Thomas County cat., 1889-08-22

cabin stayed in many, many y'ars ago. I'd
been dar since an it had two beds and
cheers dar When l come dar found Massa
Albert ly in on one bed wild Q big shot in
his side, an Massa Colonel Morgan on
anudder wild a rifle bullet through i'm.
Elsie Morgan war dar q tendin' boff ov 'em
an Q cryin' all de time. Miss Lille AZ um
sumfin', and dey all say yes, den she wrote
de lettah for T. fotch yen
Luke asked his guide several more ques-
tions in regard to the wounded men and
Lille, but Blackhawk seemed to have sud-
denly grown morose, and either answered
| by negative grunts or sullen silence.
For some strange, incomprehensible rea-
son, Colonel Mason found himself nervous
and trembling. 1t seemed as if the vail Of
the past was about to be lifted. and he was
| to gaze upon what he had so longed to see
Could it be, oh was it possible that that
dark mystery would soon be explalneda
They ran two or three narrow escapes from
small parties of thieves and army vandals.
| who were prowling about the battlefield
numbering the wounded and robbing the
slain.
"Dar am de cabin" Blackhawk at last
said, pointing through the woods to light
which shone like star.
They spurred their horses on and in few
moments were at the door Of the lonely
cabin in the forest. Colonel Mason dis
mounted and, followed by Blackhawk, went
toward the miserable hut.
CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION.
so1;t fo1Ioxu 20 N 3lo A,yo1y 1;nhfo6 tha
dingy apartment, bringing only into partial
relief the objects within. At the rear of
the cabin, half concealed by the ftful
shadows, were two miserable coucses, on
each of which lay a dark form. A female
knelt at one while another sat upon . stool
near by, her face buried in her hands.
Leaning against the wall was q sabre IN its
scabbard.
The footsteps Of the Colonel and his at
tendant were unheard, and he had reached
the center of the room unperceived. A low,
earnest prayer was beng offered up by the
girlish form kneeling at the couch. The
awful solemnity of the occasion awed even
the man who had grown accustomed to
death and carnage The voice he heard was
of the being whom he loved, and had loved
| since tis boyhood days. She was the angel
who had visited his dreams and whose
prayers for his safety had seemed more in
vulnerable than armor Of steel. She was
| uttering prayer for dying man, Colonel
Morgan, the fiery Southerner, while his
daughter sat by his side weeping. Some
| how Luke dared not break that awful
| silence.
The sound of horses feet were heard
| without, then of some one slo WY dismount-
ing.
"Thar, boys. I'm all right now. I thank
ee fur comm Wi me. All! dear me, it jist
pears like these war times ar gwine t.
kill every body" said weak voice from
without, which Luke recognized as Mr..
Jordan Neff, Lilies father. 1t was the
same dyspeptic, pessimistic voice Luke had
heard year and a half before on his last
visit to the dear old farmhouse.
The voice was also heard by the wounded
man and praying girl.
"Father!" said Albert, starting up and
leaning on his elbow.
"Father!" cried Lille. springing to her
feet. Then, for the first time, Colonel
Mason's presence was discovered. "Oh,
Luke-Luke-Luke! she cried, finging
her arms about his neck. Mr.. Neh en-
tered, and, for a moment, stood gazing in
amazement
'Wall, declar, what do It all meanr' he
finally gasped.
Explanations were soon made and Mr..
Neff told how that he had come near to
Pittsburg Landing hoping to see his son,
and that he learned that he was wounded
and got some very nice soldiers to show him
to the place. Upon examination of Albert's
wound Luke was soon satisfied that it was
not necessarily fatal. But it was evident
that Colonel Morgan was dying. and could
live but a few hours at most. He was still
strong, however, and told them that he was
shot on the second day when the fighting
was almost over. He had fallen back sew
eral hundred rods from the enemy and was
riding along ridge when a single rife-shot
rang out from the bushes on his left and he
fell pierced in the breast by bullet.
my boy, my brave Jasper, made his es-
cape, trust. Ihope, Colonel Mason, if ever
you meet him you will be as kind to him as
you were to my daughter when you protect
ed our home from the recruits. he and
Elsie are all have unless-unless-"
"Unless what!" asked the Colonel.
''The other one be living"
s'Of whom are you talking! What other
one do you mean, Colonel Morgan!" Luke
asked, knowing full well that the man had
not long to live, and that whatever he had
to say must be said Immediately.
81 once had child two years older than
Jasper. But when an infant-a mere il
tan.-:te chilli vas s:clen from me-" He
!, QFI77 I'M