''
NO. sil-that is, tried TO. but there
was so much floating ice and it was
| SO difficult to manage boat that |
thought it would be hardly worth
Willie to attempt it. sir. In fact. the
crossing is impracticable for troops,
he went on more confidently. but his
face changed as he looked up at his
| infuriated superior. The general was
a picture of wrath. the lines In his
forehead standing out plainly, his
mouth shut more tightly and grimly
than ever. 1t was evident that he was
furiously angry. and his face had In 1t
something terrible from his rage. The
Young officer stood before him now,
white and frightened to death.
Il saw him this way at kip's Land
ing" whispered Hamilton to Seymour.
| Look, He has lost control OF him
self completely. There will be an ex-
plosion sure.
The general struggled for a moment
and then broke away.
"Impracticable. sir, impracticable."
he roarcd out in voice Of thunder.
How dare YOU say what this army
can or cannot do? And what do you
mean by not crossing the river and
ascertaining the facts l desire to
know" The next moment he stepped
forward and. seizing n heavy leaden
inkstand from the table near him,
threw it with all his force full at the
man. crying tiercely:
BE off and send me man.
The officer dc.lged the missile, which
struck the wall with crash, saluted
and ran out of the door as If his life
depended on 1t. feeling in his heart
that he would face any danger rather
than brave another storm Of wrath
like that he had just sustained. The
general continued to pace up and down
the room restlessly for few moments
until he recovered his compOsure.
IL depended upon that information,
and | must have it," he soliloquiZed.
IF that man does not bring 1t back to
us before we cross the river III have
him cashiered. Shall / send another
man? No; III give him another
chance"
Seymour picked up the book the gen.
eral had been reading. 1t was the
Bible, and open at the twenty-second
chapter of the book of Joshua. His
eye fell full upon the twenty-second
verse. which was marked "rhe Lord
God of gods. the Lord God 4 gods. he
kmoweth and Israel he shall know: II
it be in rebellion. or if in transgreSsion
against the Lord (save us not this
day"
Just then the little daughter OF
Keith. the owner Of the farmhouse at
which they were staying, entered the
room. As the little miss came up fear
lessly to the general he stopped and
smiled down at her.
"Father and mother wish to know if
you will want supper tonight, sir:'
"No. my little maid" he replied.
"Not here, ut any rate. And which do
you like the better now, the redcoats
or the Continentals"
"Thc relcoats. sir: they have such
pretty Clothes" said the nascent WON
un.
"Ah, my dear" he replied blithely,
catching her up in his arms and kiss
ing her the willie, they look better,
but they don't fight. The ragged fel-
lows are the boys for fighting"
singular mani" mused Seymour,
contrasting the outbreak of wrath ut
the recalctrant officer. the open Bible
he had been reading and the last mer-
ry, tender greeting to the child. But
his musings were interrupted by the
general himself speaking.
General Greene. you would better
ride over to the landing and place the