The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-05-29
Marks Substitute.
0'M drafted, Kit"
Ill ..nl, Ngart W

q And with the exclamation pretty
Mrs. Weidman fell into her husband:
arms, shivering with terror.
There, I've blurted it out in the worst
way, after all this last hour spent in
thinking how / could break it the east
est"
''But it will kill me. Mark. What shal
1 do; what can do: l can't stand it
and 1 won't let you go; they may shoot
you here first"
There, there, Kittie, dear, you do no,
know what you are saying; you must try
and be patient and submissive. Therel
be some way provided, though l don't
see how l can save you just now in the
beginning of winter"
Poor Kit wept until completely ex'
hausted, entirely deaf to her husband
weak attempts at consolation.
1t was sad home. but not the only
one in the land that dread November OF
1868.
The fatal draft put out the light for,
ever ON many hearthstOne.
$50 yer drafted, be We, Neil?" remarked
the postmaster at The Forks, eyeing the
stalwart young man addressed with a
look which plainly said, "and I'm glad
of it"
Il s'pose am"
"Goin'?'
mo, sir! When Neil Weidnan gets
ready to work for Uncle Sam he'll let
him know by enlisting; until then he'd
have his Majesty know he amt a-goin'."
Not very patrioticw sneered by
stander. Now, I'd a been thar long ago
lift hadn't been fer this here game leg
o mine"
"Small loss to the country" growle.l
Neil.
.'S'pose Mark'll not go, neither?' inter
posed the postmaster.
Mark
Neil turned a face suddenly grown
eager and white.
HE amt on the draft:"
But he be-"
'Yes, and told me he'd have to 50"
added the bystander.
Without another word the young man
turned on his heel involuntarily loosen
ing the scarf about his neck that he
might breathe more easily. Swiftly he
passed out into the duh November day,
looking neither to right nor left.
On, on he walked, like man in a ter
rible hurry, until three miles lay between
himself and the garrulous little group at
The Forks. He was turning in at his
own gateway, but, changing his mind, he
passed on, still at the high rate of speed.
Two more miles were paced off in this
~. l. 4
faced toward home again.
When once more he found himself
there he felt weak and spent. Slowly
then he passed in and up the rude stairs
into the little loft denominated 'Neirs
ROOM"
What's up nOw?" his sister remarked.
''Ain't that draft business all settledY'
Il s'pose it's all right; he sent. on the
money" returned her husband. who had
vainly tried to enlist, but had been re-
jected on account of deafness.
II bet if l was him I'd enlist first
chance now md get my money back" he
continued.
Everybody amt so fond Of a dollar,
nor so itchen fer fight as you be-" re-
spouded his wife, in the shrill treble she
always used in addressing him.
Il amt no coward, none of the Nose
lys be-" he retorted.
Neither be the Weidmans, Dick Nose
", but they've got sense enough to look
out fer number one. They amt dirt
poor"
Neil, lying at full length on his couch
in the loft, smiled grimly at their alter
cation.
"Dick amt fit to manage here, but
don't care" he muttered; then turning
his face to the wall, he slept through
sheer mental and physical fatigue.
When he awoke it was growing dusk
and Mollie was calling to know il he
were sick, or why he did not 90 out TO
attend to his part Of the chores" as
usual
No sooner was breakfast over the fol-
coat about him and started off.
"Some way, Neil acts awful queer"
shrieked Mollie to her husband.
"Does he:"
"Does he" she muttered, turning away
in disgust "HOw stupid men are. any
way. Mark amt, though, and Neil didn't
use to be-"
1t had been a terrible night at Mark
rWeidman's.
Kits mother had been summoned. but
vainly she tried to think of something
to say. The outlook was
dark.
Kit might, in fact would have TO stay
there in their little cabin home with her
little ones. There was no room for her
at her fathers, for already widowed
laughter had come back there with four
children.
\ younger brother would have to come
and stay with her-it was the only way.
She might go and stay at Mollie's-
only-there was Neil.
1t was about 10 o'clock when Neil
Weidman raped at his brothers door.
Marks face showed something Of what
he was suffering when he opened it.
Neil! Come in"
Cant: I'm in hurry. / was on the
draft, but had the cash all ready. so sent
it in yesterday. l hear you are ON, too"
Il am; and heaven knows how l can
be spared, but l could not raise fifty
dollars, much less three hundred" His
voice broke little.
''Well, l came to tell you l will go in
your place. Good-by."
"Neilv'
Mark sprang forward, grasping his
brother by the arm and fairly dragging
him inside.
''There. don't make any fuss about it."
muttered the young man. You can't be
spared-I can. 1t will make no difference
to any one whether live or die"
Mark had bowed his head on his hands