Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-09
CHAPTER III.
SHADOWS ARE CAST.

SHADOWS ARE CAST.
At the elapse OF few months after
Mrs. SeYoy came TO Brook Falls, mat
ters Of much greater Importance than
any concerning herself were engroSsing
the attention of the MarfewS, particu-
larly father and sons. Fort Sumter
had been bombarded, had fallen, and
Colonel Mariew aud his sons were anx-
iousiy awaiting the decision OF the state
convention then in session, which final
ly declared Virginia part Of the infant
Confederacy, and at once the three
Marirews volunteered their services TO
their state.
One bright morning in May found
The patriarchal Marfew at Brook Falls
diligently making preparations for the
war. He was ho longer colonel, hav-
ing resigned his Office in the militia
that he might become captain OF the
company he organized. Finally, TO the
great modification OF the slaves, who
wondered what war was and what their
master really wanted TO do, he emerged
from the house gllttering In the full
regimentals of a Confederate captain,
mounted his horse, and waving adieux,
rode of toward Sylvanton.
To either hand he looked with pride
on his fertile fields stretching afar
and promising bountiful har-
vest. His meadows were wide
aud green; his fields of heading wheat
which a gentle breeze was ripping were
pleasing to behold; sheep hecked the
distant hillsides; fat cattle lowed
in the luxurlant pastures. Al
ternately be felt joyous aud sad, Joyous
because of the beautiful morn and
promising crops; sad because of the APP
preaching conflict, for be had premo-
niiiou of the blood and deprivation that
IL was destined to bring on his beloved
Commonwealth.
Shortly he arrived at an eminence
where he paused and looked back atsuch
portions OF his house that were visible
through the dense foliage surrounding
it, far from the thought that it was the
irony OF fate that years would pass ere
be should again look on the place OF
his birth, and that the crops which
promised to be so abundant be would
never harvest
Proceeding a mile farther the captain
cameato a crossroads. Hearing horses
approaching aud the occasional mutter-
ing OF voices he halted to see who were
coming. The next moment two men,
whom he recognized TO be Caleb Stay
wick and Edgar Biffner, prosperous
farmers OF the community, rode into
view. Saywick, he knew 10 be vio-
lent secessionist, and Bffner equally
violent for the cause OF the Union, BY
their fierce geSiiculations, and an occa-
SiOual loud oath, 10 was evident that a
highly spirited, II not sn angry discus
sion concerning the turbulent issues Of
the day, was in progress; but it was alb
ruptly silenced by their seeing the uni
formed captain.
"Why, Jaspar" exclaimed Slsvwick,
the Secessionist, with benign smile.
surely your appearance is most de-
cidedly military this morning, so much
so that l scarcely recognized you at
first ] supposed il possible that you
were an armed knight OF the North
sent down here among us 90 establish
rules of politiCs and Of morals that we
would be expected 10 humbly observe,
and in every respect pay humiiiating
homage to our liege lord from over the
Dor der. Ga your way to the rendeZ-
vous, 1 suppose?"
Yes. Caleb; victory or defeat, l am
in for it now; however. hope that
actual war will be averted."
Defeat" calculated Slaywick, knit
ting his brows. Impossible! There
can be no such thing as defeat on the
part of the South! Never, never, so
long as lead and gunpoWder are Ia eX-
lstencew
"Indeed! returned the Unionist with
a sheer. But l shall not discuss the
subject longer. We have been disput-
Ing and quarreling for the last mile
without either affecting 10 the least the
convictions OF the other. Let rs intro
duce other subjects less antsgonistic.
please"
But the lexcited SlsywicE evI need his
disappro1 OF the PROPOSAL by sud-
denly hing more erupfve than
tsxeE. 3aEahly to the amnsement OF