Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-07-04

ates.
HE may be Killed." said the Colonel,
sand IL so l will fsnd HIN and give him Chris.
tan burial III he is wounded | will be his
nurse until he is restored TO healthn
But though he searched two days he
could not find the body.
AT the last days search ne 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 tho
guard. putting his head in at the tent door,
said:
"Here's niggeF, Colonel, that wants %
see YOU"
Eyes, Massa Luke, is got sumpin fob
ye," said familiar voice that thrilled the
Colonel
"Admit himp' said Luke, staggering to
his feet A giant negro stalked into the
tent "BlackhaYk, have you again turned
up TO taunt me with this mystery. Out
with 1t, man or devil, whichever you are;
tell me what you wantf'
"pve got lettah for massa, dat ana oil .
and the negro handed the Colonel bit of
folded paper. 81 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
bis betrothed. IL read:
"DEAR LUKE: II Heaven has spared you,
and good fortune should permit you to receive
this, como 70 us OF onoe. Albert is badly
wounded. Colonel Morgan Is also here, NOR
tally wounded fear. BlackhawlI, whom
accidentally met Will guide you. LILLE"
Tenderly folding the note no thrust it
into his pocket next his heart, and turning
70 Blackhawk said:
"Can you take mo to the housed"
ayes, sab"
"H0W far is itl'
"iBout six miles, sab, may be seven"
"Dld you walk or ridef'
NV alked, massa; couldn't find hoss.n
swell, BiaclshawE, we must get horses to
ride back"
AT this moment the door Of tho tent was
darkened by the appearance of a white
haired soldier, who had a bapdage about his
head and one arm in q sling.
"WhaE 70 gwlne, Kerneiin he asked, with
the familiarity of friend.
II shall leave camp for short time. Tom"
II jist came ter tell ye, Kernel, that
Max n gYumble no more"
nWhatAdes1P'
"Yes, Kernel, nst breethed his last"
"HoW Is Mad GottonPi
"Eirst rate, reckon; the doctor TUX his
leg of Ter day and thinks he'll live, but
Ned'e almost tucheTed out"
"Did you ind BfAl Snewi"
"Yes, n buried him."
Colonel Mason bowed his head, and for q
moment was lost in painful thought. Then,
with sigh, hs aaid;
"Tom, i ana the only enc Of tho original
five who escaped pnharmed. 1t Is sad, but
it is tho fortunes of war"
"K4nel Eve folleged ye through thick n
this rve AZ every time 90 yer slde, n FIN
ser1r4 eae't so vi yea this time. Eamthin'
might happen, We knows
"rEo, no, Tom stay with your dead friend
and see him decentiy buried, nurse Ned I'M
al he is able TO go home. There Is ne dan
ger, Tor the enemy are all out Of the imme-
diato ueighborhood A wounded friend has
sent for me, and | must go"
The wounded veteran of the "Hornets
Nest" could make no answer Those eyes
thst had long been dry grow moist with
tears, and wTinging his Coloners hand he
said
"Theg're all COMO but you an me, Kermit,
IN next II 'lTbc I'D Tom. BlA won't kick.
Goodbye"
Luke left him and with his guide mounted
the horses no had ordered, and they began
their Journey. Op every sido OF tho road
little mounds Of fresh earth marked tho
last resting place OF como brave solder,
WHO wore either tho blue ~ gray.
Shiboh's stubborn lglA taught both North
and 6outh lesson. They learned thaA
there were men Of metal on both sIdes.
They were brothers OF the s0ue family and
equally brave,
L.nkecculd not repress shuddeF when
the groans q come dying wretch IA che
brush 40 tho roadside reached his ears.
Altar OF in the wood cooid be seen torches
m6y1ng about They seemed the lights OF
ghouls or CHESTS vine lowered ever tAs field
Of the slain. There still remained many
dead yet In the woods who had to be gath
cred up, aHd those lights belonged " the
searchers OF tho slain. The forest, which
but Dew days bstose had boon tie scene Of
such a pandemaxum, was n0w silent as the
tomb The int6Be dan<Ress, broken only
here and there ~ the ghoulish-like lights
THAI fitted about, seemed 10 casa sn ap.
palnng gloom ever the battlefield magnify
ing instead OF decreasing its hProra
"Are you acquainted with this oountryv'
Colonel Mason asked Blsckhawig as they
passed beyond the outlying ISckeeA
'Ees, passa, has been all ober il many
time Vars age hued FUR weak In
9es woods"
"in the weeds. Were you a nnnswayF'
"Don' tax bout dat, massa; it ans all over
now.T
"Biackhawk won't you explain that mys-
terry % rIe, at which you have iHtimated
time ana agsiai Who are youi Who am II
For feel thai you have my past history
locked up n yous breast"
~ yin tole yo' soon, Hassas but not now;
40 time now" Afcer few Moments ST.
leuce Ltsse saia:
"Blaolhswk, where were you during tho
battlel"
"Right in 7. massa, from fust TO last /
foughs all de time and kill UNI; ebeF so
many" The chuckle OF infinite satisfaction
which followed this sent thrill Of horror
through Luke's frame, and he almost
loathed the cold-blooded, heartless African.
In order TO change the subject he asked:
ibid yop sec Lfie NeRiS
"Yes, massa; l saw Miss Lille op do
berry fuss day OBJ de fight. She camo 70 a
house VIVA all de folks dun ran of, an
was daB 70 shoct rebels. BY n by some
rehs came in wid. her brudder n she made
me hide my gun. De shOotini could be heerd
down hesh, an all lowed as daE war aw-
ful big fight ergoin' on. Aassa Albert war
la heap O. trouble bout dat secesh gal,
Eisie Morgan, who couldn't be found, but
by n by she came wild her father-an'
WISH I'd my gun Z kill 'um, but Apromise
Miss Lille won't, n I won't. DeRiar war
alot OBJ soft talk n kissini tween Miss Elsie
n Massa Albert n he go away wild al de
sojefE 20 fight an both o. De missus foller
70 take keef Of dc wounded.
II got my gun.an' went 70 de woods ter
fight, and spent two days a shootin' men
Mated. / didn't know zactly which,d
Is1ahipped, when / meets de leetle Missus
Eaie comm fur dis chile. She say fur
usta ssnatoa iSae cabin de woods an