Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-03
CHAPTER XXI.

service all happened in such quick sue
cession that Jakey Slack was not aware
of what was taking place until after it
was all over. 1t must b, confessed that
Maynard had not treated his most d..
voted adhcrent with the consideration
he meriteG. But it is tho WAY Of people
who are rising to eminence to gradual
ly leave eff familiarity with those for
merly most intimate with them.
Maynard had treated Jakey with
mock Difference, but had not thought of
leaning upon him for advice or strength,
much less comfort, and during the rag
ing of the fire through which no had
passed Jakey Slack had been as far from
his mind rs if he had not existed.
One evening as retreat" was sound
ing-it was the evening of the colonel's
deposition from his rank and command
-Jakey walked into his tent May
nard's head was bowed down on his
camp cot. Hearing some one enter, he
looked up and his old friend. Had
Jakey been another boy, when he saw
the haggard look, the strongly marked
lines of suffering in the face before him,
he would have shown some mark Of tho
effect such sight had upon him. Not
so Jakey. There was no expression Ell
ther Of surprise or grief upon his unex-
pressive countenance. But the sight of
Jakey standing there to remind him
that, though q whole army condemned
him, there was one in it who never
could be brought to think him guilty of
any crime had different effect on the
late commander. He reached out his
hand, took that of Jakey, and, drawing
the boy toward him, folded him in his
arms Thus do those who have been de-
priyed of their greatness go back for
sympathy to thosefrom whom they have
farthest departed.
Maynard held the boy against his
breast while he gave way to convulsive
sobs such as are unusual in man and
only come when some mental struggle
under an intense grief is relaxed and
suffering permitted to get control. Mel
ther spoke. Jakey's presence reminded
Maynard the more keenly Of those he
loved. His mind had been upon his wife
and child. Jakey's coming brought also
Souri's image and the trials and tri-
umphs which he and Jakey and Souri,
had once passed together, and trials
and triumphs borne in company weld
hearts Of all who loved him only ia
key was there, and on him alone could
he rely for comfort
At last Jakey withdrew himself from
his friends embrace. He had permitted
him to indulge his grief for few mill
utes, and this he considered quite long
enough.
General" he began. He had always
called his chief general, contending
that he was general since he COM
manded brigade.
"No moro of that, Jakey. am only
Maynard pow-Mark Maynard. Mark
is good enough name for me-"
"Waal, that don't make no differ.
You uns got tn same body n arms n
legs n all thet Hev y done tn fust
thing fo' ter do?"
whats that, Jakey?"
'Tell Mrs. Maynard.
"Jakey, I can't"
Reckon she'll hev ter know it some
time"
There's going to be hattie. No
court can keep me from shouldering Il
musket or welding saber. I'll 60 into
tho fight that's coming an5 never come
out of it. Then she'll not need to know
it,"
"What makes y think ther's goin ter
be fght?"
II would not have tho intuitions of a
soldier if i lid not. -
"Y' hain't General Rosey."
"Nor do I need to be General Rosey
to divine what's coming. Do you sup
pose knew any more about war with
eagles OH my shoulders than in pri-
Yates uniform? If there were some su-
perior being to look into the heads of
the men composing this army and read
just the rank in accordance with fitness,
many star would leave the shoulder
whero it now rests to alight Oh that of
some obscure private. l."
"Waal, eff we fight 'em, won't We
whip 'em:"
Jakey noticed that, with the change
of his friends mind from his grief to
war, there was an immediate improve
ment from the terrible depression upon
him. He asked the question for the
purpose of keeping Maynard's attention
fixed for time on war rather than for
information.
"Whip 'em? Why, Jakey, we're scat
tered all over creation" He dipped his
finger in tin cup full of water and be-
gan to draw q rude map on the top of
an extemporized table, consisting of
square board nailed on stake driven
in the ground.
"Here's the Chickamauga flowing
between these two ridges, Missionary
and the Pigeon mountains, from south
to north into the Tennessee. Critten-
den's corps is here at Lee and Gordon's
mill. Thomas corps has just passed
through Stevens gap down here, ten or
a dozen miles from Crittenden, while
McCook is at Alpine, 30 miles away
from Thomas. We are off here near
A. - ho loft xpInO