The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-30

accidentally met, W IL guide you. LILLE"
Tenderly folding the note he thrust it
into his pocket next his heart, and turning
to Blackhawk said:
"Can you take me to the houseY'
ayes, sah."
"How far is it,"
about six miles, sab, may be seven"
ibid you walk or ride"
NV alked, massa; couldn't find boss"
"Well, Blackhawk, we must get horses to
ride back"
At this moment the door OF the tent was
darkened by the appearance Of a white
haired soldier, who had baudage about his
head and one arm in sling.
"Whar ye gwine. Kernelr he asked, with
the familiarity of friend.
II shall leave camp for short time, Tom "
Il jist came ter tell We, Kernel, that
Max Vi grumble no more"
"What!-deadl"
ayes, Kernel, jist breathed his last"
SLOW is Ned CottonP
"First rate, reckon; the doctor TUX his
leg off ter day and thinks he'll live, but
| Ned's almost tuckered out"
"Did you find Bill Suowl"
ayes, N buried him"
| Colonel Mason bowed mis- head, and for a
moment was lost in painful thought. Then,
with sigh, he said:
"Tom, l am the only one Of the origin al
five who escaped unframed. 1t is sad, but
it is the fortunes of war"
"Kernel I've follercd We through thick n
thin; I've fit every time at yer side, N I'm
sorry l can't go Wi you this time. Sumthin'
might happen, We know"
"No, no, Tom; stay with your dead friend
and see him decently buried, nurse Ned I'M
til he is able to go home. There is no dan
ger, for the enemy are all out Of the imme-
date neighborhood. A wounded friend has
sent for me, and must CO."
| The wounded veteran Of the "Hornet's
Nest" could make no answer. Those eyes
that had long been dry grew moist with
tears, and wringing his Colonels hand he
| said:
"They're all gone but you an me, Kernel,
IN next it III be old Tom. But won't kick.
Goodbye"
Luke left him and with his guide mounted
the horses he had ordered, and they began
their journey. On every side of the road
little mounds of fresh earth marked the
last resting. place of some brave soldier,
who wore either the blue or gray.
Shiloh's stubborn fight taught both North
and South lesson. They learned that
there wero men Of metal on both sides.
They were brothers of the same family and
equally brave.
Luke could not repress q shudder when
the groans of some dying wretch in the
brush at the roadside reached his ears.
Afar Off in the wood could be seen torches
moving about, They seemed the lights Of
| ghouls or ghosts who lowered over the field
of the slain. There still remained many
dead yet in the woods who had to be gath
cred up, and those lights belonged to the
searchers of the slain. The forest, which
but q few days before had been the scene Of
such pandemonium, was now silent as the
tomb Tie intense darkness, broken only
here aud there by the ghoulish-like lights
that fitted about, seemed to cast an ap-
palling gloom over the battle field, magnify
ing instead Of decreasing its horrors.
Are you acquainted with this countryl"
Colonel Mason asked Blackhawk as they
passed beyond the outlying pickets.
"Yes, massa, 1 has been all ober it many
time. Vars ago lived fur week in
desc woods"
SIN the woods. Were you q runaway"
don talk bout dat, massa; it an all over
now"
Backhawk, won't you explain that mys-
terry to me, at which you have intimated
time and again9 Who are youl Who am Il!
For feel that you have my past history
locked up in your breast"
al will tole yo' soon, massa, but not now !;
no time now" After q few moments 81.
lence Luke said:
Blackhawk, where were you during the
battlel'
"Righ. in u, n1assa. from fust to last I
! fought all de time and kill UNI; eber so
many" The chuckle Of infinite satisfaction
which followed this sent thrill Of horror
through Luke's franc, and he almost
loathed the cold blooded, heartless African.
In order to change the subject he asked:
ibid you see Lille Neffm
"Yes, massa; saw Miss Lille on de
berry fust day OBJ de fight. She came to q
house wha' all de folks dun ran of, an
was dar TO shoot rebels. BY n by some
rebs came in wild her brudder n she made
me hide my gun. De shootin' could be heerd
down heah, an all lowed as dar war aw.
full big fight ergoin' on. Massa Albert war
in heap o. trouble bout dat secesh gal,
Elsie Morgan, who couldn't be found, but
by N by she came wild her father-an'
wush I'd my gun T. kill 'um, but promise
Miss Lille won't, N won't. Den dar wal
alot OBJ soft talk N kissin' tween Miss Elsie
N Massa Albert n he go away wild all dc
sojers TO fight an both o. de missus folleI
&c take keer of de wounded.
Igot my gun an went to de woods tel
fight, and spent two days shootin' men
hated. / didn't know zactly which'd
whipped, when l meets de leetle Missus
Elsie comm fur dis chile. She say ful
me % como 10 a louc cabin in do woods an
- r. - en- lr ,w"1 it. COS it war dC
y~-.t -, u..u... n-S-y '.,rs ago. II