A Fool's Errand Volume 3

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... to partake with them. He seemed very much disturbed, and said, as he sat down in the chimney-corner, FOOJING UP THE LEDGER. 177 "No, I thank you kindly. I just came over to have a little chat, and perhaps get a little neighborly advice, if so be the colonel would be good enough to give it." "I hope there is nothing wrong with you at home," said Servosse, with real anxiety; for the old man seemed greatly disturbed. "I'm afraid, Colonel," he replied, with a deep sigh, "that there's a good deal of wrong, a good deal,--a heap more and a heap worse than I had ever counted on." " Why, no one sick, I hope? " said the colonel. " No, not sick exactly," was the reply; " worse'n that. The truth is, Colonel, the Ku-Klux took out my boy Jesse last night, and beat him nigh about to death." " Shocking! You don't say! " burst from his listeners. The meal was abandoned; and, gathering near the old man, they listened to his story. " You see," he said, "Jesse had been into town yesterday, and came home late last night. So far as I can learn, it must have been nine o'clock or so when he started out: at least, 'twan't far from twelve o'clock when he came through the little piece of timber on the far side of my house (you know the place well, Colonel, and you too, Madam; for you have ridden by it often,--just in the hollow, this side the blacksmitlrs shop), when all at once a crowd of men burst out of thewoods and bushes, all hidden with masks and gowns, and after some parley took him into the woods, tied him to a tree, and beat him horribly with hickories. Jesse said he hadn't no chance to...