Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-22
did not know why he did so, but realized that his fate was deferred to future time.

that his fate was deferred to future time
 The arrival of a country boy with some alarming intelligence threw the guerrillas into confusion, and preparations were made for nasty departure. Luke was placed upon horse, and under a strong guard hurried off down the road into wild. broken country, where the hills were so high that they looked like mountain peaks, and the forests were so dense as to form a safe hiding place from the invading army.
 They halted at an old mill on a creek and the prisoner was given a breakfast, which, poor as it was, was heartily relished by the half-starved soldier. Luke was the only prisoner, and, as he had seen but two Union soldiers dead, he concluded that the others had made their escape.
 It seemed that the guerrillas were not quite sure of their own safety even here The officers held whispered consultations, and nodded and gesticu lated in an excited manner.
 Ii they intend to murder me, why don't they do it and have it over withs" said the prisoner, watching their strange maneu- vers.
 The day wore slowly by, night came, and the prisoner grew nervous. He reasoned that these men would choose darkness for their diabolical work Murderers are usu- ally too cowardly to perpetrate their hein- ous crimes in daylight.
 At dusk the sound of horses feet com ing down the hill reached the ears of the captive, who was sitting at window of the house that formed his prison, and he saw small party of Confederate cavalry approaching the old mill. The regularity of their gray uniforms made it easy to dis tinguish them from guerrillas.
 Luke had little hope of their being able to release him, for they were outnumbered a c fyya f0 ,iryh% l,n even possible that they would not care to interfere with these partisan freebooters It was too dark for him to distinguish faces, and when they had dismounted and dispersed among the buildin gs about the old mill he forgot all about them.
 Others were coming and going, and the subdued buzz of voices constantly reached his ears. Ills room was dark, as neither lamp nor candle had been lighted, and the guards at the doors and windows looked like silent statues
 Where is hes' voice at last asked. There was something peculiarly familia: in that voice; but Luke was unable to tell to whom it belonged.
 The sound of footsteps approaching his prison door reached his ears, and next moment the same strangely familiar voice was heard speaking to the guard. Some one entered the apartment, and, coming to Luke's side, asked:
 "Ar' ye the pris'ners"
 It was too dark for features to be recog. nized at even foot.
 II am," the prisoner answered.
 |" Hain't ye Captain Mason"
 "Iam."
 "Don't ye know me- Captain" the voice asked in an undertone.
 "No, though have certainly heard your voice before.''
 "Don't ye remember Dick Sneed, the wounded reb at Fort Donelson, who told ye bout Captain Neff gittin' away?"
 Of course remember you, butt thought you badly-wounded prisoner"
 "I warn't so bad hurt ez let on. I only did that ter git away an done it, an Pm here. was at the house last night when you'uns charged it.''
 "And you got away.''
 "Yes, run at the first, an wasn't seen, except by cussed nigger who run me three mile inter swamp, and shot at me dozen times. l laid fur him an knocked him down vii tn butt O my gun"
 Luke at once knew that the negro al luded to was Blackhawk, their mysterious guide, and this accounted for his absence which had caused their recent disaster.
 "Did you kill him ID he asked
 "Dun know for sartin, but hope did, ." the Confederate growled, :" fur I never saw a devil so hungry ter kill anybody as he was me. It war so internal dark that couldn't see his face, but half believe he war some O them black devils I use ter wallup when I war overseer."
 A few moments silence ensued, and then Luke said:
 "Well, Sneed, did you expect to find me herea"
 "Yes," the Confederate answered, and lowering his voice little so that the guard might not overhear him, he added: "Cap tain Neff sent me ter find ye"
 "What is Captain Neff hereg"
 "Hush! not so loud 1T it'll be all up with our plans. Ye see these fellers can't be managed like sojers. They're set O blamed thieves n murderers, n wouldn't miss hangin' yer fur any thing. We couldn't begin ter save ye 'nless twas done by strat- ergy an sarcumvention, ye know" All the While he was talking in a mere whisper, and the stupid guard at the door, who was draining the brandy flask Sneed had given him to allow him to enter, heard not word We've got it bout fixed up,' Sneed con- tlnued ''In bout an hour boy'u come fur ye. Don't yer ax him any questions oon't yer speak word, nor even look around, but foller the boy. Now, dye mark what Pm say'n"
 "Every word"
 "Wili .ye carry t outs"
 "Good- bye"
 And he was gone. Gone as suddenly and silently as if he had melted away into dark ness. Luke half believed he was still there. and put out his hand to feel for him, but his hand found only darkness and the empty air An hour passed and the silence was broken only by the drunken, inaudible mur- muring of the guard at the door. Occasion ally he mumbled snatches of a song in q hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who began to see through the plans of Albert Neff and Dick Sneed, trembled lest they had carried it too far.
 At last, however, the guard became ouiet and his heavy breathing told that he had succumbed. Some one came in, and going to hls side motioned him to rise. He did so A small, soft hand, which he at one knew to be the hand of the boy, was placed in his and he was led from the room In the hall near the doorway he stumbled over some one, and halfsmothered curse came from the drunken guard.
 He was warned by gentle pressure on his hand to be silent and careful Another person joined them, and the three went softly from the house.