The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-05
CHAPTER V

men necessary TO NIL the ranks OF the
Shenandoah guards, as tho company
called itself, and while awaiting orders
from Richmond an election of officers
was held. Only few OF the volunteers
were surprised at Royal Kenton's en-
listment. They were men who had but
one political belief-state rights. They
were not looking beyond it TO the south
ern confederacy, but had enlisted and
were going to the front to fight for Vir-
ginia. Why shouldn't t he fight for his
adopted state? So argued the captain,
so argued the rank and file and many
citizens of the town, and, but for Duke
Wyle, Kenton would have been elected
second lieutenant Of the company. When
he saw how things wore going, he called
Steve Brayton aside and said:
Look here, Stove, you fellows are as
blind as young kittens. IL that Yankee
hadn't signed the roll, what would have
happened to him.
Tar and feathers and ride on a
rail-" replied Steve.
"And he was sharp enough to realize
it. He enlisted as u blind"
'Shoo! How kin he un bluff that
way?"
I'VE are going to the front. Tho first
chance he gets he will desert to his side.
He's playing Yankee trick on you,
and You amt sharp enough to see it."
"Doggone him, but yo' may be right,
lootenant, yo' may be right!'
'Of course I'm right You just move
about right smart and give the boys the
L.,
He's.just one O. that sort that if he gets
any Office at all he'll want to run the
whole company"
And we don't propose to be runl"
"Of course not"
Steve soon turned the tide against
Kenton, and that without any one
knowing exactly what was taking place.
The citizens of the town We're almost as
much interested in the election as the
members Of the company. The old law
yer had left Kenton to settle the matter
according to his own judgment. When
he heard that the young man had en-
listed, he wRs secretly pleased and 1t
was his influence which made number
of the rank and file decide on electing
Kenton as third officer of the company.
II am not In the least disappointed, "
replied Royal when tho result of the
voting was known and the office had
gone TO another. II enlisted without
thought Of position and prefer the ranks
TO any place they could gl-e me. Be
sides, | am Yankee you know, and 1t
is only natural that there should be
little feeling In the matter. :"
There were two callers at the Percy
mansion that evening. Duke Wyle came
first. AS previously stated, he had been
frequent caller for year or more.
Some people had even said that there
was an engagement. That was mis-
take, however. Try as hard as he could,
no could remember little or nothing to
encourage him in believing that he was
favored suitor. Neither had he the
slightest reason for believing thut Royal
Kenton had any advantage in that re-
spect. 1t was simply tho fact that he
was also a visitor at the house that
reused the spirit of jealousy and tho de-
sire to work mischief. His reception
WAS cordial by both mother and daugh-
ter, and both congratulated him on his
election as one Of the company officers.
This paved tho way for him to observe:
Il presume you have heard of the un-
blushing assurance of the Yankee, as
all call him, in making every effort to
be elected second lieutenant?"
"Do you refer to Mr.. Kenton?"
quickly answered Marian.
"Of course. He is the only Yankee
knew of in this locality. The men
saw through his scheme before it was
too late, however. "
did he hayea schemef" asked Mrs.
Percy.
Most certainly, ma a'am-that Is, the
memhers of the company fully believed
he had"
"What was itH" quietly asked Ma
rian.
well, they all think he volunteered
TO heodwink us, and that he will desert
the first chance he gets.
"But you don't believe it7"
"Well, Ill can't say that / do,
but he leans toward the north, you
know"
mo, / did not know it. Heis Eir-
einian by adoption. He owes her alle-
glance. He did not enlist until he felt
it his duty to go with his state. You
did not enlist for any other reason, did
you, Mr.. Wyle?"
''Of course not, but I'm born Vir-
ginian, you know"
"Well, think Mr.. Kenton acted ac-
cording to his conscience and best judg-
ment, and that the guards would have
had reason 10 be proud OF him as an Of
fcer."
Eyes, think SO, too, replied the
mother.
The lieutenant realized that he was
walking on dangerous ground and let
the subject drop, but in his own mind
he decided that lie had new cause for
hating Royal kenton and removing him
from his path. During moment Of
silence plan flashed through his mind,
and he presently said
1t is an old saying, You know, that
blood will tell. 1t may prove false in
this case, and hope it will, for Ken
ton il fine young man. Suppose, how
ever, he should actually desert to the
Yankees and come back to fight against
us?i
Then should be glad to hear of his
being sDot as desertcr and u traitor."
exclaimed tie girl as her eyes flashed
aud her c0lsr deepened.