Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-04-18

porch, bathed in the moonlight.
''Wall, Luxe, rs time We war gone & bed, y
be said, with sigh The old man still felt
sad from parting with his son, WHOM he
knew he might never see again. How long
ar We gwine { stay.'
Il leave in the morning.
"Why s. soonf
Its best
The old man again gave utterance to 8
groan, and Luke leading Lille TO the door,
| babe her goodnight ami promised 10 see her
early In the morning Then he returned 20
Mr.. Men, and, drawing chair near TO his
side, said:
"Sir Nef, want those clews to my iden-
tity."
"What yer mean, Luke."
II mean the things which were found
about me when ] was taken, like Moses,
from the water"
Thar haint nuthin' left but the old wood
en- cradle up "a TIL attic, which guess yes
seen hundred times, n the old WALLER han.
kerchern
LET me have the handkerchief, then is
will be some ciew. l may by il discover
my parentage. Amy way, ii shall be pre-
cious relic, with which will never part
The old man rose and called to negro
boy to bring him q lighted candle. The
sleepy darkey soon complied, and, followed
by Luke, the farmer went TO his private
room, where was an oid-fashioned escri-
toire He opened one OF the drawers with
an assurance that secuted At any doubt Of
the precious relic. But look Of uneasi-
ness came over his face.
'It's gone.n he said.
Look well; it may have got in some other
nook" said Luke, eagerly
He did so. He went through drawer
after drawer, but at last, il despair, whis-
pered:
''It's stolen"
"Who did it.''
The farmer could give no satisfactory
answer They searched every where that
Il could be possible for the missing relic
TO be, but OF no avail
With an aching head and heart heavy
with disappointment, Luke Mason retired
to his bed that night; weary from travel he
at last fell asleep, despite his anxiety. He
seemed to have scarce lost consciousness,
and his mind had begun TO wander amid
vague, misty dreams, when he was aroused
by a loud noise OF confused voices in which
were mingled oaths, threats aud the plead
ings OF Mr. Men aud his daughter.
"Shet up, old man; we hain't agwine ter
hurt you or yer gal; but wen hang that ar
aberlition N spite o. HI growled heavy
voice. Luke, alarmed, sprang from his bed
and ran 10 the window The front yard was
filed with armed men. Mr. Neff and Lilhe
both partially in night-c!o,hes were in front
Of the door.
"You shall not hurt him, cried the brave
girl HE has not harmed you
but he's aberlition, gal, an We'll ham
i'm ur die. Haint We Southern gala
II am-my brother IS on his way TO join
Price. but you shall not harm hair OF his
head"
A loud shout OF disapproval went up al
this determined sentence. Cries OF Tar
down the do'r' BUN the houser and 0
hundred other angry ordinations drowned
the brave giris voice.
Luke was alarmed. The freedom with
which he had declared his Union senti
ments at the last stage station had ruined
him. He now saw the folly Of his coming
10 this neighborhood, especially from free
soil State like Ohio. He was at loss what
TO do, as he was wholly unarmed and in
capable of making any defense. There came
rapid steps along the hall, the door was
pulled open, and a voice whispered:
"Massa, Massa Luke"
" Blackhawk, is 1t yout' he asked.
Eyes, massa; de berry debit am 10 play
Becesh come TO hang yer. Come wild me,
an, by golly, I'll show ye how to git away
from EN-
There was no time for. hesitation, even for
thought. He followed the negro out into
the hall, where Blackhawk thrust horse
pistol in his hand.
BLOW um ter de debil eff UNI come, sand
the negro in q whisper.
Where did you get thisl
"Nebber mind massa-can't tell yer now,
come on. Ef yer gwine ter help free my
wife an little baby I'll help YER
He led him down the stairs and they were
fastening out the rear way when a white.
robed figure suddenly ran down the hall
and, throwing her arms about him, said:
"Ohi Luke, Luke: go fiy for your life
One kiss on ner beautiful forehead, one
whispered good-bye.n and he was out FOL.