Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHATTER ANIll.
The name Rest Haven had been
given to the house in the mountains to
which the Percys retreated from Win
chester. The first idea was to make use
of it for only Il few weeks-until the
war was over. Nobody in the south
after the Confederate victory at Bull
Run doubted that peace would be long
coming. They were hardly settled when
Jackson recaptured Winchester. They
had scarcely heard this news when the
town was %reoccupied by a 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 out a third of the town before
war was hardly more than a holiday.
For a 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
i'll, and that occurrence checkmated all
plans for leaving Rest Haven.
The servants who had fed 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 n 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
droves, 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 i'll 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 worse as time passed
on. He could not conceal his dislike
of her, though he restrained his tongue
from denunciation. 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, do yo' member what
| dun told yo' befo' we left Winchester
bout dat Missus Baxter"
Yes, she replied, but | think you
were mistaken. She is a little queer
about some things, but on the whole a
very good woman. don't know how
we could have got along without her."
''Mebbe / was mistooken, said Uncle
Ben as he thoughtfnlly scratched his
head, but dar's Il heapo things | can't
jest make out. Who yo' reckon dun bin
writin letters to herr"
'Her husband probably"
den why don't dem letters cum wild
yo' mail when | dun bring it up? I'ze
seen a strange mar ridin by on a mewl
who brought letters to her three or TO
times. I'ze seen her writin letters two
Or three times, but she nebber did send
'em 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, Ell? WAL, I'ze gwine
to keep boat my eyes open all de time.
Sunthin gwine to cum from all dis,
Miss Aanshine. Sunthin bound to come.
White folks doan' act dat way onless dey
means mischief. hain't gwine to say
muffin to nobody, but I'ze gwine to be
prepaid fur troubled"
When Mrs. Percy fell i'll, Ben sue
ceeded 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