The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-06
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COPYRIGHTED 1924 BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.

his friends before the battle opened"
Mr.. Kenton believed it his duty as
a citizen of Virginia to take up arms in
her cause, " replied the mother.
And instead Of deserting he seems
to have led your company to victory"
quietly added Marian.
''He was simply in the rear as we
faced about and was carried along with
the rush," explained the captain.
Nevertheless lie is brave man, and l
hope he is in earnest"
why shouldn't he be?" asked the
girl.
Blood will tell is an old saying.
| shan't be surprised to wake up SONS
morning and find that he has deserted
to the enemy"
You do Mr.. Kenton gross injustice!''
exclaimed Marian as her color came
and went, and her eyes looked brighter
than he had ever seen them before. II
have seen nothing in him to lead me to
believe that he would countenance any
thing dishonorable, and brave men are
never recorded as deserters. " ..
II the captain had planned to make
ner betray her true feelings toward
Royal Kenton, he had succeeded. Her
looks and demeanor, added to the words
she uttered with go much spirit, salts
fed him that his own cause, unless
something unforeseen should arise, was
hopeless. While he was man Of hot
temper he had great self control, and
when he left the house neither mother
nor daughter suspected his bitterness of
feeling.
It's no use to deceive myself" he
nuttered as he walked slowly down the
street. If the Yankee doesn't desert,
and if he is not killed in battle or other
wise, he will return to wed her. With
him removed my path is clear. 1t will
be my fault if something doesn't hap
pen to him very soon!"
Something did happen-two or three
somethings-befoIe the captain return
to camp. Ike Baxter thoroughly under
stood what Captain Wyle desired, and
he was eager for an opportunity to car
ry out his wishes. One night when
both were on guard about the camp he
wheeled in his beat, drew up his musket
and deliberately fired to kill. Kenton
was hardly 20 feet distant, face turned
away and completely at his mercy. The
heavy bullet passed between his arm
and side and sped across the camp and
killed a poor sergeant as he lay slipping
on his bed. The would be assassin plead
ed accident, and it WAS natural to be-
lieve that it was such. Kenton was one
of the first to excuse him, and not the
slightest suspicion Of the soldiers mur-
derous intentions found lodgment in his
mind.
Another incident, and one with far
more pleasant surroundings, occurred
the very next day. A message came to
the commanding officer of the guards
from Stonewall Jackson to send Private
KentOn to his Headquarters. The gen.
eral looked at the young man before
him for half a minute before saying:
'You headed the detachment which
captured the gun in hand TO hand
fight. You did nobly. Who is captain
of your company"
Captain Wyle, sir"
"Ah, yes. Captain Truesdale was
wounded and crippled for life. l see.
And you are still priyate:"
"Yes, sir"
Him! l ought to have remembered
you, but l have been busy-very busy.
Is your captain with his company"
mo, sir. He left several days ago on
furlough."
Him! And haven't you asked for a
furlough too?"
Il have not"
well, we'll see about it later on.
Tomorrow l shall be away. The day
after at 10 o'clock in the morning |
wish you to report here to me. Stay! |
will write an order to that effect, which
will be your authority for leaving camp.
Show it to your commanding officer"
And when Kenton returned to the
guards and related his interview and
exhibited the order all congratulated
him-all except Ike Baxter. That in
dividual felt himself greatly wronged,
and his mutterings took the form Of
words:
"Drat that burned Yankee, but he's
jest gwine to boss this hull army if the
captain doan' dun hurry back to s.mp!"