Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-11-01


was the calmuess of despair.
Marse John"
what, Jetl?"
lis yer darkenin' the winder?"
NO, JeH, no one is in the light.
Den is nearly gone! l can't see no
mo-"
After moment he asked for Lille.
w hat can do for you, Jeif?" she asked.
Sing, Jesus, lubber OBJ my soul,
please"
For an instant the words trembled or
the fair girls lips. and then the melody
broke on the air, and the rich voice OF the
girl, and the peculiar circumstances, gave il
an effect that was never again experienced
by the people there on that sad occasion.
Heal the sick, and lead the blind
AS the last word sank away, jeff partly
raised himself up, and reaching out his
hands. looked rapturously up:
rs er cummin', Dressed Lawd! rs Ell
cummin'."
These were the last words that the lips
of the noble colored man ever uttered, He
fell back upon the bed; his eyes closed
his hands rested calmly ON his breast; he
was deadl
The loss of such friend, and at such q
time, our friends knew was great calam-
ity, and it was truly mourning people
that watched ut the bedside of the dead that
night.
The next day tine household assembled
in the little family burying- ground, to pay
the last sad tribute to the memory of the
noble jeff, and deposited the remains in
the ground.
John read tho burial service, and fer
vent prayer was offered. Then there was
N lnff nj, ttn g
that was faithful unto death but the men,
DRY Of him in the hearts of his friends,
which was as irrevocable as the stars of
heaven.
The men in the mansion now knew that
they had the advantage of the bushwhack-
ers, and they determined to follow it up.
They made preparations to go to the river,
and ON the following morning early they
started. They took an untraveled route
and reached the river again below the camp.
Everything was still except the chirping
of the squirrels in the branches of the
trees.
Soon they reached a point from where
they could look into the camp. The fire
was out and not being in sight. They
went closer and soon saw that the camp was
deserted.
In looking about they soon found a
large, freshly built mound. Our friends
knew why it had been built, and what it
contained. Rocks had been piled on top to
keep out wild animals, for there were
several now inotfensive bushwhackers
buried beneath.
Our friends could not tell how many of
their foes were lying there, but the number
appeared quite respectable.
The men continued on up the river.
thinking that the remaining men might
have established their camp at the place
where Lille had been held prisoner but
when they arrived there they found moth
ing but a smoldering ruin. The prison
had been fired when the men vacated the
camp.
John and his friends were confident that
the bushwhackers had left the locality, they
hoped never to return.
Who of them had been killed in the late
encounter none could tell, but that there
was only a small number left no one could
doubt, for at least half the attacking band
had been buried by the plantation hands,
back of the Eddles mansion, the next day
after the fight.
They now had some hopes of short
peace, and felt relieved as they retraced
their steps homeward. OF course they
feared that they were likely to again be
robbing others of their property to enrich
The Eddles people were the only ones in
this whole region who had successfully re-
sisted the robbers; and they had either
gone for assistance to try and destroy them
or had become dispirited at their many
repulses and great loss of life, and given
them up as invincible.
Time passed monotonously by at the
mansion. There then began to be rumors
of the approach of soldiers. 1t seemed now
that this part of Arkansas was to see some
Of the severe effects of war.
CHAPTER XIV
CONCLUSION.
The news reached our friends at the
Eddles mansion that battle between the
Confederate and Union troops had been
fought at Wilson's Creek, near Springfield,
in Missouri, and that the Confederates had
won, and slain the Union General, Lyon.
In the following month they learned that
Price had captured Lexington, in the same
State. After that struggling bands of sol
tlers began to pour into Northwestern Ar
kansas, and the people at the plantation
hen learned that the Union forces had
driven the entire Confederate force out of
Missouri.
Horses and cattle were driven away from
he plantation by soldiers, or gangs OF
thieves who followed in tho wake Of the
army.
Nothing had ever been seen of Edom
Woodsley since the fatal fight back of the
Whether lie was wounded then,
Ind died of his wounds or whether he was
,ne of the small band who left the river
lamp so suddenly, immediately after.
zone could tell; but that his hateful pres
snce was never seen again by our hero aud
friends was fact that had great consola-
ion in it
One day Henry Arno surprised his
friends by telling them that he had made
up his mind to cast his fortunes with the
Confederate army.
This was severe blow to all, especially
% Lille, but she said not word
Il had almost made my mind up to do
he same thing on the Union side, as soon
IS they give me chance. said Johu; but
will send the ladies through the lines
iist."
Not word had been said in regard to the
natter, for each knew the feelings OF
he other, and SO one day when Henry
old the folks that he had joined the forces
II Van Dorm, the Confederate General, it
vas taken as natural consequence.
There were enough soldiers in the vicin-
ty tc protect life, SO there was no excuse
or not going.
As spring was approaching Henry was al
owed short fllrlOuuh OF coTIrsa he