Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23

very high that spring, an lots o. the bottol
lands war overfiowed We knowed man
people were drowned cut, and had OIL
skiff tryin' to help 'em git their gooc
saved, when one day we saw somethil
foatin' down the river. 1t warnt uncon
mon ter see things fioatin' down th
river; but this war somethin' uncommon
as we could see. Somehow t peared
me IS orter go out n see what it war, al
l tole my brother t. pull out to It We bot
laid to our oars, IN soon kim near 'nuff
see what t war.
"fIt's CRADLE said my brother, lookir
over his shoulder We got nearer an sual
huff 'twar cradle an had a bed in t, ar
baby war in tn cradle. That ar bah
war you, Luke"
4" Is that all you know of me?"
"Yas, that's about all''
"Did you find nothing by which I nigh
have been able to trace my parentage?''
Nuthin but big, yaller handkerche
SIGH as the niggers war. 1t had EN-
broidered on one corner Luke Mason"
An expression of agony and disappoint
ment swept over the young mans face, ant
he heaved sigh. That for which he hat
| hoped was disappointing at last, and tn,
solved as ever. Could he, a nameles
waif, an unknown child of the flood, pres!
his claim for the hand of the fair CIR
whose heart he had already won. The ole
farmer, who had noted his disappointment
in order to change the subject said:
''Have We gone into business yeta"
eyes, sir, opened an office, but have
done very little, owing to the distracted
condition of the country" Lille Neff now
came from the house, her pretty cheeks
glowing with pleasure, and her eyes spark
ling happiness. She seated herself upon a
rustic mat near her father and the visitor.
"O' c'ose We can't do no business in
these times; decla' l never knowed the
like. Pears like every body's goin crazy"
where is Alberta" Luke asked.
"Went after tn mail; he'll be back
soon"
HE hasn't gone in the army yet?''
mo, but jest look fur him t. do it''
A question trembled on the lips of Luke
Mason. He wanted to ask in which army his
schoolmate would enlist, but for fear the
question might CRATE harshly on the ears of
his friends he refrained In the border
States men were liable to take either side,
and to change their views any day, for 1861
was the beginning of transition period,
and men were as yet unsettled in their con-
victions. 1t was quite a relief to Luke
when Lille, with one of her most winsome
chances from the darkest of eyes, said:
Brother is Union"
liam glad of that" he answered. Though
the South may have some real, or imaginary,
grievances it does not justify any man in
taking up arms against his country"
''Oh, dear me! 1 dun no. groaned Mr..
Neff. Pears t. me like all the peoples
gwine crazy. They er jest er tarin' the
country to pieces; an its no tellin' when
they'll burn our house an hang u.s.
''You have no cause to fear Union SOL
diers, l hope!"
Dun mo-; N such times as these pears
like We can't trust no M
81 think that Price will soon be driven
from the State, and then you will be all left
at peace.'
wall, hope so; but dun mo-" and the
sigh which followed this remark was indie
cislve. From Mr.. Neff's remarks one could
not have told how his sympathies were.
" Heah come NIassa Albert now" cried
Tom, raising his woolly head from the grass
VIII ch grew under an apple tree in the yard,
where the African had been idly lolling
about.
A young horseman, mounted on a splen-
did steed, came galloping up the road from
around the orchard. He was a fine, manly
looking fellow, with an open countenance
and commanding figure.
He .lismounted at the gate and flung the
rein to Tom, who had come to take the
horse.
Somebody's come" grinned the negro, |
but Albert stopped not to ask any questions, |
for he had already recognized the friend of |
ms childhood sitting on the porch and hur- |
red forward to greet him.
As Tom was leading the horse to the barn |
ne met a tail, sullen field hand, who, for
some reason, had been nIck-named Black |
hawk. This sobriquet, given him at some |
line IN the dim past, had usurped any other |
legitimate name he might have had. Black
hawk, as sullen as his Indian namesake, was
slave whom Mr.. Neff had purchased years
before. He was not liked by any of the
'ther field hands, and it was reported that
he had killed former master, and was
Known TO be the hero of half a dozen runa-
ways.
Who am dat at the house?n Blackhawk
lsked
Massa Luke Mason Tom answered.
blackhawk gave utterance to a grunt and
vent sullenly away TO his quarters.
Inc greeting between Albert Nef and
luke was very cordial
WHAT'S tn news from town. Alpertp,
Isked Mr.. Netf. Amy thing mo- about the
yaha''
Inc country Is in an uproar, and we are
,oin' TO be overwhelmed with trouble
Albert answered.
am glad to know that you are for the
Jnlon, Luke took occasion to remark.
VINO said was?' and for the first time
cloud gathered on Albert's handsome brow.
ny, l certainly understood that YOU
we're, Luxe answered, little puzzled at
ne cnange IN his friends manner. II
nought .you loyal to the flag of Washing
on, Jefferson and Jackson
Aioerss face grew dark and his ewes
lasned with strange fire that his friend
lad never seen there before. Lille noted
ne cnange with alarm, and started 10 her
eet, trembling at the dread of something
errloie- But Albert Neff was a gentleman.
no reallzing that Luke was q guest. he
AIMED control of his feelings and replied:
NO one loves the old flag more dearly
nan |, so long as it protects me, but with
NAT blessed emblem Of liberty in the hands
enemies Of the South. we must raise onr
ands against lt.''
NO one was so much astounded as Lille:
ne speech was so contrary to her brothers
primer avowed sentiment.
What Albert, have you turned seceshm
be asked.
when flag fails to protect its loval cit