Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-04-11

1t Is TO you that owe my education and the
blessings which enjoy; but, Mr.. Mem. there
is one thing you have kept from me--the
secret of my life. Only that was the wait
Of some great flood do know Of myself
You have promised TO tell me all you know
of me, and we know not in these distracted
times what an hour may bring forth. Cant
you, won't you tell me all now!'
Lille had carried the visitor hat in the
hall and hurried through to see that the col
ored cook was attending to her duties, that
a suitable dinner wonld be prepared for the
visitor. Mr.. Neff almost lost his breath, Sc
sudden was the question propounded. After
a moment, however, he said:
"Wall, Luke, reckin L Il tell you now all
/ know about We. I'd HOPED that the time d
come that could cleared up the mystery,
but can't It's been twenty-five vars age
this spring since was with my brother on
the Missouri river, a few miles below Lex
ington. We had farms thar then an was
both younger than now. The river war
very high that spring, an lots o. the bottom
lands war Overhowed. We knowed many
people were drowned out, and had our
skiff.. tryin' to help EN- git their goods
saved, when one day we saw somethin'
fioatin' down the river. Ii warnt uncom.
mon ter see things a iioatin' down the
river; but this war somethin' uncommon,
as we could see. Somehow q peared &
me s orter go out n see what it war, an
/ tole my brother Z pull out 10 T. We both
laid to our oars, n soon kim near nun .
see what t war
"'It's cradle, said my brother, lookin'
over his shoulder. We got nearer an suah
nun 'twar cradle an had bed in t, an
q baby war in tn cradle. That ar baby
war you, Luke"
. Is that all you know OF me.
- Vas, that's about all.''
. Did you fiud not hing by which l might
have been able 10 trace my parentage!'
Nuthin but a big, yaller handkerchief
SIGH as the niggers war. II had em-
broidered on one corner Luke Mason
An expression of agony and disappoint-
ment swept over the young mans face, and
he heaved a sigh. That for which he had
hoped was disappointing at last, and the
mystery of his life was As far from being
solved as ever. Could he, q nameless
waif, an unknown child of the food, press
his claim for the hand of the fair girl
whose heart he had already won. The old
farmer, who had noted his disappointment,
in order to change tue subject said:
Have We gone into business yet:"
ayes, sir, opened an office, but have
done very little, owing to the distracted
condition of the country" Lille Neff now
came from the house, her pretty cheeks
glowing with pleasure and her eyes spark
ling happiness. She seated herself upon a
rustic mat near her father and the visitor.
90 c'ose We cant do no business in
I a. I l-rntx-a6 "a
like. Pears like every DOdy's Goin' crazy. !"
''where is Albert:" Luke asked.
"Went after tn mail; he'll ne back
SOON
HE hasn't gone in the army yet!
NO, but jest look fur ham t do IT,
A question tremoled on the lips of Luke
Mason. He wanted TO ask in which army his
schoolmate would enlist, but for fear the
question might CRATE harshly on the ears Of
his friends he RETAINED. In the border
States men were liable TO take either side,
and to change their views any day, for 1861
was the beginning of transition period,
and men were as yet unsettled in their con-
victions. 1t was quite relief to Luke
when Lille. with one of her most winsome
chances from the darkest of eyes, said
Brother is Union"
lam glad of that. +" he answered. Though
the South may have some real, or imaginary,
grievances it does not justify any man in
taking up arms against his country
"Oh, dear me. / dun mo-" groaned Mr..
Neff. Pears Z me like all the peoples
gwine crazy. They er jest err tarin' the
country to pieces; an its no tellin when
they'll burn our house an hang us"
''You have no cause to fear Union SOL
aiers, hope.i'
Dun mo- IN such times as these pears
ike We can't trust no m
Il think that Price will soon be driven
from the State and then YOU will he all left
at peace.
"Wall, l hope So; but dun mo- and the
sigh which followed this remark was indie
cisIve. From Mr.. Neff's remarks one could
not have told how mis- sympathes were.
"Heah come Massa Albert now cried
Tom, raising his woody head from the grass
which grew under an apple treein the yard,
where the African had been idly lollmg
about.
A young horseman, mounted on splen-
did steed, came galloping up the road from
around the orchard, He was a fine, manly
looking fellow, with AN open countenance
and commanding figure.
He dismounted at the gate and flung the
rein to Tom. who had come to take the
horse
Somebody's come, grinned the negro,
but Albert stopped not TO askany questions,
for he had already recognized the friend OF
his childhood sitting on the porch and hur-
ried forward to greet him.
AS Tom was leading the horse TO the barn
he met tall, sulleu field hand, who. for
some reason, had been nick-named Black
hawk. This sobriQuet, given him at some
time in the dim past, had usurped any other
legitimate name he might have had. Black
hawk, as sullen as his Indian namesake, was
a slave whom Mr.. Neff had purchased years
before He was not liked by any of the
other field hands, aud it was reported that
he had killed a former master, and was
known 10 be the hero OF half dozen runa-
ways.
Who am dat at the houset" Backhawk
asked
Massa Luke Mason" Tom wered.
Blackhawk gave utteraace to grunt and
went sulleniy away TO his quarters.
The greeting between Albert Neff anC
Luke was very cordial.
What's tn news from town, Alberto
aohCu III. -Nch' ANY tutHS lno aUui' lux
wah!''
The country is in an uproar, and we are
goin' to be overwhelmed with trouble.
Albert answered.
Il am glad to know that you are for the
Union, Luke took occasion to remark.
Who said I,was.' and for the first time
actoud gathered on Albert's handsome brow
"Why, | certainly understood that you
at
the change in his friends manner. II
thought you loyal TO the flag of Washing
ton, Jefferson and Jackson
Albert's face grew dark and his eyes
flashed with strange fire that his friend
had never seen there before. Lille noted
the change with alarm, and started to her
feet, trembling at the dread of something
terrible But Albert Neff was a gentleman,
and realizing that Lake was a guest he
gained control Of his feelings and replied
''No one loves the old flag more dearly
than |, so long as it protects me, but with
that blessed emblem OF liberty in the hands
Of enemies of the South, we must raise our
hands against II.
No one was so nu en- astOunded as Lille
the speech was SO contrary 10 her brothers
former ayOwed sentiment
What, Albert, have you turned seceshi"
she asked.
when a flag fails TO protect its loyal cit.
liens, shall not raise hand for it. This
is nigger's and not white mans war.
have half believed it all along, and since
Fremont has declared the niggers in Ms
souri, free, 1 know it,
HAS he done it," asked Mr. Neff
Eyes, Mr.. Morgan told me so yesterday
he prophesied it six weeks ago, and to-day
the papers are full of it,