Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-10-09

you meet him again, dear Luke, be 1t on tho
battlefield or wherever il may, remember
mat though he Is your enemy, he is my
brother, and, il possible, epare him.
YES, yes; have spared him. and 1 will
spare him. sighed the young soleier, bow
| ing his head in his hand. 'Brt Is not this,
after all, battle between brothcrsf Oh,
cruel indeed is war mt best, but this fratri-
cidal strife Is swapping the heart-strings Of
| the best IN the land"
He promptly answered her letter in rs
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 cnd his letter was
repletc with expressions OF tendcrest love.
The month OF December, 1861, was spent
in drilling and disciplining the troops for
the long, nard marches, sicgeS and heavy
battles that wcrc before them. Occasion
ally small scouting parties were sent out
INTO the country for the purpose of recon-
noiterng. Camp life had grown irSsome TO
Luke. nnd he gained permission to go with
snail BODY Of cavalry on one of their ex-
petitions into u neighborhood in Kentucky
reported 10 be filed with rebel guerrillas
As Luke was leaving he met the captain OF
the steamer on which he had Como tn Bel
mont, who informed him that ''that niger
lie is strange being" said Luke,
thoughtfully.
I'll have him tied up and whipped il
can iiud him." tho officer retorted
Luke mounted his horse and rode away
10 the boat, which conveyed him and his
party across the river. II had been raining
that morning. and the woods and earth
worc still damp from the food They did
not reach the Kentucky shore until late in
the afternoon, and the heavy mist which
cnwrapt hill, 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 Ions, after
snigh;fall had set in. Their guide was
trusty fellow who knew every foot of
ground. They were liable to be fired upon
by bushwhackers ut any time, consequently
the officers carried pistols and the soldiers
carbincs ready cooked in 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 said:
There 5 sum wun ahead o. usn
The officers could make out dark figure
approaching them, and instantly both lev
eled their pistols ut it,
Hole on dar, massa! don't we go fur
t shootin' dis ere niggahl'' said n husky
voice Use come hcah ter show We to de
house whar am some rebs N bush
whackers.n
There was Il halt and "A few moments con-
versation, and then they inquired about the
numbers OF the enemy in the house, and
informed that there were but six
Lead the w " said the Captain of the
cavalry, and they rode slowly forward until
their dusky guide halicu upon hill and
pointed down into dark glade where there
II lifrlf erlnn II
window of one of those log cabins occupied
by squatters so common in certain parts of
Kentucky at tho time of which we write
What is going on down there.r Luke
asked, as the sounds of Al squealxy fiddle
came TO his ears.
''Daucu',' said tho negro
They crept little nearer, and discovered
number of horses htcned to the trees
about the house. So secure were the rev.
elcrs that not even guard had been left
without TO give note of alarm in case an
enemy should approach.
Leaving the dragons but n short distance
away, Luke and the Captain crept down to
the log house and through the chinks got n
glimpse within. Here scene greeted their
eyes.
dozen Confederate soldiers and officers
were i'll the room, their faces flushed with
Kentucky whisky. A onc-eyed negro was
saving away on a squcaky old fiddle, while
each Confederate was gong. it at "a gallop
with rcd-cheekcd country girl
"Hol IN! whoop 'em up; swing yer pard-
ncr, ALBANIAN leftl Whoop EN- up!' shout
cd Il large, red-headcd fellow in his shirt
sleeves, who. from his total lack of uniform,
was evidently a citizen, and without doubt
the proprietor of the house.
'"By gosh, Sal, don't kick so high ur ven
knock fcller.s nose off'n his face. Look
out, ole woman, ur yell punch my eve out
with yer deruc cd old snuff stick. All prom
enadc, balance yer pardhcr, right hand
t yer pardncr an grand right m left
Look out, Bill, can't yer keep on yer legs."
"Te-'t tee tee n tee did-diddlc-a-dee,r
sung out the old squealSy fiddle, until the
red-headed host shouted:
Ladies thcr seats an gents q the Jug"
Then there was shout of laughter
and a scampcring away To the high two
gallon stone jug which stood in one corner.
Nav, git the gourd an issue Their ra-
shions ter the Toys" said the red-headed
host. thicksct woman brought n Courd
ana was pouring out some liquor into it
when Ia voice without shouted "Surrenderr
Tho deuce you sayr'cried the host, spring
ing TO his dOubie-barreled shotgun over his
door. But before he could lay his hand upon
1t the door was open and the sharp point of
sabcr thrust against his breast, while the
doors and windows were black with the
muzzlcs OF carbnes
''Sold!' groancd the red-headcd squatter
why, nav, we're two derncd fools, Der
goshi"
THE first man who moves Dies said
Luke Mason, lcaping into the cabin, a cooked
pistol in each hand
Iney stood motiOnless as statues, and the
girls SMILED and cried at the fate of their
swccthcarts The cavalrymen disarmcd
them and marched them out one at time.
As the last one passed out Of the house
undcr the escort Luke turned to 90. when
the black face Of their informant appeared
at the door, and with chuckle the negro
said:
"Golly, Massa Mason, yes got EN-"
WHAT Baclthawk, are you herer'
But that mysterious, spirit-.iie pcrsonnge
hiitcd away into the darkness and disap-
pared, nor was he seen any moro for weeks
afterward. Thcy conveyed the prisoners IN
camp without any trouble
Then came another long period Of in
action Camp life became irksome 20 many
during that long winter Of 1861 and 1852
ANz/1f
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