The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-07-03

dun no; N such times as these pears
like ye can't trust no M
II think that Price will soon be driven
from the State. and then you win be all left
at peace"
"Wall, / hope so; but dun mo-" and the
sigh which followed this remark was indie
cisive. From Mr.. Nef's remarks one could
not have told how his sympathies were.
Heah come Massa Albert now,n cried
Tom, raising his woolly head from the grass
VIII ch grew under en- apple tree in the yard,
where the African had been idly lolling
about.
A young horseman, mounted on splen.
did steed, came galloping up the road from
around the orchard. He was 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 Gomez grinned the negro,
but Albert stopped not TO ask any 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 tho horse to the barn
he met tall, sullen field hand, who, for
some reason, had been nlck-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, and it was reported that
he had killed former master, and was
known TO be the hero Of half q dozen runa
ways.
"Who am dat at the housel" Blackhawk
asked
"Massa Luke Mason" Tom answered
Blackhawk gave utterance tO grunt and
went sullenly away TO his quarters.
The greeting between Albert Neff and
Luke was very cordial.
whats th' news from town, Albertr
asked Mr.. Neff. "Any thing mo- about the
wahlr
"The country is in an uproar, and we are
goin' to be overwhelmed with trouble"
Albert answered.
~ am glad to know that you are for the
Union," Luke took occasion to remark.
"Who said vast" and for the first time
acloud gathered on Albert's handsome brow.
"Why, certainly understood that you
were," Luke answered, little puzzled at
the change in his friends manner. al
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 gentleman,
and realizing that Luke was guest he
gained control Of his feelings and replied:
"No one loves the old flag more dearly
than ], so long as 1t protects me, but with
that blessed emblem Of liberty in the hands
Of enemies Of the South, we must raise our
hands against it.n
No one was so much astounded as Lille;
the speech was so contrary TO her brothers
former avowed sentiment.
"What Albert, have you turned secesh"
she asked.
when flag fails to protect its loval cit
liens, / shall not raise hand for it. This
Is niggers and not white.man's war. 1
have half believed 1t all along, and since
Fremont has declared the niggers in MIS-
sour free, know itn
"Has he done itin asked Mr.. Neff.
"Yes, Mr.. Morgan told me 30 yesterday
he prophesied 1t six weeks ago, and to-day
the papers are full ofitp
"Well well, well, 1T do beat aliF groaned
Mr.. Nef A dark form glided away from
the corner Of the porch, and the sullen eyes
Of Blackhawk might have been seen fash
ing back ut the hated white people, as he
stole away from his post Of observation.
Luke, astonished at Albert's sudden
change, silently resolved TO do nothing more
10 bring back the unpleasant subject.
Aunt Sukey came 10 announce dinner,
and all repaired 10 the dining-room. Con-
versation easily drifted into more pleasant
channels, and partially the ill-feeling was
dissipated.
That evening as Albert and Luke were
strolling about the place recounting their
boyhood scrapes, the former suddenly said:
"How long will you remain, Lukep
~ don't know - It's owing TO circum.
Stances
"Dont be afraid TO speak out, Luke; for,
whatever may be our political differences,
am still your friend"
Luke seized his hand in his own and, gaz.
ing into his manly face, said:
II thought our sentiments were the
same"
yesterday they were, but to-day am on
the Confederate side, fixed and unchanged
ble."
"What did iti' t-
~ am not at liberty TO tell Suffice to say
am Confederate, and with to-morrow's sun