Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-01

E1tS 49,
NrASE rF5@
BACK, BACK, THEIR LINE WAS FORCED.
the badly decimated regiment In com
mand of the senior Captain, Luke made a
diligent search among the slain Confeder-
ates.
HE may be killed." said the Colonel,
land if so will find him and give him Chris
tian burial. If he is wounded / will be his
nurse until he is restored to health"
But though he searched two days he
could not find the BODY.
At the last days search he returned to
his tent, and was sitting in it, weak and
sick at heart, when he heard his guard
challenge some one. A moment later the
guard, putting his head in at the tent door,
said:
Here's niger, Colonel, that wants to
see you"
"Yes, Massa Luke, is got sumpln foh
ye," said a familiar voice that thrilled the
Colonel.
admit himp' said Luke, staggering to
his feet. a giant negro stalked into the
tent. "Blackhawk, have you again turned
up to taunt me with this mystery. Out
with it, man or devil, whichever you are !;
tell me what you wantr'
"Pve got lettah for massa, dat am all, !"
and the negro handed the Colonel a bit Of
folded paper. II promised to bring it to
you, massa, and I've done it"
Opening it, Colonel Mason was astounded
to find the brief note in the handwriting Of
his betrothed. 1t read:
"DEAR LUXE: II Heaven has spared you
and good fortune should permit you to receive
this, come to US at once. Albert is badly
wounded Col6nel Morgan is also here, NOR
tally wounded, 1 fear. Blackhawk, whom I
accidentally met, will guide you. LILLE"
Tenderly folding the note ne thrust it
into his pocket next his heart, and turning
to Blackhawk said:
"Can you take NE to the housed"
''Yes, sah.''
'How far is it?"
"'Bout six miles, sab, may be seven"
IBID you walk or ride!"
walked, massa: couldn't find boss"
"Well, Blackhawk, we must get horses to
ride back"
At this moment the door OF the tent was
darkened by the appearance of a white
haired soldier, who had a baDdage about his
head and one arm in sling.
"Whar We gwine, Kernel?" he asked, with
the familiarity of friend.
Il shall leave camp for short time, Tom. "
Il iist came ter tell We, Kernel, that
Max III grumble no more"
''What !-dead!'
"Yes, Kernel, jist breathed his last"
''How is Ned Cotton!"
"First rate, reckon; the doctor TUX his
leg of ter day and thinks he'll live, but
Ned's Almost tuckered out"
"Did you find Bill Snow"
'Yes, N buried him"
Colonel Mason bowed his head, and for a
moment was lost in painful thought. Then,
with sigh, he said:
tom, 1 am the only one of the original
five who escaped unharmed. 1t Is sad, but
it is the fortunes of war"
KERNEL, I've follered ye through thick n
thin; I've fit every time at yer side, N I'm
sorry can't go wi you this time. Sumthin'
might happen, ye know"
"No, no, Tom; stay with your dead friend
| and see him decently buried, nurse Ned un-
| til he is able to go home. There is no dan
| ger, for the enemy are all out of the imme-
diate neighborhood. A wounded friend has
sent for me, and must go''
The wounded veteran Of the Hornets
Nest" could make no answer. Those eyes
| that had long been dry grew moist with
! tears, and wringing his Colonel's hand he
| said:
They're all gone but you an me, Kernel,
n next it II be old Tom. But won't kick.
Goodbye"
| Luke left him and with his guide mounted
! the horses he had ordered, and they began
their journey. On every side Of the road
little mounds Of fresh esrth marked the
last resting place of some brave soldier,
who wore either the blue or gray.
Shiloh's stubborn fight taught both North
and South a lesson. They learned that
there were men of metal on both sides.
They were brothers of the same family and
equally brave.
Luke could not repress a shudder when
the groans of some dying wretch in the
brush at the roadside reached his ears.
| Afar off in the wood could be seen torches
| moving about. They seemed the lights of
! ghOuls or ghosts who hovered over the field
OF the slain. There still remained many
dead yet in the woods who had to be gath
cred up, and those lights belonged to the
/ searchers of the slain. The forest, which
but few days before had been the scene of
such pandemonium, was now silent as the
tomb The intense darkness, broken only
here and there by the ghoulishlike lights
that fitted about, seemed to cast an ap-
palling gloom over the battlefield, magnify
ing instead Of decreasing its horrors
Are you acquainted with this country!''
Colonel Mason asked Blackhawk as they
passed beyond the outlying pickets.
Yes, massa, has been all ober it many
time. Vars ago l lived fur a week in
desc woods"
In the woods. Were you runawayin
Don talk bout dat, massa; it am all over
now"
blacknawk, won't you explain that mys-
terry TO me, at which you have intimated
time and again? Who are youl Who am L!
For feel that you have my past history
locked up IN your breast'
- VIII tole yo' soon, massa, but not now
no time now.n After a few moments ST
lence Luke said:
" Blackhawk, where were you during the
battlel"
Right in I, massa. from fust to last
fought al de time and 1 kill um; eber SC
many" The chuckle of infinite satisfaction
which followed this sent thrill Of horror
through Luke's framS, and he almost
loathed the cold d-blooded, hesrtless African
In order TO change the subject he asked:
did YOU see Lille Neffr'
Yes. massa; I saw Miss Lille on de
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