The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-01


l have but few more pages to write.
My story mas not been all romance,
and it is with feeling of selfishness that
part from those of my characters who
are with us in the flesh today, and whose
hands / have held In mine within the
last twelvemonth. At the opening Of
my story Winchester was described as
quaint old town. That was true Of it
a quaint old town of quaint houses and
streets and people. War wrecked it
again and again. Every street and
square and alley witnessed death grap-
pie. Every building which escaped the
flames was marked by ball or bullet. A
few months ago l looked in vain for
trace of war. Here and there quaint
old house still stands, but the town is
full of the hustle of these rushing days.
All, but there was trace of war after
all. Up in the cemetery skiIted by the
Berryville pike found grave after grave
in which soldiers slept their last long
sleep, each name engraved on the stone,
and behind them the pitiful spot over
which all may sorrow, but no one weep
the resting place of the unknown.
1t was many days ere Kenton or Mar
ian or Mrs. Baxter walked in the sum
shine. In the case of the latter perhaps
II was better that her mind CROPPED in
the darkness, and that 1t was months be-
! fore she could realize her widowhood.
General Custer kindly sent her on to
Washington for treatment, and for weeks
and weeks she kept calling out:
ike said he'd go fur help to captur'
the Yankee, but he hain't dun come
back yit. Ike's goin to be a great ossi-
fer and hev a sword and prancin crit
ter, and l'll hold up my head with any
! of 'em''
Where Is Uncle Benz Gone to his rest
years ago, but he lived to SEQ the end of
the war and to enjoy for a season the
haven of rest which kind hearts created
| for him.
| There was marriage in Winchester
about two months after the battle of
Rest Haven. They called it military
marriage, because more than so Federal
officers attended, because Federal
chaplain officiated, because a Federal
band serenaded the happy couple. Who
do you think gave away the bride? Cen
eral Custer, who became a groom HIM
self only few days later. Royal Ken
ton had recovered from his wound, and
the keen edge Of Marian's grief had been
somewhat dulled by lapse of time and
the excitement of her surroundings. 1t
was better so. Kenton was not held for
exchange under the circumstances, nor
did any one wish him to become rene
gade by Joining the Federal service,
I,a rr;o tha hri6DI apntnla
accompanied by Uncle Ben, went north
and there remained till the close of the
war. Steve Brayton was asked to 60
nnaay almost toiiliali;a.eeda al ;aea but he replied
"See yere, Yank, I've bin thinkin aiia
thinliin, and l make it ont this way:
sorter owed the confederacy a grudgt
fur the way it treated yo', and heyir
paid it off and squared the debt ortel
go back Thar won't be nuthin said
about yo artSvr the war, bekase yo' wal
actually drl sut, but the boys woult
rub it in OH me purity heavy to the day
of my death Iii jest surrender oyel
again to th'l Yankee army, wait to b.
exchanged and in due time become j,
good Confed again"
And that was the course he followed
and when / shook hands with him il
Winchester last spring was proud tt
give him his title rs lieutenant Did tn,
match please Uncle Benz Hear what h,
says as he congratulates the bride:
Now, Miss Sunshine, yo' all has dun
gone an married Mars Kenton, an i
does jest seem to me dat / ar waikiki
round on aigsl Hu! But when | VIA
tied up to dat post an yo was standil
dar wild dat big DISCOVER, an de sojer
an gorillas was gnashin their teef,
s'pected de Lawd was so fur off h
couldn't git dar in time TO save us. =
The Percy mansion was burned, a
you remember. A much finer house oc
enuies the sits today. and it is there tn