The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-08-06
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CHAPTER Y.

CHAPTER v.
It took three days more to enlist the
men necessary to fill the ranks of the
Shenandoah guards, as the company
called itself, and while awaiting orders
from Richmond an election of officers
was held. Only few of the volunteers
were surprised at Royal Kenton's en-
listment. They were men who had but
one political belief-state rights. They
were not looking beyond it to the south
ern confederacy, but had enlisted and
were going to the front to fight for Vir-
ginia. Why shouldn t he fight for his
adopted state? So argued the captain,
so argued the rank and file and many
citizens of the town, and, but for Duke
Wyle, Kenton would have been elected
second lieutenant of the company. When
he saw how things were going. he called
Steve Brayton aside and said:
Look here, Steve, you fellows are as
blind as young kittens. If that Yankee
hadn't signed the roll, what would have
happened to him?"
'Tar and feathers and ride on a
rail!" replied Steve.
And he was sharp enough to realize
it. He enlisted as blind"
'Shoo! How kin he un bluff that
way?'
I'VE are going to the front. The first
chance he gets he will desert to his side.
He's playing a Yankee trick on you,
and you amt sharp enough to see it. !"
''Doggone him, but yo' may be right,
loofonant vo' may ba riobtf'
''Of course I'm right! You just move
about right smart and give the boys the
tip. Don't even elect him corporal.
He's just one O. that sort that if he gets
any Office at all he'll want to run the
whole company"
And we don't propose to be run?"
"Of course not!''
Steve soon turned the tide against
Kenton, and that without any one
knowing exactly what was taking place.
The citizens of the town were almost as
much interested in the election as the
members Of the company. The old law
yer had left Kenton to settle the matter
according to his own judgment. When
he heard that the young man had en-
listed, he was secretly pleased, and it
was his influence which made number
of the rank and file decide on electing
Kenton as third officer of the company.
81 am not in the least disappointed,
replied Royal when the result of the
voting was known and the Office had
gone to another. Il enlisted without
thought of position and prefer the ranks
to any place they could gre ME. Be-
sides, am Yankee, you know, and it
is only natural that there should be
little feeling in the matter -
There were two callers at the Percy
mansion that evening. Duke Wyle came
first. AS previously stated, he had been
frequent caller for year or more.
Some people had even said that there
was an engagement. That was a mis-
take, however. Try as hard as he could,
he could remember little or nothing to
encourage him in believing that he was
a favored suitor. Neither had he the
slightest reason for believing that Royal
Kenton had any advantage in that re-
spect. 1t was simply the fact that he
was also visitor at the house that
reused the spirit of jealousy and the de-
sire to work mischief. His reception
was cordial by both mother and daugh-
fer, and both congratulated him on his
election as one of the company officers.
This paved the way for him to observe:
Il presume you have heard of the un-
blushing assurance of the Yankee, as
all call him, in making every effort to
be elected second lieutenant?'
"Do you refer to Mr.. Kenton?"
nuickIv answered Marian
"Of course. He is the only Yankee
saw through his scheme before it was
too late, however.
Ibid he have scheme?" asked Mrs.
Percy.
Most certainly, ma 'am-that is, the
members of the company fully believed
he had
''What was it?'' quietly asked Ma
rian.
We'll, they all think he volunteered
to hoodwink us, and that he will desert
the first chance he gets.
But You don't believe it?'
well. Ill can't say that do,
but he leans toward the north, you
know"
mo, did not know it. He is Vir-
ginian by adoption. He owes her alle-
glance. He did not enlist until he felt
1t his duty to go with his state. You
did not enlist for any other reason, did
you. Mr.. Wyle?"
''Of course not, but I'm born Vir-
ginian, you know
"Well, think Mr.. Kenton acted ac-
cording t. his conscience and best judg-
ment, and that the guards would have
had reason to be proud of him as an Of
fcer."
"Yes, think so, too, replied the
mother.
The lieutenant realized that he was
walking ON dangerous ground and let
the subject drop, but in his own mind
he decided that he had new cause for
hating Royal Kenton and removing him
from his path. During moment of
silence plan flashed through his mind,
and he presently said:
''It is an old saying, you know, that
blood will tell. 1t may prove false in
this case, and 1 hope it will, for Ken
ton is fine young man. Suppose, how
ever, he should actually desert to the
Yankees and come back to fight against
us?''
'.Then l should be glad to hear of his
being shot as deserter and traitorl''
exclaimed the girl as her eyes flashed
and her color deepened.
HE would deserve it," added the
mother.
Duke Wyle had made his call intend
ing to make every effort to discover just
how he stood in Marian Percy's estima-
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