The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-08-04
a FFTETH ANNIVERSARY WAR STORY
s1s +hat a DANGEROUS ford?''
B T A MITCHELL.

but see now tnat maven 1edlueu ~
cross a current till today. Next time
III look out for something on shore to
steer by"
Another ten minutes brought them
home. Souri, led the way to q rlckety
barn, where both horses were stabbed.
She left Mark in the barn while she
went into the house to inform the In
mates Of his presence.
Presently she came out.
dad lows y mought come in fur a
spell 'thout much resk. They won't
know o. " bein hyar yet awhile.
Leastaways thar's no hurry. But dad
reckons y mought sleep in the barn
with one eye open."
"1 shall rot sleep anywhere tonight.
I must go on. But III go in with you
for awhile"
A man met them at the door with
white, shocky hair and stubble beard.
He looked sixty. though he was ten or
fifteen years younger. He walked as II
he were following the plow. His trou-
sers were drawn nearly up to his arm
pits, a double breasted Waistcoat
served in lieu Of coat.
'aThem blue clothes looks kinder
.eart to we uns down hyar ez amt
seen nothen but gray" said the man.
IT lowed when you uns went up ter
Chattanoogy last June and fred them
big guns at the town Y was goen to
hold onto these hyar parts
"Perhaps it was mistake" said
Mark. "but never critEise the acts OF
my superiors-"
"Come inter tn house"
The dwelling was composed OF two
square log houses. some ten feet apart.
under one roof. with floor between
the two The man led Mark into one
Of these parts or houses. The articles
in it that struck the soldiers eye were
a very high bedstead. heightened fur
tier by a feather bed: a chest OF
drawers, and a clock on the mantle
that ticked loud enough to be heard out
in the barn. There were some pieces
Of rag carpet on the floor, two or three
hard seated chairs and a rocker.
what y got fur supper? the OLD
man asked as his wife entered
'I don't want any supper" said the
soldier. 81 only ate an hour or two
ago.
The woman, who was bent down
through some nervous disease. went to
the chest of drawers. took therefrom
cob pipe and some tobacco and began
to smoke
sMuch shaken among the sojers,
stranger?" she asked
cat the beginning Of fight there's
good DEAL" replied Mark, "but after
they're once In they get on without
much trouble"
Don't mean that kind Of shaken
ager:"
"oh, ague. No. don't think there's
much ague."
"Fever"
sThere's always more or less camp
fever. It seems as If every man who
campaigns in this country must have
a dose Of typhoid to get acclimated."
'sThar's powerful lot o fevers bout
hyar. Thars the typhoid, the broken
bone. the intermitten and the remit
ten. and onct en- awhile we git yaller
Jack when it comes up the Mississippi
from Orleans"
That's a good dear Of fever" re-
piled Mark; but, to come down to
business, want to say a few words
to you people. You're sure you're
Union?'
"Sarten," said the old man.
"Got young un in Jim Browns
company Of east Tennesseeans." said
the old woman II hearn tn all had
the measles in tn spring. Henery
he'd it."
Eyes, that regiment was nearly all
down at one tine. Now. I'm going ON
a very dangerous mission. May rely
on-who are you?"
A boy about thirteen years Of age
had come into the room, and squar1ng
himself before Mark began to stare at
him.
"Jake," replied the intruder, IT have
something Of Importance to say to
your father and mother" Then to the
parents, Wont you please send him
out?'
~Jest's y like, stranger" answered
the father, "but mebbe Jake mought
show y the way or somepn. Hes
purity peart."
Jake's appearance did not bear wit
ness to the encom1um.
~Well, let him stay. I would like to
rely on this house as place Of refuge
in case I have to get back here rap
idly. / want you to take care OF my
horse, and if I never come you can
keep her. II do come I'll pay you
more literally for horse fodder than
you ever were paid before"
"Y' talk purity rich fer a common
sojer.'