Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-07-19

4 ~ tno usiuhhk VI ho Wes so'
Widow Iiurd and her family lived mp Ia
the mountains about twenty miles south
east of Jacksboro and on little branch
of Clinch ri,er. which tears through th'
Cumberland range an hours marei
away. The Widow Huri was awomar
20 marked character. When child sh'
hal lived for some years at Tazeweli
where al. learned to read and write. ac
complishmen,s which In themsclv.
were sufficient 20 distinguish her amons
her unleiisr,d neighbor. Twenty year
brfore the war. her husband had beer
killed Ia an election quarrel at Jacks
boro. leaving her three childrcn-tw'
hoy. AMI . girl. the latter bsing th'
youngest and at this time In her twenty
lr.t year. Mrs IIurd. thrown on h.i
own resources, cultivated her hilly farm
with more success than her HUSBAND
hal ever done. Her prosperity was Ia
marked contrast with that ~ her shift
lsss neighbors, all ~ whom declare,
iha, "the Widow Ilurti was ji., a-spilir
her young uhs- when she sent them fo'
several ycars 10 school In the bcautifu
mountain town where shc had hersel
received her limited education
Minny Hurd was the b.lle of th.
mountains. and th. admiration she ex
cited In the breasts II Oh. young men oI
that region lei to morc than one en-
counter. Jack Huri and his brother
Pike. were as near 81 an age ~ brother
well could L. who were not twins. ant
the resemblance was quite A. striking
as 10 they hal been. They were tall
athletic young fellows, with the keel
gray eyes and thick dark hair 80 char
actcris,ic % the pure blocdcd mountain
men. I, was through their mothers In
flucnce and the memory of their father
AL cniih that they avoided drink.
These brothers hal slept togethe'
since childhooi. played together an
worked together. AMI 80 u came aiou
iha, they not only looked alike, but the,
thought alike. and the neighlDrs offer
jokingly said tha, '',he Iiurd boys ~rr'
too doggone fond u each other ever Il
git married. but when the first rum
blings u the war went echoing through
th. mountains change came b-twcer
the brothers Wiser men than th'
young Iurls would 10 puzzled TO giv'
a god reason for their synrathies anC
pr.judic.s, but the widow noticed thA
Pike. her youngest 10y, was away a
Williams store . great deal. where I
Knoxville paI-r that favored s,ccssior
was taken and rad by the proprietor Il
tho crowds ~ mountain men who nov
made that place q rendezvous
Mr.. liurd also noticed that there wa
q cloud between the boys They begar
To work apart. and their relations L.
came more and more strained, though
never from first 10 Last did harsh wort
lass, nor was an angry look given
Mrs Huri. from whose liIs learne'
most % this story. was n strong Unior
woman, but she avoided as much q,
possible the discussion of the all absorb
Ing question then agitating the land ant
dividing her boys.
spike grows more and more In ienpeI
like his pore father that's dead AM
gone.- said Mrs. Hurd one day TO heI
daughter. "and I'm powerfully skeert
Minny. that he'll start OF fust thing w
know and become q sojer."
"iIe told me- said Minny. "that b
thought he felt bleegcd 10 20. Las
night he cleaned up his rife and hxc,
his saddle. and I noticed that he cot tn
traps away when Jack. he showed ny
Hits mighty hard To think that then
two boys that's allus be-n 80 lovin Is nov
- ct agin each other. The wah ain
q comin har no how. and ] can't sce tina
we uns IL called on TO bother
Minny Huri had good reason for thi
belief. As yet the war was far on. a
great battle had been fought In Virginia
and stories Of skirmishes In the noun
tains away 10 the north were told ~ th'
anxious groups that now daily assemblies
at Williams store and often rrmaine'
till far into the night discussing the situ
alton. But there was no elevation o.
valley Of the Cumberland range tha
was 10 escape the contest. no famil.
among the scattered settlements tha
WAS not 10 be drawn into the struggle.
Jack Hurd was quiet. undemonstra
tive man, but like all such natures h
hal strong feelings, and once he ha'
made up his mind u was impossible q
change him. twas known 10 his fam
ily and friends that "Jack Hurd wa
powahfully sot agin the Confe,ieracy.
and equally well known that pike wa
ut agin the Union.- but this difference
between brothers was 10 common n 4
excite no comment
One moonlight night late In October
Jack Hurd was coming home from tn
store. where he had been 10 listen. wher
ON the narrow trail leading down 10 hi
mothers farm he came face TO fac'
with Pike, who had his rife ON hi
shoulder and was leading his saddles
horse.
aid Jack.
"Yes: I.e sgwine 70 to ride. 'coughed
Pike.
"wich wayY
"Knoxvills way"
go shuah. Piker
"Ye~, Jack. 70 shuah."
sand yell jine the Ccufedacyr
"Yes, I allow 10 do hit"
sAnd the mother!
Jacks voice Was husky - he asked
this question. and Pixies voice tremblet
% he replied:
"rve done gone tole her and Minny
10th took ON mighty bad; but tried Y
cheer 'esn, and | allowed yo' wus NOR
stiidier, and that ef % be didn't nsve'
come back. yo'd bs home to keer 70
1.-The place. Yo'vs got . heap Sigh
better head'n me. Jack. and though
know yer hearts cot onto the Union
yoTl not leave the folks At home And
ole feller. I don't want 10 to feel har'
agin me; I'm powahful bad cut up. bu
I'm pleedg'd to 60
Pike drew his coat sleeve across b
eyes and reached out hs hand. and tai
Ing Il in bic own strong sra'p 'sS'