The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-05-29
copyrighted, 1889. ]
CONTINUED

Having the privilege OF making his owl
selection, Luke chose his mess-Arkansav
Tom, Ned Cotton, Bill Swain and Corpora
Max. Bills wound was trihing, and die
not disable him.
"What ye want us = dot" asked Arkan
saw Tom; as they hurried down the road
past the advance guard
"You are TO protect house"
"Whosel"
"Mr. Jordan NeR's."
"Union or seceshl"
"The. family are divided. The only son Is
in the Confederate army"
"They'll burn the house"
"You must not let them. The house and
inmates must be shielded from insult"
"If We say 7, we'll perfect 'em, eff it costs
us our lives"
"That Is what want you TO do
ats settled" said old Arkansaw Tom.
"Weql perfect 'em, ur bite the dust tryin'."
The old familiar farmhouse was at last
In sight, and Luke felt his heart beatin z
high with hope and expectation as he neared
10.
"I will see her once MORE" he thought
"She will know that have done this for
her sake, and that next TO my country she
10 the dearest object of life"
How peaceful and quiet seemed the pleas
ant old country home The tall poplars
and stately elms lowered above the broad
lawn. and their leaves rustled in the breeze
The focks were bleating on the hills, and
distant tinkling OF cow-bells came TO his
ears. Pigs were grunting in the fence
corners, and busy bees hummed from flow
er to flower. The strange silence about
the house caused All uneasy feeling TO come
over him. When they reached the gate
they saw that the house was closed, and had
the appearance of being deserted.
Followed by his comrades, Luke has
tened toward the front door, hoping by his
sudden return to give his betrothed pleas
ant surprise.
Only hollow echoes answered his knocks,
and at last, growing impatient, he turned
the knob and opened the door The room
was unoccupied There was Mr.. Neff's IA
vorite couch, with one cushion on the floor,
as IL the occupant had quilted the room
hurriedly. A few embers still smoldered
on the hearth, and Lilies favorite chair,
with her sewing on the floor near 1t, was
at the side Of the couch. A crumpled news
paper In the middle OF the floor and the dis
arranged furniture all bore evidence Of
hasty flight.
Filled with strange dread, Luke has
tened to the next room, calling the name OF
u his own voice.
He soon satisfied himself that the house
was deserted. A warm dinner was smok-
ing on the table in the dining room, which
convinced him that the house had been but
recently occupied.
Hoping tina: the owners might be near,
he ran TO the garden, then to the negro
quarters, but they could nowhere be
found. He was about To return when a
black face peeped out from u cluster OF
woodbines at the rear Of a chimney TO one
81 the negro huts, and voice sald
"Massa Luke, am dot your"
Biackhawk, why are you hiding therep
Luke asked
"Hidin', massa; all dc others am done
gone an hided, an 50 did l."
"who are you hiding FROM"
"Dun no, mAssa. All de odders dey
runs an hided, an dis chile did, too"
"Blackhawk, where Ia Miss Lillier
"Dun no, boss; she an ole massa runs
like dc debh war after 'em down into dc
woods, an lef' me heah by myself, an den
hided heah."
"Go after them-tell them they shall not
be harmed"
"Couldn't ind 'em, massa"
"Go and try. l must see Lille, and
have but a abort time 10 stay. l must see
her father, too / left so suddenly that
night that I did not get to say all l
wished"
"Ikin go. massa, but ton 10 one don't
ind UNI"
The head withdrew into the woodbines, q
slight rustling noise and the negro WAS
gone over the low feuce into tho wood be-
yond.
When Luke returned he found his COM
radbs seated az the farmers table helping
themselves 70 the ready cooked dinner.
"As they've all vamoosed we thought II
best ter keep this ar grub from spllin', said
old Tom.
Luke felt inclined 70 deny them the right
to appropriate the dinner OF others, but, the
pangs OF hunger at last overcoming him, he
Joined them In the feast.
Having satisfied their appettes the Ave
soldiers went 70 the front yard, where they
saw the advance guard OF the little army
coming down the hill.
"Take your places In front OF the fence,
and allow no one 10 come inside, +" said Luke.
The first soldier who attempted TO force
his way inside was stopped by Arkansaw
Tom, who said;
Yo can't come in"
"whyr the man asked.