Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-23
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER VII.
A DAY OF oRDEAl


ADAY OF ORDEAL.
Very eariv the next morinin Captain
Marlew again visited the house, but for
few minutes only, which were chiefly
occupied in a confidential talk with hi:
mother. He then returned e
camp and nothing more wa:
seen OF him until the troops
began their march on the town; he was
then seen waving an sdieu
As the morning advanced the excite
ment % the Old homestead became In
tense. All ears were strained 10 cateh
any sound OF an ominOus character. II
was hoped that someone VINO could give
Information regarding affairs in towr
would chance that way, but the road
was deserted By all humankind. fe "
stray hogs were wallOWing 10 the mire
Of the cutters, and excepting thelI
grunting aud the occasional cawing OF
crow Tar overhead nothing could be
heard. There was something extreme
~ painful ia the lifelessness Of the sur
r0usdings.
But 10 was not long before something
resembling distant thunder reached tue
ANXIOUS listeners, and Immediately after
a horsoman was seen approaching In
precipitant gailop. As be drew near all
recognized Caleb SlaywicS, Esquire.
As be tore past, leaning over the necS
of his steed aud vigorously applying nls
spurs, he loudly shouted few words
OF admOnitiOn and advice and soon DIS
appeared.
A few minutes later, in addition to
the booming OF cannon, the sharp re-
port OF musketry was distinctly heard,
and presently little clouis Of smoke
were observed lowering about the ra-
vines and hiil-tOps; and these were re-
gardedl as sufficient causes 10 act on
Mr.. Slagwlck's advice TO take refuge In
the cellar, which they hastily did.
From The little lattice window OF the
cellar squads OF retreating COntederates
were sean In the road, 10 the fields,
upon the hills, aud finally in the
fortiicatiOus thrown up by the FEEDER
ais on their old camping-grOund. Grad
ually thelenemy appeared and the Occu-
pants of the cellar found themselves
midway (between the fire Of the con-
tending forces, at intervals Mortified al
the showers of bullets beating against
the building, SCATTERING the windows
aud batterlng the doors. Occasionally
the neegto men ventured TO the little
window to watch and report the pro-
gresss 8f the battle. Once they saw
scattered throughout the yard a num-
Der of advancing Federals whose pres
ence soon invited storm Of balls that
caused them TO seek protection behind
the building and the negroes 10 scam
per TO a bosition OF greater security.
Finally the FederalS quit the yard
and madd desperate charge on enc OF
the eartAworKs, driving the enemy
from il and scattering them over the
field. MOke crept TO the window and
peered QUIZ lie saw a number OF Con-
federates 10 lot adjoining the yard,
some of them officers shouting and
flouriShing their swords in their efforts
10 rally their men.
eOh, Ge dead" be shuddered, turning
with J look Of horror; de dead an
woupAed is scattahed eVahwhah! But
100 box, dar's Marse Howa'd down
m simmOn treew and he pointed
wildly out OF the window.
Mandy and TOOp were soon at his
side. They saw their young master
brandishing his sword and heard him
shouting orders In loud tones which
caused his men to rally about
him "a be suddenly dispersed
by an Overwhelming descent Of the
enemy, which compelled them to flee
for protectiJn.
The negroes looked agbast on the
dangerous POSITION occupied by Captain
Marfew AID shouted Justify TO him 70
Nv into tAe house, bat their voices were
drowned by the thunder of the conflict
Again and again they shouted and once
be heard, for be turned and looked, and
when be beheld the three serious black
faces, also twice the number OF black
hands reckoning TO him, the whole was
so ludicrous that Notwithstanding the
gravity Of his situation he could not re-
frain from smiling. Scarcely had the
smile died away when there was loud,
mourniu, chorus from the negroes, for
Captain Marfew was seen TO throw up
his hands aud pitch heavily forward.
10 their frenzy, Moke aud ToOU drew
their pistols. aud before Mandy could
interfere discharged them az random at
the Federals, then placing them In
their pockets, bounded wildly from she
cellar and were soon bending over their
fallen master, who opened MS eyes aud
gave q distressing grOan. For an in
slant the negroes stood Spellbouud,