The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-12-14
f.. ~. D'HUY. JeWelep Cloveppo

Skerrett felt, as he had done before.
the peculiar magnetism Of this mysteri
Gus orderly, who quoted Latin and
bowed like a courtier.
81 have taken upon myself" said he,
"to cut out British officer Of distinr-
ton now staying at q country house
| twenty miles below. / may want you Of
my party. General Putnam recommends
you"
The orderly sprang up and grasped
Major Skerretts arm with both his
hands.
"Who is the manl Name! Namer
he gasped.
"Major Kerr" replied skerrett,
coolly.
"Waitl wait momentw cried the
other, in wild excitement.
He rushed TO the edge Of the bank.
where path plunged off leading TO the
Highland road, and was lost among the
glowing recesses Of a wood skirting the
base Of the heights. He halted there
and screamed in a frantic voice: "Vol-
taire! Voltaire"
And neither the original destructive
thinker thus entitled, nor any American
namesake Of his answering the call, the
orderly raced down the slope with hat
gone and gray cue bobbing against his
coat collar.
He disappeared in the grove, and the
major could hear his feet upon the dry
leaves, and his voice still crying loudly
"Voltaire! VOltairew
HAS the old man gone madg" thought
Skerrett. "Voltaire the great is get
ting too ancient TO travel. 1t is hardly
fair to disturb him. He is soldier
emeritus Of our good cause. He walked
France up. We have TO thank him
largely that France has an appetite for
freedom and sends her sons over TO help
us fight for it. But he cannot hear this
hullaballoo at Ferney; Lafayette, Ra-
deere, and the others represent their
master with such heart and stomach as
they can.
IL must not lose sight Of my run
away" continued he TO himself. "The
name of Kerr struck him like a shot.
He may have a grudge there. Some
private vendetta in the case. And yet
this mild old man always seemed to me
TO have entirely merged his personality
in patriotism. fancied that he had
forgotten all his likes, dislikes, loves and
hates, and given up all ties except his
allegiance 10 an idea"
Major Skerrett walked rapidly TO the
edge of the bank, where Sergeant Lin
coin had first given tongue for an absent
philosopher.
As he was about TO follow the path he
heard steps again in the wood. In n
moment the orderly reappeared and ran
mp the slope painting. He was followed
by person who moved slower and blew
harder, the same old wiggy negro whom
Major Skerrett had observed laying
down the law to his companion.
80 that is Voltaire!" thought the
major. well, it is the first time |
have ever found the devil blacker than
he is painted"
The orderly sank agitated and out of
breath on the ground.
Voltaire came up the hill and, being
hatless, pulled hard at his gray wig by
way Of salute. The wig was rooted TO
the scalp. Yoltaire left it in stu, and
bowed as grandly as black dignitary
may when he is blown by good run.
II was in despair just now" said Ser
geant Lincoln. "In despair when
said it was too late to help me. Perhaps
it is not 50. trust God sends you,
Major Skerrett, 10 show us the way out
Of our troubles"
"This is sound Gospel" thought Skier
rett. This black Yoltaire may be the
Evangelist; but the Gospel is unim-
peachable."
"Come, sergeant" continued he aloud,
"tell me what all this means, my friend.
We must dispatch. My bird down the
river may take wing II | waste time"
~ am panied, my dear young friend"
said the senior, rising, "to acknowledge
10 you an unwilling deceit of mine. But
must do so. You have known me al
ways under false name. am not
Lincoln, but Observation-Disclosures Broth
CROFT"
"My fathers friendr' said Skerrett,
taking the other hand, "Mr. Brother,
toft, so missed, 80 desired by the good
cause. Why
Here Major Skerrett interrupted him
self and went to rummaging In his
brain for the disconnected strips Of rec
ord stamped: "Brothertofts. The fam
ily," .
"Whyr said Edwin Brothertoft, an
swering slowly and sadly, while the
others brain read records and forged
thoughts at this furious speed. Would
you ask me why my life is what II is
and not what men would say 1t might
have beenl An, my friend, the story is
long and dreary-too dreary TO darken
the heart of youth"
Sadly as he spoke there was no com
plant In his tone. He seemed TO regard
his facts a little dreamily, as II he were
mentioning some other mans expert
uepce.
But the past Is dead" he continued,
kere are present troubles alive and