The Irish standard., 1889-05-04

! thought him in league with the Evil One,
and, ohi Luke, fear he hates you; il ySa
should ever meet him, beware q httn
Brother wrote me of your saving his LIFE
oh! can not thank you too much. Should
YOU meet him again, dear Luke, be it on the
battlefield or wherever it may, remember
that though he is your enemy, he is my
brother, and, if possible, spare him."
ayes, yes; have spared him, and will
spare him." sighed the young soldier, bow
ing his head in his hand. "But is not this,
after all, battle between brothers! On,
cruel indeed is war at best, but this 1rstri-
cidal strife is swapping the heart-strlngs Oh
| the best IN the land"
He promptly answered her letter in al
| cheerful 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
replete with expressions OF tenderest love.
The month of December, 1861, was spent
in drilling and disciplining the troops for
the long, hard marches, sieges and heavy
| battles that were before them. Occasion
ally small scouting parties were sent out
into the country for the purpose Of recon-
nolterlng. Camp life had grown irksome TO
Luke. and he gained permission to &C wish
a small body of cavalry on one OF their e@
peditions into a neighborhood in Kentucky
reported to be filed with rebel guerrillas.
AS Luke was leaving he met che captain OF
the steamer on which he had gone to Bel
mont, who informed him that ''tha5 nigger
fireman, Blackhawk, had deserted them"
| 'tHe is strange being,' said Luke,
thoughtfully.
"Ill have him tied up and whipped II
I can find hin, tho officer ia tOrtc1
! Luke mounted his horse and rode sway
to the boat, which conveyed him and bis
party across the river. 1t had been raining
that morning, and the ,voods 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
enwrapt hull, valley, grove and town hid
them from any prying eyes which might
be ON the watch for them. They Travelled
| slowly along the wooded ROAD long after
| nightfall had set iu. Their guide WAS
trusty fellow who knew every foot OF
ground. They were liable to be fred upon
by busnwhackers at any time, consequently
the officers carried pistols and the soldiers
carbines ready cooked in hand to defend
| their lives against an attack,
| Luke aud the Captain were riding sido
| by side just behind their guide, when that
| parsonage drew rein and said:
''Ehere's sum vun ahead O u.s."
| The officers could make Out a dark Aguno
approaching thea, and instantly both lev"
elcd their pistols at it,
| 'Hcia on dar, maasa! don't ye go Tsis
q shootin' dis ere niggah!' said husky
voice "Ise come heah ter show 20 TO de
house whar an some rebs "a bush-
| whackers.''
j There was q halt and q few 1nosnsnts' ,,cNar
versation, and then they inquired abose tbs
numbers OF tho enemy in the house, ana
informed that there were but six.
s'Lead the way,' said the Captain ot tsse
cavalry, and they rode slowly forward nEzi
their ausky guide halted upon bin and
pointed down into q darl: glade whera there
was light cleaning. 1t came frors ths
window Of one OF those log cabins occupied
| BY suuatters 80 common in certain parts Of
| Kentucky at the time ef which wo write.
| s'What is going on down there2' Lake
asked, as tho sounds Of e. sgueaky fiddle.
came TO his ears.
| s.Daucin','' said tho negro.
! They crept a little nearer, and discovered
a number Of horses hitched to the trseG
about the house. So secure were the rsYs''
/ elers that not even guard had been !ets
| without to give note of alarm in case an
enemy should approach.
J Leaving the dragons but g short distance
! away, Luke and the Captaia crept down ts
the log house and through the chiniss got n
| glimpse within. Here ascene greeted tbelY
eyes.
| a. dozen Confederate soldiers and officers
were in the room, their faces flushed with
/, Kentucky whisky. a one-eyed negro wac
saving away on squeaEy old fiddle, v'hila
each Confederate was gong ii at a ga!lop
| with a red-cheeked country girl.
'yol hill whoop ,era up; swing yer parfa'
! ncr, a)laman lcftl Whoop 'em up''' Shout
sleeves, who, from his total lack OF uniform.
was evidently citizen, and without doubt
tne proprietor Of the house.
"Bv gosh, Sal, don't kick go high Ut yo'A
knock a feIler'a moss OFF, his face. Look
out, ole woman, ur Yell punch my eye out
with yer tierned old snuff stick. All prons
nade, balance t. yer pardner, right haa1d
t. yer pardner an grand right m le3s.
Look out, Bill, can't yer keep On yer legst''
"Te-'t- tee tee tee did-diddle-a-dee,"
sung out the old squeahy fiddle, until tbs
red-headed host shouted:
"Ladies t. ther seats an gents t. the jng.'
Then there was q shout 0f laughter
and a scampering away TO the high two
gallon stone jug which stood in one corner.
"Maw, git the gourd an issue ther rst
shions ter the boys" said the rcd-headed
host. & thicz-set woman brought a gourd
and was pouring out some liquor into ii
when avoice without shouted: "SurrenGerV'
'The deuceyou say .'' 'criedthe hos, t,spring.
ing to his double -barrelcd shotgun over his
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