The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-09-15

better head'n nle. Jack, and though ]
know ser hearts sot onto the Uui IN.
YOU not leave the folks at hume. AID,
ole Teller. don't want 80 to feel hard
agin me; TN pOwahful lad cut up. but
I'm pleedg'd to CO.
Pike drew his coat sleeve acToss his
eyes and reached ont b hand. and TAX
ing it In his own strong grasp Jack
said: .'Pike, every hour in the day iii
pray God to damn the COnfelacy. but
to save 20 and to send 20 back safe
Hit may be that IN have to take silles.
but II do and we uns should meet in
the battle. I'll not raiSe my hand agln
my brother. and know. Pike, yO'G not
draw q bead on . nian that yo' think
q me"
More demonstrative men would have
Shed tears aud perhaps have embraced
at this sad pairing, but the brUihers
simply withdrew their banda Jack
stepped to one side; Pike dung himself
into the saddle and rode down the trail
leading TO the south.
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 1t was not In his nature
to submit to discipline such rs be under
stood the Oflieers required Of tier men.
''Pike will lick his captain and thea
he'll come back home. said Jack: but
though be hoped for this his heart told
him that shadow had fallen on the lit.
tie family that would never again be
lifted. ,s
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 rumOrs that the Con
federate authorities were sbnut to begin
conscriPting. But Jack Hurd cleaned
his Titsand oiled his revOlverH and mold
ed bullets-nOt an unusual thing ut this
season. when the farm work was over
and game was fat and abundant in the
hillA But the mother AMI sister, watch
ing his serious face ~ he made these
preparations. knew that be was not pre-
pairing to hunt.
One day in late November Jack. who
was cutting wood mp the mountain side.
heard his sisters halo and saw her sig
mailing from the knoll above the house
for him to come hons. When he Joined
Minny she said: ''Tharis two soier men
down to the house, and one Of ems tif.
tivated all to Ath with gold lace anil
SIGH fxins. = ley SEE e. how they've
come to talk G.L we uns and to see W.
Jack Hurd entered the house and was
confronted by man in gray uniform
and with sword hooked to his belt.
my name Is Captain Field. and | am
. mastering officer. said the man.
"Wa-al. laint got no objections. said
Jack.
"Wfll you please to answer me . few
questiOnsy' said the officer.
Lets hear EN-"
''What Is your full manner and Cap.
tain Field tOOk out Q memorandum
book and prepared to write. 81
Jack Hurd.~
"How old are your
Twenty-Five"
slow tallY'
"Bout six feet, I reckon
"HOw b your healthT"
"TOllable, thank you"
"Quite strong, chi"
"Well-Ea'F."
"Eyesight goodT
II reckon 90. But what in blazes do
20 want to know them things for de-
manded Jack.
We'll responded the officer, ~ he
put away the book. 1--WE are sent into
these mountains By General Ledbettsr
to find out what men are Dit for duty in
the army. You are just the man for
. soldier. Mr.. nurd. and propose to
send you on TO Knoxville"
"Whether I'm willin or nor
"You certainly must be willing"
But rm nOtI''
"I'm sorry for that. but ! must carry
out orders. Please to get ready. A lot
Of cOnscripts will be assembled tins
evening at Williams stnre."
"And you'll urge me to fight whether
want 70 or nor"
''Oh. I'm sure you will want to-"
laughed the officer.
''And yo'll 'bleege me 10 TO leave my
mother and siStah haT all alone by thar
sels whin the other boy has gone and
jined you unsg'
ayes: those are our ORDERS said the
officer.
''t1o back to them as sent yO and tell
EN- e. how Jack Hurd seq he'll zee yO'
and JEFF Davis and the hull COnfedacy
Odd afoah he'll fight 10 emf I'm Union.
! am, and II 90 be I've got to shOul,ler q
rife it'll be dead agin 20 uns. Now git
out Of this hOuss." and Jack Hurd drew
himself mp and pointed to the door.
The officer did not know human ma
ture Of the mountain variety very well.
otherwise be would never have at
tempted to force Jack Hurd out Of that
house At the point Of shis revolver. he
was In the act Of drawing his pistol. ~
was his companion. when the young
giant, who sill held In his right hand
the NJ with which he had been chop
ping, swung the weapon above his own
head and brought It down, blade fore
most. on the head Of the unfortunate on
Ger. The other man was seized by Mrs.
Hurd and her daughter and tho pistol
was torn from his hand.
The mountaineer did not mean tn kill
the man-gave the act mother thought.
indeed. than the fact that thesC men.
without reason. were about 70 drag h,..
from his home. and Il was the innate iuI
pulse Of resistance and defense that I'M
PEELED the blow. But no matter the
motive. the Confederate captain lay dead
on tho hearth ~