Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-08-03

VERY we'll The fate of this army,
the success of the Union arms in the
west. perhaps the prolongation Of the
war, depend upon you
The young man bowed, but said moth
ing.
"You will need a pass to get beyond
our pickets." The general drew a camp
chair beside a pine table and took up
a pen. How will you have it writ
temp
pass Private Mark Malone'-that
name will do as we'll as any-'beyond
our lines a. will"
The general wrote the pass and
banding it to Private Malone, 'Go, and
God bless you he said He took his
emissary's hand and pressed it heart
lily.
AS the words, GO, and God bless
you" rang again in memory the soldier
touched the TANKS of his horse lightly
with his great brass spurs and began
to descend the mountain.
An hour later he entered the little
town of Jasper. Riding up to the tav-
ern he reined in his horse and let him
drink at the rough wooden trough in
front. A number Of country people
were sitting on the veranda, and every
one fixed his eyes on the soldier. who
sat on his horse looking about him
with as much apparent Indifference as
if he were within the Union lines.
When the animal had drunk his fill
his rider cast the reinS to a negro and
dismounted. Then, detaching his car
bine from where he had hooked it to
his saddle. be took it in his hand and
tramped into the house to the jingle
of his spurs.
Not word was spoken by those
watching in admiration the strapping
young fellow with so young face set
on so stalWart a frame. He paid no
attention to them, but walked into the
dining room and called for supper.
After devoting himself to a plate Of
bacon and corn bread. with a cup Of
chickory in lieu Of coffee (fOr the
blockade of the southern ports had
stopped the flow of the coffee bean
from foreign countries), he walked out
on the gallery, and seating himself on
a wooden bench took a brierwood pipe
and a tobacco pouch out of his pocket
and began to smoke
Jasper was mo mans land" The
people living there and therea bout were
nearly all Confederate sympathiZers
but had learned to look for Union or
Confederate troops with an equal
chance of either. From the moment
Of the soldiers arrival they had dis
cussed his coming in whispers. Sol
diers of either side usually came in
numbers. 1t was seldom that single
trooper had the hardihood to enter the
town of Jasper alone, especially one
wearing the blue. Presently an old
man dressed in "butternut' got up
from his seat among the loungers and
approached the stranger for the pur-
pose of reconnoiter:
Reckon y come from Decherd,
Yank?"
"Thereabout.'
You uns got many sojers over
thar?"
"Where?"
AT Sparty."
mo"
'Murfreesboro?
81 don't know"
Reckon thar's a powerful sight at
McMinnville?"
"a division perhaps"
oil -
yourn. Wouldn't mind letten me han
die it. would W"
Mark cooked the piece. took off the
cap and handed it to his interrogation.
He still had his revolver while the
man had weapon which could not be
fired without percussion cap.
"Waal. now. thet's quar-"
The man looked from the rifle to the
soldier. not knowing which to admire
most-the mechanism of the former or
the GOODNESS Of the latter. Then be
handed it back.
You amt no Yank."
why not?''
"Yanks don't come down hyar all
alone. Besides a Yankee sojer wouldn't
ride a blooded mare like that acne.
Morgan's men rides them kind O. crit
tiers and wears them uniforms some
times"
Mark smiled knowingly.
You think I'm one of Colonel Nor
CAMS men. do you?"
Reckon yer one O. ourn anyway"
And the man walked away well sat
isfied with his penetration.
The soldier got up, went into the tav
ern and paid for his supper with one
of the postal shinplasters used at the
time in lieu of silver; then he came
out and called for his horse. While
waiting he stood leaning against a post
of the gallery. maintaining the same
easy confidence that had characterized
him since his arrival. Presently a ne
gro came around from the barn. lead
ing the slender legged mare. and the
soldier, sauntering up to her leisurely.
stroked her neck: then mounting, with
out once looking at his observers. be
rode away.