The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-20
CHAPTER XXI.

cy tnan mOntn or peace. Ine minutes
of war are made up of its dead, its hours
Of burials, its days of battles, it's weeks
Of campaigns which move nation, its
months of black figures relating the
number of widows and orphans and the
tens Of millions Of dollars expended, it's
years of despair and desolation crying
to heaven.
Winter had fallen upon mountain and
valley, uponthe blackened ruins of once
happy homes, upon blood spot and buri-
al ground. While things had gone very
quietly at Rest Haven they had not
gone we'll. Now and then a detachment
of Federals or Confederates had galloped
past on the stony road, but they had
left the family in peace. Letters no
longer came and went. The country
was in the hands of the Federals, and
many of the inhabitants had fed away.
The Percys would have gone before win
ter set in but for the state Of the moth
er's health. They were waiting and
hoping that she would so mend that
she could be moved, but she did not.
One autumn night party Of raiders
had taken away the horses, and after
that Uncle Ben had to make his, trips
on foot as he secured the country in
search of provisions to keep the family
going. In spite Of the high prices and
general scarcity of al! necessaries re
managed so well that nearly every want
was supplied in some way. On two oc-
casic.s beyond the one mentioned Fed
eral accommodating parties left supplies
at the house, and once Captain WYE
sent a store of articles which could have
only been gathered at considerable cost
and trouble. Both sides pitied the
unhappy and defenseless situation of the
family, which was only one of hun
dteds. The sufferings of the southern
women during the war have found no
historian, and the heroism displayed by
them in the face of peril and adversely
has not gone down to their children on
printed pages. Who could write it:
Where would he begin or end? In no
epoch of history were mothers, wives
and daughters called upon for greater
sacrifices, nor were sacrifices ever so
cheerfully made. Brave, patriotic, en-
during, and yet no state or community
has reared marble shaft on which is
engraved the words of praise and COM
mendation so justly their due.
When Marian became convinced that
if Mrs. Baxter had any plan afoot it
was to play the spy and forward thu
cause of Captain Wyle, she did not let
the matter worry her. A sort Of truce
was declared between the woman and
Uncle Ben, and yet he did not cease t
suspect and to watch her. He foun,.
out that Ike had been exchanged and
had reJoined his company, and on two
occasions he had good reasons to believe
that the man secretly met her in the
neighborhood of the house. Owing to
the interruption OF the mails, it was only
at long intervals that Marian Eeard from
Royal Kenton. For a month previous
to the battle in which he was captured
she had heard no word from him. When
news came, it was from Captain Wyle
himself ON his second visit to the Ha-
ven. His company was acting as
guard for wagon train of forage gath
cred in the valley, and his stay was
brief. While his welcome was fairly
cordial, be realized that circumstances
were not propitious for any approSch to
the subject nearest his heart, and he
forced himself to be content with gen
eralities. Incidentally, as if the matter
was of little or no moment to her, he
mentioned the fact of General Jackson
having become suspicious of Kenton
and suggesting the detail which was
made and of his having heard only
day or two before that the Federals had
descended on the post and captured the
entire Confederate command. What he
added was both false and cruel-viz.
that it was rumored that Kenton was
among tine Confederate killed.
If the captain hoped that Marian
would betray her real feeling, he WIS
not disappointed. AS she received his
information every vestige of color fed
from her face, and she seemed about to
faint.
''You-you say it is SO rumored:''
she gasped.
:'Only rumored, but
But you believe the rumor will be
confrmed:'
Il must gay that do. Mr.. kenton
was, believe, a friend of yours, and of
course the news of his death will shock
and grieve you. Ee and I would also
have been friends but for his, to say the
least, disloyal conduct toward the cause
he for some reason best known to him.
self espoused. .
Captain Wyle, you wrong him, liv-
ing or dead" exclaimed Marian as she
braced herself against the shock caused
by report of the rumors. He enlisted
because he was imbued with the same
feeling I hope you were-a feeling that
he owed allegiance to Virginia first Of
ALL
He has acted very strangely for
Virginia patriot, I must declare, said
IL