Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-07

| Miss sunshine, DO yO' 'memDe what
I dun told yo' befo' we left Winchester
bout dat Missus Baxter?'
Yes" she replied, but think you
were mistaken. She Is little queer
about some things, but on the whole a
very good woman. l don't know how
we could have got along without her. -
| ''Mebbe / was mistooken," said Uncle
Ben as he thoughtfully scratched his
head, but dar's a heap o. things cam I
jest make ont. Who yo' reckon dun bin
writin letters to herr
Her husband probably"
Den why don t dem letters cum wild
yo' mail when / dun bring it up? I'ze
seen a strange man ridin by on a mewl
who brought letters to her three or fo'
times. I'ze seen her writin letters two
or three times, but she nebber did send
'em to town by me. What all dat mean,
| Miss Sunshine:'
'Oh, it's just her queer way, Uncle
Ben. and there is nothing to worry
about" replied Marian, though his
statements filled her with surprise.
"Quare ways, Ell? WAL, Ize gwine
to keep boat my eyes open all de time.
Sunthin gwine to cnm from all dis,
| Miss Sunshine. Sunthin bound to come.
White folks doan' act dat way onless dey
means mischief. hain't gwine to say
muffin to nobody, but 1'ze gwipe to be
prepaid fur trouble,''
When Mrs. Percy fell i'll, Ben sue
ceeded in securing for awhile the serv-
ices of an old colored woman who seem
ingly had no longing for liberty, and
such assistance as the neighbors could
extend was freely given. The doctor
who had been called lived seven miles
away, and the old man had frequently
10 ride back and forth over a highway
on which very few farmers had located.
On one of these excursions, and when
within mile of home on his return trip,
he caught sight of man and woman as
they moved out of the road and disap-
peared IN a thicket.. He was close
enough to be satisfied that the woman
was Mrs. Baxter, and that the man was
"A Confederate officer, and their anxiety
to avoid him aroused all his suspicious
He intended to communicate with Mis-:
Marian at once, but circumstances pre-.
vented, and next day the household was
surprised by call from Captain Wyle
and his cavalry company. He stated
that he was ON detached duty in that
neighborhood.
While the captain had been given Il
understand that his suit was hopeless,
and while Marian fully realized tina,
he had done and was still doing all il
his power TO degrade and disgrace tn,
man she had accepted, she nevertheless:
felt that ii was policy to receive hin
cOurteously and shun anything tina
might lead to arousing a new feeling o
enmity against kenton. On his pal
the captain was careful 10 say nothin;
that might wound or offend, and hi
hours visit was therefore very agree
able one. He extended his sympathies
offered to do anything in his power /
relieve their anxleties and rode ava,
with Il smile Of satisfaction on his face
He argued that Marian was waverin;
in her faith in Kenton, and that tim
and circumstance would bring abou
the change he desired.
Mans most frequent boast is that b
can read and understand woman, an
yet il is in that he is oftenest deceived
Few women can read and understan
themselves.
During the captains visit Marial
had been forced to notice the demeano
; Of Mrs. Baxter. She seemed trausforme
into new being-smilinC, laughin
and appearing to be full of joy owe
} something. When the visitor had de
parted, she was fulsome in his praise
and for the first time since coming I
: the Percys' she betrayed her real stat
of feeling. She was an ally of the CAP
tain's. Why: After puzzling for
time Marian asked:
Did Captain Wyle bring you new
of your husband:"
"Yes'm. Ike has got back to Win
} chester. along with the others. TIL
, Yankees got afeared that Ike woul,
break loose and do awful damage, an,
SO they let him CO.
He was wounded, wasn't he?''
"Yes'm, and he un won't be fittel
l to go back to the army fur some week
} yit. When he uu does. he II hev crit
ter and u sword and ride around wit
Captain Wyle.'
? Perhaps they'll make him an Office
for his bravery
He I'm deserves it. fur suah-o
, co'se him does" replied Mrs. Baxte,
! with good deal of vigor. IF
: wasn't fur that emery Yankee''-
2 DO you mean Mr.. kenton?" aske
. Marian as the woman caught herself.
= II dun forget" she stammered
3 "Thar's bin SO much fussin bout wa
I .. x