The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-16
A YANKEE IN GRAY
Copyright, 1904. by American Press Assocla.
tion.l


could be of assistance during the ab-
sence of the servants, adding that near
ly the entire colored population of the
town had fled, and that most of them
would probably be picked up by the
Federals and sent north. Under tho
circumstances her offer was eagerly ac-
cepted, and she had gained the point she
was seeking. While Marian and her
mother were nervous and upset over the
situation, they had no thought Of fight.
1t was certain that jackson would re-
treat up the valley, and that Shields
would occupy Winchester, but they
were too sensible to fear that the town
would be given up to sack. They were
preparing to retire when they were
aroused by the call of citizen acquaint-
ance who had made all preparations for
flight and felt it his duty to warn them
of the perils Of the situation He re-
peated the story that the town was to he
burned and the valley laid waste, and
added that news had been received from
the front to the effect that the advancing
Federals were applying the torch and
dealing ont death as they advanced. He
advised them TO lose no time in retreat
ing up the valley. This information
added the climax.
In the Allegheny mountains to the
west, 80 milos away, was a rough but
comfortable house surrounded by few
acres of land which Senator Percy had
owned for years before his death and
occupied with his family for several
weeks in summer. There he had found
good shooting and fishing and rest
After receiving the latest news" and
sitting down to wonder what they
should do, mother and daughter re-
membered the place and its quiet loca-
tion and soon determined that if flight
was necessary it should be in that di-
rection. 1t was out of the track of the
armies, and they would not be disturbed,
and they might hope that after a few
weeks the Confederates would either re-
gain permanent possession of the valley
or that war would be at an end. The
faith of the south in its soldiery was
sublime, and it never wavered until the
last gun was fired at Appomattox.
To decide was to act. While the Ia
dies set about packing whatever they
might need, Uncle Ben was told to have
vehicle ready for "A move at daylight.
When Mrs. Baxter was informed of the
contemplated move, she promptly VOL
unteored to so along, and her offer was
as promptly accepted, 1t was not only
part OF her plan to maintain an es-
pionage on Marian, but to be on hand
when opportunity might offer to favor
Captain Wyle's cause. Such flight
Ny,pt1Il
together. There was "A grim determi-
nation about the woman worthy of far
better cause. She hated Royal kenton
simply because she believed he stood in
the way Of Iko'8 advancement. She
would be faithful to Captain Wyle sim
ply because 1t would assist Ike. She
had always fretted because Ike had no
ambition to climb up. His excuse had
always been:
bod rot my Internal hide, but how 5
feller goin to start? Show me way
to climb, and I'll git thar or die tryin"
The war had opened way. No mat
Ter if Ike was regarded as the poorest
soldier in his company and the last ono
who would deserve promotion, he had
made her believe that he was on the
road to military glory, and that on his
success depended her opportunity to
/ become somebody. She was ambitions
even il poor and ignorant. In some way
which she could not yet determine
kenton was to disappear, Captain Wyle
WAS to wed Marian, and Ike was to be-
come IA great gineral and ride around
on arittcr.
There was no sleep for any Of them
/; during the remainder of the night
Uncle Ben got wagon ready TO carry
i provisions and clothing and few ar
/ ticles of furniture and the family car
riage in which the women were to ride,
and as dawn was breaking start was
made up the valley. They had company
| on the road. Four or FIVE farmers below
! Winchester had set fire to their own
houses and barns and come into town,
! and during the night artillery firing
had created new panic among the resi-
dents of the city. Marian had been
! made anxious by the story told by Mrs.
Baxter the evening before-not that
! she put any faith in the report, because
she had become aware that Kenton 5
! position was painful one, but because
slio l'ail@@a tiat tiie SITUATION "oula
pee9'i'e sun more grave sne worried
over ms capture aii,' iearee, ne might
nave peee Moui,ieu' anu sno eotldh
helP out leei lnaI' no matter now brave
j am. io,a h9 mas' ile "ol'.i pecoiile
s,eti,i, oi coiisl,iIAes anu circumstance,
! oi,o was soiiie" nat consolea' however,
Miitii sue @eilt 10 Tue earrings mouse Ia
nv si"S >. i'olait,s 10 nntiiy i, niele 9t'h
illat ali wa, was :, reaay, , ms lile service