The Portland daily press., 1892-06-08
"Pars likes eff 20 was agwine to ride"

'Pars likes Of 20 was agwine to ride"
said Jack.
.sYes; lie agwine fo' to ride" coughed
Pike
(Which way?"
Knoxville way"
$50 shuah, Pike?
eyes, Jack, fo' shuah."
"And ye'll jine the Confedacy9"
ayes, l allow to do hit"
"And the mother"
Jacks voice was husky as he asked
this question, and Pixies voice trembled
as he replied:
"Pve done gone tole her and Minny;
both took on mighty bad; but I tried to
cheer 'eln, and allowed yo' wus more
stiddier, and that eff so be | didn't never
come back, yod be home to keer fo'
the place. Yo've got heap sight
better head'n me, Jack, and though
know yer hearts sot onto the Union,
yo'll not leave the folks at home. And,
ole Teller, don't want yo' to feel hard
agin me; I'm powahful bad cut up, but
I'm pleedg'd to 60"
Pike drew his coat sleeve across his
eyes and reached out his hand, and TAX
ing it in his own strong grasp Jack
said: pike, every hour in the day Pll
pray God to damn the Confedacy, but
to save yo' and to send yo back safe.
Hit may be that I'll have to take sides,
but if do and we uns should meet in
the battle, I'll not raise my hand agin
my brother, and / know, Pike, yo'H not
draw a bead on a man that yo' think
is me-"
More demonstrative men would have
shed tears and perhaps have embraced
at this sad parting, but the brothers
simply withdrew their hands. Jack
stepped to one side; Pike flung himself
into the saddle and rode down the trail
leading to the south.
After waiting till the rider was swal-
lowed up in the shadows and the tramp
ing of the horse died out, Jack went on
| to the house, where he found his mother
and sister in tears. He tried to cheer
them up by telling them that Pike would
soon return, for it was not in his nature
to submit to discipline such as he under
stood the officers required of their men,
pike viii lick his captain and then
he'll come back home," said Jack; but
though he hoped for this his heart told
him that q shadow had fallen on the lit
| tie family that would never again be
lifted.
Jack Hurd kept on with his work, af-
fecting to pay no heed to the battle
echoes ringing through the Cumberland
valleys or to the ramors that the Con-
! federate authorities were about to begin
| conscripting. But Jack Hurd cleaned
| his rifle and oiled his revolvers and mold
ed bullets-not an unusual thing at this
season, when the farm work was over
and game was fat and abundant in the
| hills. But the mother and sister, watch
| ing his serious face as he made these
preparations, knew that he was not pre-
| pairing to hunt.
One day in late November Jack, who
was cutting wood up the mountain side,
heard his sisters halo and saw her sig
mailing from the knoll above the house
for him to come home. When he Joined
Minny she said: ''Thar's two sojer men
down to the house, and one of 'em's tit.
tivated all to death with gold lace and
sich fxins. And they SEE ez how they've
come to talk with we uns and to see yo'."
Jack Hurd entered the house and was
confronted by man in a gray uniform
and with sword hooked to his belt.
'sMy name is Captain Field, and I am
mastering officer" said the man.
"Wa-al, amt got no objections, said
Jack.
"Will you please to answer me few
questions?" said the officer.
s'Let's hear en-"
"What is your full name?" and Cap
tain Field took out memorandum
book and prepared to write.
"Jack Hurd."
"How old are your
twenty-five.
GLOW tall"
"'Bout six feet, reckon"
sHow is your health?"
''Tollable, thank YOU"
"Quite strong, eh?"
"Well-fa'r."
"Eyesight good?
81 reckon so. But what in blazes 90
yo' want to know them things for" de-
manded Jack
"Well,' responded the officer, as he
put away the book, 1--WE are sent into
these mountains by General Ledbetter
to find out what men are fit for duty in
the army. You are just the man for
a soldier, Mr.. Hurd, and l propose to
| send you on to Knoxville"
whether I'm willin or nor"
"You certainly must be willing"
| ''But I'm not!'
"Im sorry for that, but must carry
out orders. Please to get ready. A lot
of conscripts will be assembled this
evening at Williams store"
"And you'll urge me to fight whether