Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-12-28

S. O.,
IT shall not sleep anywhere tonight.
must 60 on. But I'll 60 in with you
for awhile"
A man met them at the door with
white, shocky hair and stubble beard.
He looked sixty, though he was ten or
fifteen years younger. He walked as if
he were following the plow. His trou-
sers were drawn nearly up to his arm
pits, a double breasted waistcoat served
in lieu of a coat, and an old woolen
hat covered his head to the back OF his
neck. %
"Them blue clothes looks kinder peart
to we uns down hyar ez amt seen
nothen but gray" said the man. 81
lowed when you uns went up ter Chat
tenoogy last June and fired them big
guns at the town y was goen to hold
onto these hyar parts"
"Perhaps it was mistake" said
Mark, "but 1 never criticise the acts of
my superiors."
"Come inter tn house."
The dwelling was composed Of two
square log houses, some ten feet apart,
under one roof, with floor between
the two. The man led Mark into one
of these parts or houses. The articles
in it that struck the soldiers eye were
d very high bedstead, heightened fur
ther by feather bed; chest Of draw
ers, and clock on the mantle that
licked loud enough to be heard out in
the barn. There were some pieces of
rag carpet OH the floor, two or three
hard seated chairs and a rocker.
"What y got fur SUPPER the old
man asked as his wife entered.
81 don't want any supper" said the
soldier. 81 only ate an hour or two
ago."
The woman, who was bent down
through some nervous disease, went to
the chest of drawers, took therefrom a
cob pipe and some tobacco and began to
smoke.
"Much shaken among the sojers,
stranger" she asked.
cat the beginning Of fight there's a
good DEAL" replied Mark, "but after
they're once in they get on without much
trouble"
Don't mean that kind Of shaken
ager."
"oh, ague. No, don't think there's
much ague."
"Fever?'
"Theres always more or less camp
fever. It seems as if every man who
campaigns in this country must have q
dose of typhoid to get acclimated."
"Thar's powerful lot O fevers bout
hyar. Thar's the typhoid, the broken
bone, the intermitten and the remitten,
and onct en- awhile we git yaller jack
when it comes up the Mississippi from
Orleans"
"That's a good deal of fever" re-
piled Mark; "but, to come down to busi.
ness, I want to say few words to you
people. You're sure you're UnionF"
"Sarten," said the old man.
"Got a young'un in Jim Browns COM
pany of east Tennesseeans, said the old
woman. 81 hearn tn all had the mea-
sles in tn spring. Henery he'd it."
"Yes, that regiment was nearly all
down at one time Now, I'm going on
very dangerous mission. May I rely
on-who are your
A boy about thirteen years of age had
come into the room, and squaring him
self before Mark began to stare at him.
"Jake," replied the intruder, 81 have
something of Importance to say to your
father and mother" Then to the par
ents, "Wont you please send him outY
"Jest g y like, stranger" answered the
father, "but mebbe Jake mought show
y tn way or somep'n. He's purity
peart."
Jake's appearance did not bear witness
to the encomium.
"Well, let him stay. 1 would like to
rely on this house as place of refuge in
case have to get back here rapidly. I
want you to take care of my horse, and
if never come you can keep him. If I
do come I'll pay you more literally for
horse fodder than you ever were paid be-
fore"
"Y' talk purity rich fer common
sojer."
"Don't fear for that. Ihave money"
and Mark showed roll Of bills that
astonished his host.
"Do you agree?"
"Sarten, but the money don't make
no differ. I'm Union man to the back
bone"
"Have you any citizens clothes?"
"Thar's Henery's store clothes ez he
left when he went to jine tn army"
"Will they fit me?'
"Reckon so. Henery's bout your size"
Slack took the soldier into the twin
log cabin and there gave him a suit Of
clothes which were intended for best
wear, but they had evidently been so in
tended for years, with frequent devia-
tions from the intention. Mark took off
his uniform, which, with his rifle and pis-
tol and other announcements, he put under
the bed. Then he drew off his boots $50
loose that he could easily remove them
without unbuckling his spurs) and put
on pair of shoes. A felt hat completed
his attire.
LA sakesr' said Souri,, raising her
hands as she met him passing between
the cabins, thus arrayed for secret serv-
ice.
AS Mark entered the room where he
had left Mrs. Slack and Jakey their eyes
stood out wonderingly. Jakey's admira-
ton for the soldier in uniform had been
great, but one who could suddenly trans
form himself was an object of curiosity.
Mr.. Slack followed Mark into the room.
"Now how about the roadT' asked
Mark.
"Whar?"
ITO Chattanooga"
"Waal, y mought 90 right up the road
in front n the house fur bout mile.
Then y'll come ter q road leaden sort O
southeast like. Eff y 60 down this ar
road it'll take y ter tn Chattenoogy
pike. Jakey, you mought 80 along n
show IN tn way"
"Do you know the road your father
speaks of, leading to the Chattanooga
pike?" asked Mark of the boy.
"Does know, Souri,
"None O. them sideways taken,
Jake. Answer straight" said Mr.. Slack
severely.
"Recken does. I knows all tn roads
bout hyar."
Mark looked at the boy and thought a
few moments without speaking. He
was stupid looking child, but Mark
thought that if he could get him to 60
with him it might avert suspicion.