Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-23

either than was necessary. and then. aft
er a brief inspection, I left the camp.
The Winchester company arrived at
noon and we left a half hour later on
special train for the railroad station
whence We were to start for the long
journey among the mountains to the seat
of war. We ran for while through the
beautiful Bluegrass region and then en-
tered the hills. where We made our camp
of the first night.
Before we started the next morning,
struggling mountaineers came in. drawn
by the sight of the troops and the knowl-
edge of our mission. l questioned sew
eral as closely as their natural tacturn-
ity would let me. No fresh outbreak had
occurred in the last few days and the
most potent weapon for peace had been
the influence Of the great preacher and
revivalist.
The great preacher and revivalist?" I
said.
Oh, yes didn't I know of him. He'd
been stirring up all the mountains over
range of hundred miles. His like had
never been heard before in those parts.
He fairly shook the souls of men. He
knew how to get right into the hearts of
all kinds of people. He might be preach
ing to a thousand men, and every one Of
them would think that he was preaching
to him alone. He was trying to bring the
Kents and the Horners together and
make them quit fighting. and If he
quite frank in the latter statement. i'm
plying that if religion failed. the arms Of
the state would be useless, and l was not
offended.
But | was pleased at the thought of
this powerful ally; we could preserve the
peace while we were in the mountains,
but no longer, and he might be able to
continue 1t after we came away.
What is the name of this minister" 1
asked.
1.-The Rev Elias Pea body'
l sat for a moment. dumb. 1t had
never occurred TO me that it could be he.
and yet what more natural than that 1t
should be he Elias. my old comrade of
the stripes and the cell? In. the press of
matters nearer and more personal he had
almost passed out of my mind lately, but
the same chance that brought us to-
gether first was now bringing US to-
gether again. 1t was indeed a singular
decree of fate. He would not dream that
the Governor of Kentucky. coming at the
head of his little army, was Charles john
son. who had been convict with him.
How could he?
Mr. Peabody is doing a good work"
said to the mountaineers. Now that
YOU give his name l recall it. and L know
that he is an honest and able man."
NV tribute to the minister seemed to i'm
press them and to raise me in their eS-
TEEN: 1t was to my credit to appreciate
Elias Peabody and / was not offended at
the prestige that came to me from the
luSter borrowed of nun.
We broke camp quickly and started on
the long trail through the mountains. in
warlike panOply, but with little thought
Of things warlike in our hearts. Ii was
more like a great and happy excursion
and the officers permitted a certain laXity
of discipline that encouraged the tend
ency to lightness of heart. l dlsmounted
from my horse after while and walked
with the lads. l marked Lieut.. Timothy
Applegate in a uniform as gorgeous as
nj nr md 1rk
ed also the surly Connor who would not
let his eye meet mine. Harrison, silent
and watchful. was at the head OF his
men, and l knew that he was a most
capable officer.
The trail grew rougher and wilder and
perforce we went more slowly, but the
beauty of the day did not abate. The
highest peaks swan In blue haze and
the deepest valleys were misty and green.
Now and then a guide blew note on
trumpet and mellow and sweet 1t rolled
away in echo after echo, until it died in
a faint sigh under the horizon. We met
no one. Either the mounta1neers, for
reasons of their own, wished to avoid the
troops or the country was but little in
habited Now and then we saw cabin
smuggling among the trees. but no one
came forth to welcome US.
They look upon 1t as an invading
army said Harrison to me.
But it is not l replied with some
emotion I'VE come to make peace not
war
At noon we built fires again by the side
of a clear stream and cooked our dinner.
had all the officers at my table, which
was merely a wide board spread on the
grass. and a pleasant dinner it was with
appetites sharpened by the keen air of
the mountains. Harrison was there, rather
silent but his taciturnity was more than
atoned for by the conversational powers
of his friend, Apologize, whom the will
derness and our poetical situation moved
more or less to poetical emotion Conner
was also with us. but he had nothing to
say, taking his dinner in sulen silence.
judged that he still regarded me with
malevolence, and would do me harm if
an easy opportunity came.
10 he continual tnnaarroU \