Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1905-07-13
Nat HOLSTERS
Substitute

In the country store and p~ostofice at
Freehold, and Nat HOLSTERS name
was among them.
When was you twenty-one?" in
quired Uncle Oliver Kimball, looking
over his spectacles at a tall, beard
less youth who stood near the door,
in the rear of the group which always
gathered to heal the war news after
the evening mail came in.
Last April" responded Nat.
Seems to me somebody out there
to Washington keeps posted on birth
days" remarked a small man near the
postmaster. He must have stacks of
family Bibles"
Uncle oliver looked at him severe
ly. What's town clerks for?" he in
quired; then, without waiting for an
answer he turned toward Nat.
Think you1l go? orwell. there's
only n way out if a mans drafted
pay our three hundred. But /
wouldn't have believed you was TWEEN
ty-one. Seems like yesterday your
father come down through my or
chard"-Out while Uncle Oliver held
the Boston Journal suspended a mo-
ment to recall a bit of history, the OBJ
ject of his interest quietly slipped out
of the store.
Then the remarks grew more per-
sonal. Who's going to take care of
Mats father if he goes to WARP"
Government never asks about the
health of the family" NO, not even
if a mans a cripple that can't leave
his chair, like John HOLSTER" said
one and another. "They couldn't
raise three hundred, could they?"
asked the small man. Couldn't sell
the place for much more, wood lot and
all" ITS hard luck for Nat, and he's
a likely boy, too, Nat is"
Meanwhile Nathaniel HOLSTER was
striding rapidly toward home. He had
been drafted! Do you realize what
that meant? The man whose name
was drawn had not volunteered. and
there were many who felt during
those days of "a that this in itself was
almost a disgrace. 1t also meant that
the drafted man must go, or furnish
an acceptable substitute, or pay to the
government three hundred dollars.
Nat could do neither. He would have
volunteered long before, but in the
tiny brown house, which seemed to
cling 70 the rocky hill farm like a
birds nest to a bough, was a helpless
father and a little sister with no one
but Nat to care for them.
No wonder he felt helpless and dis
couraged as he climbed the last pitch
of the hill and looked back into the
valley already shrouded in mist.
Three hundred dollars!" he mutter-
ed. Might as well strike these rocks
for gold as hope to raise it,"
A dim light burned in the kitchen,
and his father, whose chair was rolled
into the bedroom at night was still
awake. What news, Nat?" he inquir-
ed.
Battle near vlcksburg," was the
answer.
Mr.. HOLSTER groaned. THE hand
of the Lord is heavy, and the sins of
the nation must be cleansed with
blood. see the great host marching.
and the hills tremble." He recited
the words, as if he had learned them.
There were times when his mind al
most wavered under the pressure of
pain and WEAKNESS, and these we're
Mats hardest hours. He was soon at
his fathers side, and with much strok.
ing and bathing finally saw his rest
less patient sleep. Then, ~straighten-
ing himself, he stole away. But he
a hardly reached his chamber when
a handful of pebbly soil struck the
window and a voice called softly.
Come out, Nat, I want to see you"
1t was Gilbert Ames, from the vii.
lage-Squire Ames' only son. Nat in
stantly crept downstairs and Joined
him. why, GIL" said he, whats
brought o up here this time O.
night?"
Come out on the big rock so ycur
father can't hear" responded Gilbert.
The old moon rose above the trees
and the stars shone placidly. you
are pretty near the good place here.
did you know it?" Gilbert remarked.
Perhaps" said Nat, but that don't
keep me from feeling wicked"
Il know. When l heard you'd been
drafted, l knew how 'twould be. But
there's a way out"
What do you mean?" asked Nat.
Its just like this. am going. any
way. Fathers consented-if-if I
take a certain place in the Tenth.
But now-I'm going to take your
place"
Gilbert Ames!" cried Nat. passion
ately. Catch me letting you! Catch
me letting you go as a private when
you might be way up among the Of
ficers."
Keep cool, Nat" said Gilbert. "Do
you happen to remember two bows
who went bathing in the river one
day, some years ago, and how one
would have drowned if the other
hadn't held him up n dragged him
out? Never knew how you did 1t. Nat.
Well. time to nay back has come"
TITS too much, Gil. l can't let 0
Gilbert's tone was low and steady.
as he replied: 81 won't pretend II
wasn't hard to decide; l suppose we're