Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-16
A YANKEE IN GRAY
By CHARLES B. LEWIS lM. QUAD.
Copyright. 1894, by American Press AssociA-
 tinn-1
CHAPTER XVIII.

which the PerCys retreated from Win chester. The first idea was to make use ut 1t for only few weeks-until the war was over. Nobody in the south after the Confederate victory at Bull Run doubted that pear, would be long coming. They Were hardly settled when Jackson reCapturtd Winchester. They had scarcely heard this news when the town was reoccupied by Federal force. In the last battle for possession the Per cy mansion and all outbuildings were burned to the ground. Others shared the same fate. Indeed the flames of war wiped ont a third of the town before war was hardly more than holiday.
 For few days after learning of this disaster the Percys talked of leaving the valley for some point farther south, but just as they had made up their minds to go Mrs. Percy fell seriously ill. and that occurrence checkmated all plans for leaving Rest Haven.
 The servants who had fled from the house at Winchester did not return, but with hundreds of other colored peo- pie made their way to Harper's Ferry and thence to Washington. Uncle Ben was the only one left, and but for the presence of Mrs. Baxter the ladies would have been in sore straits. The slaves. male and female, were escaping from the villages and plantations in druves. and the two or three women whom Uncle Ben induced to enter into service at the Haven disappeared with the first dark night.
 While Marian Percy felt distrust of Mrs. Baxter, the woman was so re- spectful in demeanor and rendered her self in all ways so useful that the feel ing rather diminished than increased. Uncle Ben. on the contrary. grew to hate her worse and woIse as time passed on. He could not conceal his dislike If her. though he restrained his tongue from drnuuciatiOn. He realized that under the circumstances it was not only policy but duty to do so. One day he found opportunity to say to Marian:
 Miss sunshine. doyo' member what dun told yo' hcto' We left Winchester 'hout dat Mi>suS Baxter:'
 Yes. she replied, ' but think you Were mistaken. She Is little queer atuut some things. but on the whole a very so1d woman. l don't know how we could have got along without her.
 ''Mebbe l was mistoOken. said Uncle Ben as he thoughtfully scratched his head, " but dar : a heap things 1 cant jest make out. Who yo' reckon dun bin writin letters to herr
 Her husband probably.
 ." Den why don | dem letters cum wid I | l,,Iy seen a strange man rldin bn- on mewl who brought letters to her three or fo' tIIEr>. I'ze seen her writin letters two ur three times but she nebber did send tm 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. eh: Waal. Ize gwine to keep boat my eyes open all de time. Suuthin gwIne to cum from all dis, Miss Sunshine. Sunthin bound to come. White folks doan act dat way onleSs dey means mischief. I hain't gwine to say muffin 10 nobody. but Ize gwine to be prrpar | fur trouble!'
 I cetd,i 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 To ride back and forth over highway on which very few farmers had located. On one of these excursions, and when within a mile of home on his return trip, he caught sight of man and woman as they moved out of the road and dlsap- 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 Miss 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 ill that n,lGhburhood.
 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 all in his power to degrade and disgrace the man she had accepted, she nevertheless felt that 1t was policy to receive him courteOusly and shun anything that might lead to arousing a new feeling of t.nmity against kenton. On his part the captain was careful to say nothing that might wound or offend, and his hour visit was therefore a very agree able enc. He extended his sympathies, offered to do anything in his power to reli,v, their anXIeties and rode away with d smile of satisfaction on his face. He argued that Marian was wavering i'll 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 vet it is in that he is oftenest deceived. Few women can read and understand themselves.
 During the captains visit Marian had been foI ced to notice the demeanoT Cf Mrs. Baxter. She seemed transformed into 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:
 Did Captain Wyle bring you news of your husband?''
 Yes m. Ike has got back to Win chester, along with the others. The Yankees got afeared that Ike would break loose and do awful damage, and so they let him go.
 He was wounded, wasn't he?'
 |" Yes m, and he un won't be fitten to go back to the army fur some weeks wit. When he un does, he'll hev a crit