The Springdale news., 1889-06-14

that though he IS your enemy, he is my brother, and, if possible, spare hird.'
 "Yes, yes; I have spared him, and l will spare him. sghed the young soldier, bow ing his head in his hand But Is not this, after all, battle between brothersi Oh, cruel indeed is war at best, but this fratrie cidal strife is snapplng the heart-strings of the best in the land
 He promptly answered her letter in as cheerful a strain as he could, hoping that | their difficulties would soon be removed and peace spread her white wings over the land. From beginning to end his letter was l replet6 with expressions Of tenderest love-
 The month of December, tS6i, was spent in drilling and discplining tho troops for ] the long, hard marches, sicge3 and heavy l battles that were before them. Occasion ally small scouting parties were sent out ! into the country for the purpose of recon | noterIng. Camp life had grown irksome 10 Luke, and he gained permission to go with a small body of cavalry on one of ther ex- petitions into a neichborheod n Kentucky reported 10 be filled with rebel guerrilasi 1 As Luke was leaving he met the captain Of the steamer on which he had gone to Bel ] mont, who informed him that ''that nigger fireman, Blaekhawk, had deserted them"
 "He is strange being,o said Luke, thoughtfully.
 ''Ill have him tied up and whipped if can find him." the officer retorted
 Luke mounted his horse and rode away to the beat, which conveyed him and his party across the river. 1t had been raining that morning, and the woods and earth were still damp from the food They did not reach the Kentucky shore until late in the afternoon, and the heavy mist which 1 kaat1 |, them from any prYing eyes which might be oh the watch for them. They travelled slowly ulong the wooded road long after uightfall had set in. Their guide was a trusty fellow who knew every foot of ground. They were liable to be fired upon i by bushWhaciers at any tune. consequently the officers carried pistols and the soldiers earbines ready cooked i'll hand to defend their lives against an attack.
 Luke and the Captain were riding side by side just behind their guide, when that parsonage drew rein and saidt
 EThere's sum wan ahead O us.'
 The officers could make out q dark figure approaching them, and instantly both lev | eied their pistols at it.
 Hole on dar massal don't ye go fur ' shootin dis ere niggahr said husky volce. ''I'se come hC-.n ter show ye to de house whar am some rebs n bush | whaclsers.A
 There was halt and few moments con versation, and then they inquired about the numbers of the enemy in the house, and informed that there we're but six.
 Lead the wly,n said the Captain of the cavalry, and they rode slowly forward until their dusky guide halted upon a hill and pointed down into dark glade where there was light gleanng. It came from the window of one of those log cabins occupied by seuatters so common in certain parts of Kentucky at the time of which we write
 What is going on down theref Luke asked, as the sounds of a squealty fiddle came to his ears.
 'Dancin',' said the negro,
 They crept little nearer, and discovered d number of horses hitched to the trees about tho house, So secure were the rev elers that not even 8 guard had been left without 10 give q note of alarm in case an enemy should approach.
 Leaving tho dragons but short distance away, Luke and the Captain crept down To the log house and through the chinks got q 1 glimpse within Here ascene greeted their l eyes
 A dozen Confederate soldiers and officers were in tho room, their faces flushed with Kentucky whisky A one-eycd negro was saving away on q squealiy old fiddle, while each Confederate was gong it at q gal1op with a red-cheeked country girl
 .Yol hl whoop ,em up; swing yer pard- ner, allaman leftl Whoop 'em up!a shout cd Il large, red-headed fellow in his shirt sleeves, who from his total lack of uniform, was evidently a citizen. and without doubt l the proprietor Of the house.
 By gosh, Sal, don't kick so high UT yell 1 knock feilers nose 6f'n his face. Look out, ole woman, UT yell punch my eye out with yer derued old snuff stick. Ali prom cuade, balance [ yer pardher right har.i l [ yer pardner an grand right n left 1 Lock out, Bill, can't yer keep on yer legs''
 "Te-'t tee tee tee did-dlddle-a-dee, n sung out the old squeaky fiddle, until the red-headed host shouted:
 Ladies t ther seats an gents t the jug" Then there was a shout of laughter and scampering away to the high two gallon stone jug which stood in one corner.
 "Maw, git the gourd an issue ther ra- shions ter the toys,o said the red-headed 1 host A thiek-set woman brought gourd and was pouring out some liquor into t l whena voice without shouted Surrenderht
 "rhe deuce you sayr cried the host, spring l ing to hIs double barreled shotgun over his 1 il the door was open and the sharp point of a saber thrust against his breast, while the 1 doors and windows were black with the muzzies of carbjnes.
 "SoldE' groaned the red-headed squatter "Why, maw, we're two dcrned fools, Der gosh!3
 "The first man who moves dIes,' said l Luke Mason, leapiug into the cabin, a cooked pistol i'll each hand
 They stood mouonless as statues, and the l girls smiled and cried at the fate of their sweethearts. The cayattymen disarmed them aud marched them out one at tune.
 As the last one passed out of the house under the escort Luke turned to go. when i the black face of their informant appeared at the door, and with q chuckle the negro 1 said
 "Golly, Massa Mason, yes got 'em.n 'Whatl Biacllhawk, are you here!n
 But that mysterious, spiit-,ile parsonage 1 fitted away into tue darkness and disap l peared, nor was he seen any more for weeks afterward. They conveyed the prisoners to camp without any trouble.
 Then came another long period of in action. Camp life became irksome to many | during that long winter of 1861 and Is62
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