Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-04

! As soon as the news Of South Carolina s
withdrawal from the Union was known
the old planter became greatly worked up
over the situation, which naturally made
his condition worse. He declared that, al
though he loved the Union, he considered
it his duty to stand by Virginia il the state
thought best to side with the other states
which were sure to secede now that South
Carolina had boldly led the way. But
when Virginia finally decided to step out
of the Union Sears was so Frustrated that
he could do little save command his boys
to stand ready to give their aid to the con-
federation
To the old mans dismay Robert, the
younger son, boldly asserted his sympathies
were with the north, and he would never
lift a hand against the federal government
Not only this, but when he found himself
in danger Of being conscripted into the
southern army he ran away and enlisted
under Rosecrans. From this time on, al
though Roger, the older boy, entered the
Confederate army, Anthony Sears seemed
like a man at times demented.
Agnes, the beautiful, dark eyed daughter.
found heavy load of responsibility resting
on her shapely shoulders, but she met the
emergency with the courage of a true Vir-
ginia maiden. Despite the fact that she en-
tertained the greater affection for her
younger brother she was passionate little
soutberner, and it was her nightly prayer
that the confederacy should prove victori-
GUS and both her brothers come safely back
to their home.
When the hitherto peaceful valley filled
with the coDtending armies, the condition
of old Anthony grew so serious that he re-
quired constant watching Agnes cared for
her father as much as possible, and when
she was not near him Nanny Jane, faith.
full old negress, took her place. Nanny
James husband was dead, and her grown
| up son was an idiot-considered perfectly
harmless by every one about the place. His
name was Joe, and his weak mind enter
tanned an unbounded admiration and love
for Little Miss Aggie," as the dark eyed
beauty OF the plantation was known to all
the negroes
As Anthony Sears condition grew worse
he began to declare with frequency that be
was going to join the southern army, old
man though be was, and he really meant
what he said, which increased his daugh-
ter's alarm. One day he buckled on an old
Revolutionary sword that had been welded
by his grandfather, saddled horse and
would have ridden away had not the serv-
ants, urged on by Agnes, forcibly detained
him.
That very night he eluded old Nanny
Jane and mysteriously vanished. Not a
horse was taken, but he was gone. Imme-
diate and thorough search failed to discover
whittier he had fed. but Agnes believed he
had gone to join the southern troops
Knowing his condition, she was confident
this course meant certain and speedy death
for her father.
For weeks and months every effort was
made to discover what had become of An
thony Sears, but every effort to find trace
OF him was fruitless. At any other time
such an event would have aroused that en-
tire section Of the country, but those were
restless and troublous days, and nothing
caused remark for more than a short period.
Old Nanny Jane was the only person who
seemed TO make particular note Of the fact
that her foolish son Joe had disappeared
the same night the master Of the plantation
was last seen.
Agnes received occasional letters from
both her brothers, and she wrote them of
the terrible thing that had occurred. Rob
ert dared not TO return to his home then,
and Roger could not obtain furIough, 30
she lived on in loneliness. with the few
faithful blacks REMAINING about hers