The National tribune., 1901-05-30

. AND NOI oIOPPlNG 10 L HlNk OF
LED HIM TO THE EARTH"
| longer" he said, "but guess it's best for
you to go, for you might have trouble over
this affair"
Yes" / replied; "well, good-by and
success" added, as | stepped aboard my
train.
''Good-by and good luck" he said, Civ
ing my hand a hearty squeeze.
There were few people on the train.
and | had a very quiet and uneventfuI
ride to the little town which was then
the terminus of the road, where | arrived
about midnight, and repairing to the little
hotel 1 secured room, and, being worn
out, at once retired.
| had instructed the landlord to call me
in time for the early stage to Knoxville
and 1t seemed to me | had bat just closed
my eyes when L heard him rapping loudly
for me.
Yes I said, seepily, in response.
THE stage starts in half an hour, sah,"
he said.
1T does exclaimed /, springing up at
once, and hastily dressing | repaired to
the dining-rOOm, where | barely had time
to swallow cup of coffee and eat a small
piece of cornbread ere the stage drove up,
and paying my score | got aboard.
There were but two passengers besides
myself-an elderly couple, evidently man
and wife, and they cOnVerSed together in
low tones, glancing now and then furtive~
iy at me: but ] assumed Indifference and
they soon become more free, and | caught
now and then a sentence which convinced
me that they belonged to that loyal class
of East Tenhesseeans who loved the old
flag.
| had passed through a beautiful part
of the country that day, but though in
teresting to me my ride was wholly I'M
etyentfnl. We stopped for the night at a
little town midway between Knoxville and
the terminus of the railroad, and renew
ing our journey early the next morning
we arrived at Knoxville about o'clock
that afternoon.
From Knoxville by alternately using
the railroad and the stage, | arrived at
Amelia Court House four days later, and
from this place | decided to get a horse
and ride across to Mr.. Buffers estate,
which was near Powhatan Court House
My passport from one of the prominent
Confederate leaders, together with n lib
eral tender Of money, quickly obtained
this for me, and with a negro attendant
| Immediately set out
1t was early in the morning when I
started, and | expected to be at Mr. But
lerS before night, and | probably would
have been had | not met with an adyen-
ture which came near getting me into
serious trouble.
1t was about 2:30 when | came TO a
ford of the South Branch of the james
River, and | was about to cross when I
was startled by sudden command to
halt, coming from clump of trees to my
right
The next moment squad of soldiers
came in sight.
WHO are yOu?" demanded q burly Cor
poral. evidently their leader
didn't relish his tone, but thought best
not to notice it, so | told him my name
was yelling. and that | was on INV way
to visit my uncle, Mr.. Butler, who lived
III the next county, at the same time hand
ing him my permit. Il don't know about
this" he said, after reading it; maybe yo'
found il. I'll see what the Colonel says.
io'll have ter come with me now"
You don't mean To delay me just be,
cause you happen to think | might have
found my passport, do you?' | asked, in
dignantly.
Yes, sab, I do; and it won't do any
good for yo' to get so high and mighty
erbout it, either" he said, insolently.
l saw there was no help for it, and pre-
pared to follow him. He conducted me to
Confederate camp about six miles away,
where he turned me over to the Colonel.
saying | claimed to be nephew of Mr.
Butler, but he didn't believe q word of il,
And you claim to be a nephew of Mr..
Butler, do you" said the Colonel.
lie was dressed in u neat uniform. and
as ne mad the appearance of being n gem
tleman I felt | would have no trouble
with him, but bad not calculated upon
what followed.
'Yes, sir" said, in reply to his query:
Il am his nephew" l hope | was for