Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-06-13

.Dun me-; N such times asiAess pears
like 70 can't trust no m"
81 think that Price win soon be driven
from the State. and then you win be al left
It peace"
oval, I hope 90; but dun mo-, )" and the
Sigh which followed this remark was indie
| cislye. From Mr.. NeHs remarks one could
not have told how his sympathies were.
"Heah come Masss Albert now," cried
Tom, raising his woolly head from the grass
VIII Oh grew under an apple tree in the yard,
where the African had been idly lolling
about
| A young horseman, mounted on q splen-
did steed, came galloping up tho 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 come" Rrinned 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 q 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.. Nen 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 dozen runa-
| ways.
Who am dat at the housed" Blackhawk
| asked
Massa Luke Mason" Tom answered.
Blackhawk gave utterance tn q grunt and
went sullenly away to his quarters.
The greeting between Albert Nen and
Luke was very cordial
"What's tn news from town, Albertp'
asked Mr.. Neff. Any thing mo- about the
wah!"
1.-THE country is in an uproar, and we are
goin' to be overwhelmed with trouble, !"
Albert answered.
lam glad to know that you are for the
Union" Luke took occasion to remark.
=" Who said was?' and for the first time
acloud gathered on Albert's handsome brow.
"Why, certainly understood that you
were," Luke answered, q little puzzled at
the change in his friends manner. ~
thought you loyal to the flag Of Washing.
ton, Jefferson and Jackson"
Albert's face grew dark and his eyes
flashed with a 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 Ne6 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 I, 50 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 it."
No one was so much astounded as Lille;
the speech was so contrary to her brothers
former avowed sentiment.
"What, Albert, have you turned secesha"
she asked.
'.When flag fails to protect its loval cit
liens, shall not raise hand for it. This
IS nigger's and not white mans war. l
have half believed it all along, and since
Fremont has declared the niggers in MIS-
souri, free, I know it."
HAS he done it," asked Mr.. NeH.
Eyes, Mr.. Morgan told me so yesterday
he prophesied it six weeks ago, and to-day
the papers are full of it."
swell, well, well, it do beat all )" groaned
Mr.. Neff. A dark form glided away from
the corner of the porch, and the sullen eyes
of Blackhawk might have been seen fash
ing back at the hated white people, as he
stole away from his post of observation.
Luke, astonlshed at Albert's sudden
change, silently resolved to do nothing more
to bring back the unpleasant subject.
Aunt Sukey came to announce dinner,
and all repaired to the dining-room. Con-
versatlon easily drifted into more pleasant
channels, and partially the il-feeling was
dissipated.
That evening as Albert and Luke were
strolliug about the place recounting their
boyhood scrapes, the former suddenly said:
''How long will you remain, Lukew
81 don't know it's owing to circum-
stances"
Don't 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:
81 thought our sentiments were the
same"
"Yesterday they were, but to-day am on
the Confederate side, fixed and unchangea-
ble"
s'What did it,"
81 am not at liberty to tell Suffice to say
am Confederate, and with to-morrow's sun
s..11ilxxasxSe A.. >.
c.SST4T. AhG "
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