The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-02-23
PAGE SIX.
HUGH M'NEIL'S HEN.

called out in lusty tone of camarade.
rie:
Good evenin, boys. How goes hity'
First rate" | replied. How is /,
with you. Hugh McNeilY
This question startled him. He came
nearer. looked me all over in an inso
lently critical way, then asked:
DO you uns b'long round harp
NO" said.
"Whar do you uns come FROM"
up Chattanooga way"
"The hi you sayr'
"Yes, that's what do saw"
Il hain't never seed you uns befoah.
There are lots of men you haven't
seen" laughed.
But you uns called me Hugh
Mcneil"
well, isn't that your name? Are
you ashamed Of itf''
mo, hain't, by -! But want to
know how you uns knowed hit"
That's my secret"
Say, stranger, amt you uns Yanksy'
and Hugh Mcneil, for this was the
idiots father, took off his hat, rubbed
up his red hair again and made tour
of inspection about the little party.
Anxious to learn which side he leaned
toward before | committed myself. |
said: -.
I'VE are scouts" Then before he
could express himself dissatisfied with
this explanation, hurriedly asked,
which side do you train with, HughT'
You uns is so ID smart ez to know
my name without no one tellin hit, now
reckon thar would be no trouble fo'
you uns to tell whether I'm blue or q
gray, and he laughed and shook himself
in a way that was not reassuring.
You were Lin Moore's friend before
the war;" said.
Eyes. the id traitor; but | hain't
his friend no noah, and eff so he be's
cotched in these har hills. III go miles
and miles OH my hands and knees to
see him strung up"
This decided me on the instant as to
the fellows leanings, but anxious to
make use of him reached out my hand
and said: Good for you. Hugh Mcneil!
I'm with you there"
What! hain't you uns Yanks with
them blue clothes on?" he asked, and he
eyed us over again.
Your Hen wears q blue jacket; does
that make him YankT'
"Wa'al, no; coz nawthin could make
my Hen anythin but what God Almighty
made him, and that's id eejit."
Hugh Mcneil, have you all the money
You wantg'
By this time we were all dismounted,
it being rule to rest our horses when
ever halt was made that held us over
five minutes. We had plenty of Con-
federate money along, and | decided to
pay him literally in this if he would re-
plenish our rations and get some corn
for our horses.
With a long string of oaths he assured
me that he was "a pore man." but if he
had the money he was sure he could get
us all the bread, meat and corn our
party wanted.
gave him q hundred dollars in the
promises to pay of Confederacy, and as
the bills were of small denominations
the pile counted into his dirty palm
looked like fortune. The sight of so
much money had on him most sooth-
ing effect. He told us that his wife was
dead, but that his daughter kept house
for him in a cabin close by, and that if
we came there and let our horses Craze
he would go off and "skrimmidge" for
the necessary supplies.
In answer to my question as to wheth-
er there was any danger from the YAM
KEGS in that neighborhood, he assured
nuther," and imagined that he gave
unusual emphasis to the latter assur.
ance.
Following him, we led our horses
down the hill and up long valley. By
this time it was dark, but the light in
front and the barking of the customary
yellow cur told US that McNeil's home
was near by.
By the stream near the cabin we staked
our horses in knee high grass, and
though the fellow assured me that they
would be as safe there as in the stable
where they were foaled, did not feel
secure, but tried to explain the precau-
ton of keeping the men near the ami
mails by saying such were the orders
had received from my superiors, and
that as good soldier must carry them
out.
He appeared tC So satisfied, and went
up with him to the cabin. where we
found young woman of two or three
and-twenty. whom he told ME was his
daughter Min. AS Min had dark hair,
a good face and comedy figure, rea-
soned that she must resemble her moth
er, and when ! told her SO she looked at
me with her keen gray eyes as if she
thought me wizard.
oh, that stranger knows everything"
chuckled the father. He told me my
name afoah tolt him. He's SO id
sharp. Min, that we uns'll be 'bleeged
70 to watch out"
The girl looked annoyed at her father.
thought, while he, promising to be
back with provisions very soon, went
out Min, apparently Indifferent to my
self. went on mixing the meal for PONIES,
to cook which she had prepared mass
Of glowing Goals on the hearth.
1t was not spirit of gallantry or any
foolish desire for Irritation that made
me eager for a talk with Min Mcneil,
though ! must confess that have tried
to be agreeable in my time to young
women with fewer physical attractions.
| asked her if she was not lonely out
here in the mountains. and her response,
made without looking up from her work,
was slight shake of the head.
Are you the only child?" asked after
q chilling pause.
mo; thar's Hen," she said.