New-York tribune., 1884-10-12
CHAPTER V

In the gray Of early dawn a msn walked out o.
Iaaah - hca erect quick martial step and on ms
back his blanket strappel soldier. bat with no
cOmra les at his al e. no cheering sound oi NE anu
dram; a soldier. carrying an empty sleeve ah'
pam ful bullet in his side and thus disabled starting
out on cam raign wherein lurked insult, danger
death As he passed Nanny, gate he hal seen "a
woman praying-praying for HIM and his cause. III
that din, hrht she seemed ra her the spirit o. her
unhappy race than an actual creature ANA a. he
SAID Goodbye, Julie keep up yoar courage. she
had fallen face downs ard, pressing her lips to 'he
dusty road where had touched the feet OF the
carpet bagger
long journey wss before the man, whose face
and accent proclaimed HIM of Northern birth IN
land where the name OF " Yankee awakened Sus-
picion whose upty sleeve told he had been one
who had borne arms in a bitter Struggle
The bitterness yet ranked IN the con
qutred country conquered III open battle
Bnt who was victor now The negro,
was he freed bitter laugh broke from DennS.
as striding on. he remembered what this freedom
meant Iuroccnt in irons, voters maltIeate''
counted out. or, he lad at the polls. refused
the right o put in their chosen ballot.
He stopped to rest under tree and taking of his
hat let the morning air refresh his hot head. But
though that throbbing IN his side began It's heavy
pain it was not physical much as mental fatlgue,
that Affected him. There had come before him a
scene at an election when he had been arrested and
fined for disturbing the peace 1t was AT 'le pois
and Mammy's husDand Uncle Dan, had come to
vote Old and gray y-hairrd he had. despite his
years of slavery within his breast that divine stun
of which heroes are made. There was a group OF
white men at the polls and a few timd-looklng
negroes and among hem Uncle Dan with his weak
uncertain steps. camo with his ticket III MS hanu
and a smile MS lip. AT a little distance q one
armed man wnose painful side made him lang iid
and ILL., that rainy morning. turned to sc his Ola
ne ghbOr out OF the crowd one ol the men al tue
ballot box knocked aside the feeble black manu. o.
the negro raised his ticket 10 drop II IN.
Uuce Dam sad the man, you don't vote that
ticket take this
~No. u,a no tanSs yer. hut has ter vote fer
dem as freed do blacks ! amt got long ter ~ ter
'ioy dis blessed freedom. but dere's little chern
comm arter old Uncle Dams gone dead votes DIS
Il tell you. you don't" said the other, glarlug at
hun.
The one-arIncd man st 'p nearer, forgetting
his aching = lie. seeing only that OIu D!acA lace
still wearing It's gentle smile
nigccr put IN his vote"
And The black ban , shaking with age and ncrv
business, raised to the box his ballot when.-there
was An oath and the CLEAN OF steel. ana the oid
man. shot through the heart lay on the ground.
Denui, Day sprang 30 the negrOs side. lie picked
up the precious ballot and succeeded IN putting II
INTO the box before, bleeding himself from dozen
I
of nCe Dan
Denuiss brows were frownng. his hand cenched.
! his teeth set ~ If again be were IN the midst o
that scene which like Il red hot iron had scared his
soul Wlth half gasp. u half sigh. he came back 10
| the fact that Inc was standing IN country r a =
In, hand bleeding from the blow he had struck az a
! free as if once more face to face with the brute
| who had killed old Dan. q,
| " Freedom, Justice! What fool I've been all
! my life to believe IN such impossibIlities.
lie replaced MS hat. and strobe on. But his MIND
| was IN the past. -,
Again hc the imPetuous boy listening with
! susprnded breath to the call for volunteers. lie
! must 20 VINO was there to keep him back An
| orphan-double reason for his helping those whose
can 4 moment more and he was an enlisted soldier.
/ Then . hurried parting rom weeping ana lndi-ha u
! guard ans. and with beating oi drums ana sounding
of trumpets he marched br lvelY away To the war.
! And til was the RESULT lie trudged along a
dusty road under the heating sun "f august, III tdo
vain hope of epIrg some taiut degree one OF tat
unhappy race for whose freedom he had flung away
/ every chance of his life.
| marched