The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-19
CHAPTER XVIII.

Nk was ONNAs NNANNN ~ NV NNNNAA
after the Confederate victory at Bull
Run doubted that peace would be long
coming. They were hardly settled when
Jackson r~ecspturcd Winchester. They
had scarcely heard this news when the
town wSs ~reoccupied by a Federal force.
IN the last battle for possession tho Per
~ mansion and all outbuildings were
burned to tile ground, Others shared
the same fate. Indeed the flames Of
war wiped out a third Of the town before
war was hardly more than a holiday.
Fer q few days after learning u this
disaster tho Pegcys talSsd ot leaving
the valley for Some peiuI farther south,
bas jus. as they had made ny their
minds to 90 Mrs, Percy fell seriously
Ill, and that occurrence ~checkmaIed all
plans for leaving Rest Haven,
The servants VINO had ayd from tine
house az Winchester did not return,
buI with hundreds of other volcred peo-
pie made their way 70 Uagper'S Ferry
and theace 10 Washington, Uncle Ben
vas the only one lett, and bur for the
presence u Mrs. Baxter tho ladies
would have been in sore straits, The
SLAVES, male Sud female, were escaping
from the villages and plantations in
Groyes, and the Two Or three women
whom Uncle Ben induced 10 enter into
service at the Haven disappeared with
the first dark night.
While Marian Percy felt distrus: OF
Mrs, Baxter. the woman was 50 re-
spectfQl in demeau0r and rendered her
self in all WAYS 50 useful that the feel
ing rather diminished than increased.
Uncle Ben, ou the contrary, grew 10
nate her worse and worse As time passed
on. He could not conceal his dislike
Of her. though lie restrained his tongue
from deruuciation. He realized that
under the circumstance IL was not only
policy but duty to DO so. One day ne
found opportunity TO say to Marian:
Miss Sunshine, DO 20 member what
dun told y9 bef0' We left Wiucheste=
bout dat Atssus Baxter
Yes, she replied. but l think you
we're mistaken. She Is 4 little queer
about some things, but On the whole a
very good woman. I don't know how
we could have got along without her.
.'Mebbe I was mjstgok=u. said Uncle
Ben as he thJughttulIy scratched his
head. but dar a heapo' things can't
lest make out. Who 20 reckon dun bin
writin letters to her
Her husband probably.
Den why don { dem letters cum wild
y1' mail when I dun bring it up: lie
seen j strange man ridin by on a mewl
who brought letters To her three or TO
times. [ze seen her writil letters two
or three times, but she nebber did send
EN- TO town by me. What all Dat mean,
Miss Sunshine:'
oh, its just her queer way. Uncle
Zen. and there is nothing TO worry
about. replied Marian, though his
statements filed her with surprise.
Cuare ways. eh2 WAL. lie gwine
10 keep boat my eyes open all De time.
Sunchin gwine 90 cum from all dis,
Miss Sunshine. SGnthin bound TO come.
White foIksdoan act dat way oaIess dey
means mischief. I hain'5 gwine % say
EufHn to nobody. but I'ze gwils to be
prepard 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 n~eighbors could
extend was freely given. The doctor
who had been called lived seven miles
away. and the old man had frequently
70 ride back and forth over a highway
On which very few farmers had located.
On r Of these excursions, and when
within a mile Of horne On hisrsturn trip,
ne Caught sight0f a man and woman as
they moved out Gf the road and disap-
psared In a thickeJ. Hs way close
enough 10 be satisfied that the woman
was Mrs. Baxter, and that the man was
a Confederate officer, and their anxiety
70 avoid him aroused all mis- suspicious.
lie intended % communicate with Mss
Marian at once, but circumstances pre-
vented, and next day the household was
surprised by a call from Captain Wyle
and his cavalry company. He stated
that he vas on detached duty Ia that
n~eighborhOod.
While the captain had been given to
understand that his suit was hopeless,
and while Marian fully realized that
he had done and was still doing al in
his power to degrade and disgrace the
man she had accepted, she nevertheless
felt hat It was policy to receive him
courteous1y and shun anything that
might lead to sTcusing a new feeling Of
enmity against Kenton. On his part
the captain was careful 10 say nothing
that might wound or offend, and his
hours visit was therefore & very agree.
able enc. He extended his Bympathies,
offered To do anything IN his power to
relieve their anxioties and rode away
with O smileo Of satisfaction on his face.
He argued that Marian was wagering
in her faith in Kenton, and that time
and circumstance would bring about
the change he desired.
Mans most frequent boast is that he
can read and understand woman, and
get 1t is in hat no is oftenest deceived.
Few women can read and understand
themselves.
During the captains visit Marian
had been forced to notice the demeanor
Of Mrs. Baxter. She seemed transformed
into a new being-smiling, laughing
and appearing to be full of joy over
something. When the visitor had de-
parted. she was fulsome in his praise,
and for the first time since coming to
the Percys' she betrayed her real state
of feeling. She was an ally Of the cap
tain's. Why? After puzzling for a
time Marian asked:
Ibid Captain Wyle bring you news
ro,c L,,ohan1S,t