The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-09-03

cepted, and she had gained the point sne
was seeking. While Marian and her
mother were nervous and upset over the
-sit1ation, they had no thought of fight.
at was certain that jackson would re-
treat up the valley, and that Shields
would occupy Winchester, but they
were too sensible to fear that the town
would be given up to sack. They were
preparing to retire when they were
aroused by the call of citizen acquaint-
ance who had made all preparations for
fight and felt it his duty to warn them
of the per1ls of the situation. He re-
peated the story that the town was to be
burned and the valley laid waste, and
added that news had been received from
the front to the effect that the advancing
Federals were applying the torch and
dealing out death as they advanced. He
advised them TO lose no time in retreat
ing up the valley. This information
added the climax.
In the Allegheny mountains to the
west, so miles away, was rough but
comfortable house surrounded by few
acres of land which Senator Percy had
owned for years before his death and
occupied with his family for several
weeks in summer. There he had found
good shooting and fishing and rest.
After receiving the latest news" and
sitting down to wonder what they
should do mother and daughter re-
membered the place and its quiet loca-.
tion and soon determined that if flight
was necessary it should be in that di-
rection. 1t was out of the track of the
armies, and they would not be disturbed,
and they might hope that after few
weeks the Confederates would either re-
gain permanent possession of the valley
or that war would be at an end. The
faith of the south in its soldiery was
sublime, and it never wavered until the
last gun was fred at Appomattox.
To decide was to act. While the Ia
dies set about packing whatever they
might need, Uncle Ben was told to have
a vehicle ready for move at daylight.
When Mrs. Baxter was informed of the
contemplated move. she promptly vol
unteered to go along, and her offer was
as promptly accepted. 1t was not only
a part of her plan to maintain an es-
pionage on Marian, but to be on hand
when opportunity might offer to favor
Captain Wyle's cause. Such flight
would bring mistress and servant closer
together. There was grim determi-
nation about the woman worthy of far
better cause. She hated Royal .Kenton
simply because she believed he stood in
the way of Ike's advancement. She
would be faithful to Captain Wyle SIM
ply because it would assist Ike. She
had always fretted because Ike had no
ambition to climb up. His excuse had
always been:
''Dod rot my internal hide, but how's
a feller goin to start? Show me way
to climb. and Ill git thar or die tryin!"
The war had opened way. No mat
ter if Ike was regarded as the poorest
soldier in his company and the last one
who would deserve promotion, he had
made her believe that he was on the
road to military glory, and that on his
success depended her opportunity to
become somebody" She was ambitious
even if poor and ignorant. In some way
which she could not yet determine
Kenton was to disappear, Captain Wyle
was to wed Marian, and Ike was to be-
come "a great gineral and ride around
on a critter."
There was no sleep for any of them
during the remainder of the night.
Uncle Ben got a wagon ready to carry
provisions and clothing and few ar
ticles of furniture and the family car
riage in which the women were to ride,
and as dawn was breaking a start was
made up the valley. They had company
on the road. Four or five farmers below
Winchester had set fire to their own
houses and barns and come into town,
and during the night artillery firing
had created new panic among the resi-
dents of the city. Marian had been
made anxious by the story told by Mrs.
Baxter the evening before-not that
she put any faith in the report, because
she had become aware that Kenton's
position was painful one, but because
she realized that the situation would
become still more grave. She worried
over his capture and feared he might
have been wounded, and she couldn't
help but feel that, no matter how brave
and loyal he was, he would become a
victim of conspiracy and circumstance.
She was somewhat consoled, however,
when she went to the carriage house in
the gray of morning to notify Uncle Ben
that all was ready. His life service
in the family had given him certain
privileges, and on certain occasions he
lid not hesitate to express his opini ons.
''See yere, Miss Sunshine, he began,
what bout dat white woman in de
kitchen?''
''She's to go with us, was the reply.
''Den let Inc tell yo' to look out for
her. Nose too sharp. Face too sharp.
Eyes jest like snaik's. Walks aroun
Jest like cat!''
"Why, how can she hurt us?''
"Tellin lies"
about what or whom?'
"Look yere,' replied the old man,
dropping his voice and looking around,
"I'ze gettin purity ole, but 1 hain't dun
blind or deaf. l knows all bout dat
Yankee Kenton an dat Captain Wyle.
1 knows dey boat wants to marry yo'!
Oar now!'
'Why, Uncle Ben!'' she reproachful-
ly exclaimed.
Its jest like l tole yo', leetle Sun
shine. Member when dat Ike, Baxter
dun cum home on furbelow bout six
weeks ago?"
(To be Continued)
A Curious Villa of Ants,
Mr.. George NJ. Brook describes, in
Popular Science News, a singular COM
mI1Dity of small brown ants ohsarvad
by him inhabitating little dome-shaped