The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-21
CHAPTER XXI.


We have made no note of time. A
year of war seems to fly more swiftly
by than month of peace. The minutes
of war are mado up Of its dead, its hours
Of burals, its days of battles, its weeks
Of campaigns which move nation, its
months of black figures relating the
number of widows and orphans and the
tens of millions of dollars expended, it's
years of despair and desolation crying
to heaven.
Winter had fallen upon mountain and
valley, upon the blackened ruins of once
happy homes, upon blood spot and buri-
al ground, While things had gone very
quietly at Rest Haven they had not
gone we'll. Now and then detachment
Of Federals or Confederates had galloped
past on the stony road, but they had
loft the family in peace. Letters no
longer came and went. The country
was In the hands of the Federals, and
many of the inhabitants had fled away.
The Pereys would have gone before win
ter act In but for the state of the moth
era health. They We're waiting and
hoping that she would SO mend that
she could bo moved, but she did not.
Ono autumn night party of raiders
had taken away the horses, and after
that Uncle Ben had to make his trips
on foot as he secured the country In
search OF provisions to keep the family
going. In spite of the high prices and
general scarcity Of all necessaries he
managed so well that nearly every want
was supplied In some way. On two oc-
casions beyond the ono mentioned Fed
eral accommodating parties left supplies
at the house, and once Captain Wylo
sent store OF articles which could have
only been gathered at considerable cost.
and trouble. Both sides pitied the
unhappy and defenseless situation of the
family, which wes only ono of hum
dreds. The sufferings of the southern
women during tho war have found no
historian, and the heroism displayed by
them in the face OF peril and adversely
has not gone down to theii children on
printed pages. Who could writo it2
Where would he begin or end? In no
epoch of history were mothers. wives
and daughters called upon for greater
sacrifices, nor were sacrifices ever SO
oheorfully made. Brave, patriotic, en-
during, and yet no state or community
has reared a marble fhaft on which is
engraved the words of praise and COM
mendation SO justly their due.
When Marian became convinced that
II Mrs. Baxter had any plan afoot it
was to play the SPY and forward tho
cause of Captain Wyle, she did not let
the matter worry her. A sort Of truce
was declared between the woman and
Uncle Ben and yet he did not cease TO
suspect and to watch her. lie found
out that Ike had hoen exchanged and
mad reJoiued his company, and on two
occasions he had good reasons to believe
that the man secretly met her In the
neighhothool of the honae. Owing to
the interruption Of the mails, It was only
at long intervals that Marian heard from
Royal Eenton. For a month previous
to the battle In which he was captured
she had heard no word from him. When
news came, it was from Captain WNle
himself on his second visit to the Ha-
ven. His company was acting as n
guard for q wagon train Of forage gath
cred In the valley, and his stay was
D1iB1. w ME lllb WSlGOl3e WIS laiIly
cordial, he realized that circumstances
were not propitious for any approcch to
the subject nearest his heart, and he
forced himself TO be content with gen.
eralities. incidentally, as if the matter
was Of little or no moment to her, he
mentioned the fact of General jackson
having become suspicious of Kenton
and suggesting the detail which was
made anu of his having heard only a
day or Two before that the Federals hud
descended on tho post and captured the
entire Confederate command. What he
added was both false and cruel-yiz,
that it was rnmored that kenton was
among the Confederate killed.
II the captain hoped that Marian
would betrny her real feeling, he was
not disappointed. As she received his
information every yestige of color fled
from her face, and she seemed about te
faint.
"Yon-you say it is 80 rumoreds'
she gasped.
"Only rumored, bnt
But you believe the rumor will bt
confrmed?"
Il must say that do. Mr.. Kentor
was, believe, friend of yours, and o.
| course the news of his death will shoel
and grieve you. He and would alsc
i 4. II