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KB* SUMTER WATCHMAN, Kttablished April, 1850.
flKso?idat?di.u?. 2,1881.
"Be Just and J^ear not-Let alllthe Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone, 1366
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1894.
New Series-Yoi. XIII. No. 36.
CHAPTER XX.
Kenton made ao reply to Steve Bra
ton's inquiry, bat the latter noticed
look OB the yoting man's face be bi
never seen theie before. Tbe Virgini;
by adoption bad pursued the coarse i
thought was right He had done I
duty nuder all circumstances and hi
been thoroughly loyal to the eau
which be espoused. Those beside who
he fought had made every attempt
degrade and disgrace him and dri
him ont of the service. If he had n
enlisted, he would have been called
traitor and driven away from his hon
with bodily injury. . He had joined tl
rasia to be suspected and denounce*
As: the case now stood he could not leai
the southern cause without being r
turned on the rolls as a deserter. If e:
changed, he would be put on trial, ar
he realized that enough influence con]
be brought to bear to further disgra<
him.
"'Look yere, Yank, what's botheri
yo'r head ?" asked Steve after a few mil
vtes of silence.
"A good many things/' was the n
ply.
"I've been figgerin a bit Both Caf
tain Wy le and the major are now dow
on yo'. If yo' ever gita back to th
Confederacy, they'll suet yo' up c
shoot yo'. Can't yo'see it?"
4It looks that way to me."
'The Yanks may keep us six months
and doorin that time thar's goin to b
a heap of ?yin about yo' to that gal
She'll be told that yo' deserted or mee
be that yo' are dead. Yo' kin bet Cap
tain Wy le won't let no grass grow un
der his feet. I've beam that she wa
over in the mountains."
"Yes."
"And I was told that Captain Wyl
and his critter company had bin sen
back yere ta help hold the Yankees
Can't yo' seer'
"Yes, ont I can't act"
"Why not? It's comin on dark? an<
it's goin to rain. See how the line hai
straggled! Them bluecoats hain't go
moxe'n one eye open. Tell yo' what inj
plan is. Lot's make a dash fur it! Ii
hain't over 20 miles to whar yo'r gal is
Go'n her. She's powerful level
headed, and I reckon she may give yo
some good advice. Yo'll hev a show tc
explain things anyway, and that will
make dough of the captain's cake."
"And what about you?" asked Ken?
ton.
"Waal, I'd just, as lief run up thai
with yo'. I ain't jest exactly satisfied
about all this thing. Mebbe I'll sur?
render to the Yanks agin, and mebbe
I'll go back to the company and lei
the major pile it on and be hanged tc
him! I want a day cr two to think it
over. What do yo' say?"
"I'm agreed. " replied Kenton after
a moment's thought.
"That's bizness! Jest about 40 rods
down yere I'll give yo* the word. We
ons will break for them woods to the
right. We'll be fired on and mebbe
killed, but we've got to take chances.
?Once we reach the woods we are safe."
The afternoon was rapidly fading into
^dusk, and a fine rain hud begun to fall.
The cavalrymen were strung out so that
there were gaps of several feet between
horses, and as the prisoners were sing?
ing songs and seemed in good spirits the
"vigilance of the captors was naturally
relaxed. The wall which inclosed the
field on the right suddenly ended, and
then came a field which was open be?
cause the fencing had been used by sol?
diers from one side or the other for their
campfires. It was a distance of about
*30 rods to the edge of the woods, and
vit was likely they would not only be
ired on, bnt pursued by some of the
troopers. Brayton stepped into the road
ahead of Kenton, increased his pace to
reach the center of a gap between two
horsemen and suddenly threw np bis
hand as a signal.
Both men were well into the field and
running at the top of their speed before
an alarm was raised. Three or four of
the troopers on that side opened fire
with their carbines, but pursuit was
prevented by a dozen other prisoners
evincing a disposition to alsc make a
bolt. Some of tbe half dozen bnllets
came unpleasantly near, but not one
strnck the fugitives, and in two or three
minutes they were safe in the woods.
With darkness already a* band, there
was no tear of pursuit.
"Yank, we uns did that as neat as a
b'ar backin down a bee tree!" said
Steve as they stopped to recover their
breath and shake hands.
"And now what?" asked Kenton.
"Now for the mountains, ?eckon
we'd best put on steam and git out o'
this locality as soon as ?)ossible. I know
this ground and will lead the way."
Stopping to rest for a few minutes
every hour or so, the pair held their
course for the Allegbanies and about <i
o'clock in the morning turned into a
?hick??t among the foothills to rest and
ileep. It was still raining, and the
Sight was raw and cold, but they crept
into the thick boshes and were soon fast
asleep. It was 8 o'clock before they
opened their eyes and then only because
disturbed by a great clatter on the high?
way only a few yards distant. Brayton
was the first to move forward and make
an investigation. He returned in four
or five minutes to say:
"I can't jest make 'em out. Thar's
about a hundred men, and all on crit?
ters, and the hull heap are southerners,
bot only a few are in oniform. They
can't be recruits goin to the army, be?
cause they are goin the wrong way."
"It may be a Confederate raiding or
scouting party, " suggested Kenton.
" JieODe BU, UUI) wo uno uuu I? nant
nothin to do with 'ern. Hang me if
they hain't a bi li on s look in lot!"
The fugitives waited for a quarter of
an hour after the last hoof beats had
died away and then stole out into the
highway. The rain had ceased, but it
Both men were running at the top of their
speed before an alarm teas raised.
was a lowering morning, and they were
sharp set for breakfast. The log house
of a farmer was plain to view a quar?
ter of a mile down the road, and they
made sure they would find something
to eat there. In a few words they agreed
on the story they were to tell if ques
tioned, and 10 minutes later they were
at the door of the house. It was opened
to them by the farmer's wife. She was
a strong advocate of the southern cause,
and the sight of their Confederate uni
forms brought a cheerful invitation to
enter and sit down to breakfast. .
"Don?t you uns belong with that
crowd which jest passed up the road?"
abe asked as they fell to eating.
Steve Brayton took it upon himself to
answer in the negative and then asked
what crowd it was.
"It's Kn rn el Mosby and his gang.
They hain't m neb. on the fight, I reckon,
but they do pester the Yankees like all
git out. Host of 'em are farmers, and
some of em live around yere. Whar
did you uns cum from?"
Steve told ber of the fight with Cus?
ter and their escape the night before,
and she lifted her hands and cried out:
"Then you ans dan seen the Yan?
kees?"
"Yes'm."
"Beg'lar live Yankee sogers?"
"Yes'm."
"And yo' got away alive?"
"Of co'se."
"Waal, I wouldn't 'a' believed it!
Mrs. Sam Duncan dun tole me them
Yankees killed everybody with toma?
hawks as soon as they got holt of 'em!
Yo' uns must hev bin powerful cute to
git away."
Breakfast had been finished when
there came a knock at the door, and
next moment a man in the uniform of a
Confederate cavalry sergeant entered
the cabin. Be had been sent back by
Colonel Mosby, he said, to ask for the
loan of a horse and equipments. He
used the term "loan." but it was pretty
plain that he meant to take no refusal.
The woman replied that her husband
had set out for Woodstock the night be?
fore on horseback, and therefore it was
impossible to grant the colonel's re?
quest. The sergeant was going away
without a word to our two friends, but
after reaching his horse he returned
and asked:
"What command do you fellers be?
long to?"
"To Captain Wyle's cavalry com?
pany," replied Kenten.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
"Humph! Whar yo'goin?"
"None of yo'r bizness!" answered
Steve, who had been roiled by the ser?
gent's supercilious airs and lofty tone.
"Oh, it hain', eli? Mebbe yo've got
a pass in yo'r pocket to allow of yo'r
rambling around the kentry? If so, I'll
take a look at it."
"Yo' hain't big enough!"
"What! Now you uns either show a
pass, or I'll take yo' along to Kurnel
Mosby! He'll mighty soon find out whar
yo' belong!"
"You see," began Kenton, who, re?
alized that it was foolish to arouse the
man's anger and suspicion, "we were
guarding the stores at Harrisonburg,
and'the Federal cavalry came in yes?
terday and"
"Whar's yo'r pass?" interrupted the
sergant.
"Whar's yo'rs?" demanded Steve.
"Show yo'r pass, or I'll take yo' to
the kurnel!"
"I should like to explain the case to
you," said Kenton, motioning to Steve
not to interrupt him. "We are Confed?
erate soldiers. We were captured at
Harrisonburg by the Federals yesterday
forenoon, but escaped at dark last night.
Therefore wo have r.o pass and do not
need a pass."
"Yo' may be all right, and yo' may
be a couple of Yankee spies!" replied
the sergeant. "If yo' are straight, yo'll
come along with me and explain to the
kurnel. 'Djed, but yo've got to come,
straight or crooked!"
He had left his revolver and carbine
on the saddle. He started for his hoi S?',
but Steve was there before bim. He
had stepped softly out while Kenton
was explaining and was now in posses?
sion of both firearms and a supply of
ammunition. Even as the trooper
reached the gate Steve gave his horse a
slap and sent him galloping away and
then turned and asked :
"Who'stakin anybody toseethe kur?
nel? Sorter 'pears to me that yo've dun
stubbed yo'r toe and fell down!"
The sergeant very quietly asked what
he was going to do, and his manner be?
trayed his anxiety.
"Goin to git shet of yo' abont tho
fast thing!" answered Steve. "Left
face! Forward march! Keep goin right
down the road till yo' find tbe kurncl
and then give him oar love!"
The trooper marched away without
a backward look, and when he was lost
to sight by a turn in the road Kenton
said:
"Steve, you did a bad thing for us.
That whole crowd will be after us in?
side of a hour."
"Don't holler befo' yo'rhit, Yank!"
laughed Steve. " If we uns badn't tooken
him, he'd hev tooken ns. and besides
that it suddenly occurred to me that
we'd got to nev something tosho^twith.
Now, then, let's be a-gettin straight up
the mountain."
CHAPTER XXI.
We have made no note of time. A
year of war seems to fly more swiftly
by than a month of peace. The minutes
of war are made up of its dead, its hours
of burials, its days of battles, its weeks
of campaigns which move a nation, irs
months of black figures relating the
number of widows and orphans and the
tens of millions of dollars expended, its
years of despair and desolation crying
to heaven.
Winter had fallen upon mountain and
valley, upon the blackened ruins of once
happy homes, upon blood spot and buri?
al ground. While things had gone very
quietly at Best Haven they had not
gone well. 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 fled away.
The JPercys would have gone before win?
ter set in bat 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 a party of raiders
had taken away the horses, and after
that Uncle Ben had to make his- trips
on foot as he scoured the country in
search of provisions to keep the family
going. In spite of the high prices and
general scarcity of al! necessaries r-e
managed so well that nearly every want
was supplied in some way. On two oc?
casions beyond the one mentioned Fed?
eral reconnoitering parties left supplies
at the house, and once Captain Wyle
sent a store ol 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?
dreds. The sufferings of the southern
women daring the war have found no
historian, and the heroism displayed by
them in the face of peril and adversity
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
bas reared a 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 tb J
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 fonn?.
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 heard fiom
Royal Kenton. For a month previous
to the battle in which he was captured
she had beard 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 a
guard for a wagon train of forage gath?
ered in the valley, and his stay was
brief. While his welcome was fairly
cordial, he realized that circumstances
were not propitious for any approrch 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 suspicions of Kenton
and suggesting the detail which was
made and of his having heard only a
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 the Confederate killed.
If the captain hoped that Marian j
would betray her real feeling, he WP ; j
not disappointed. As she received his
information every vestige of color fled
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
confirmed?"
"I must say that I do. Mr. Kenton
was, I believe, a friend of yours, and of
course the news of his death will shock
and grieve you. He 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- j
ing or dead!" exclaimed Marian as she
braced herself against the shock caused ;
by report of tho rumors. "He enlisted j
because ho was imbued with the same I
feeling I hope you were-a feeling that j
he owed allegiance to Virginia first of !
all."
"He has acted very strangely fora j
Virginia patriot, I must declare," said
the captain.
"How strangely?" she demanded as
the color began to return to her checks
ard her eyes to flash.
"Everyone in my company firmly ,
relieves he joined us that tho Yankees ?
night have a spy within our lines."
"And who made them believe it?
Royal Kenton bas periled his life in che j
caus oftener than any man in your j
company or regiment! Tell me of one j
single instance where an honest, un- '
biased in an could lia ve questioned h:s
loyalty!"
"Why was he left behind, detailed
to guard stores, and that at General
Jackson's suggestion?" asked the cap?
tain.
"You are already possessed of that
knowledge!" she scathingly replied.
"There has been a conspiracy against
him from the very outset, and it is not
the fault of the conspirators that he was
not assassinated before a battle had been
fought!"
"Private Kenton, if alive, should feel
grateful for such championship!"
"It is my duty to champion him! I
am his promised wife!"
While Captain Wyle felt pretty cer?
tain that there was more than friendship
between them he had hoped that things
had not gone that far. As she stood be?
fore him and looked into his eyes and
spoke the words which made his heart
fall like lead he was dumb for a mo*
ment. Her face was set and hard, and
he realized that his fate was sealed for-,
ever. There was but one thing for him
to do, and he did it. Though rage and
despair filled his heart, he did not forget
the fact that he was a born southerner.
It required all his nerve to take his
leave gracefully, but he accomplished
the feat, and it was only when he was
in the saddle that curses passed his lips
and his smiles were replaced by wicked
frowns.
"Southern chivalry" has been held up
to ridicule and scorn, but only by the
ignorant or by those who had a purpose
to accomplish. Chivalry was bom in
the heart of the true southerner; it came
down to him legitimately in the blood.
Now and then he may forget himself in
the presence of a man, but never in the
presence of a woman.
Had all been well at Rest Haven, Ma?
rian Percy would have given way to her
grief and mourned as women do. But
the mother's condition was still regard
ed as dangerous, and she must not even
suspect the sad blow which had fallen
on the daughter. Uncle Ben suspected
some calamity from the grief in Ma?
rian's face, and from the fact that Mrs.
Baxter dodged out and had a word with
Captain Wyle at the gate before he rode
away. He must have repeated the ca?
nard about the death of Kenton, for the
woman's face betrayed great satisfac?
tion as she returned to the house. There
was a smaller house to lodge the "help,"
but just then Uncle Ben had it all >
himself. About an hour after the cap?
tain's departure Marian appeared in the
old man's quarters to find him cobbling
one of his brogans.
"Look yere, honey," he began as she
entered and before she could say a word,
"I knowed when I saw yo' at de doah
an hour ago dat suntbin had dun hap?
pened. Am de good missus gwine to
die, or did dat Captain Wyle say sun
thin to make yo' feel bad?"
"Uncle Ben, I have heard sorrowful
news!" she answered as her tears began
"Uncle Ben, I have hcrrrd sorrowful
ncwsP'
to fall. "Captain Wyle told me he had
heard that Mr. Kenton was dead
^killed over at Harrisonburg a day or
two ago."
"I shall nebberdun believe it!" he
exclaimed. "Dat Mare Kenton he doan'
write no mo', but dat hain't 'canse he
was dead. It's 'cause de possoffis was
all turned upside down."
"Bat they had a battle a day or two
ago, Uncle Ben, and Mr. Kenton was
killed then."
"Whar was dat battle?"
"Near Harrisonburg."
"Dat's a right smart step from yere,
an we didn't heah de guns. Mebbe dey
dun had a battle, but dat doan' disquali?
fy dat Mars Kenton was killed. Shoo,
now, honey, but doan' yo' believe any
sich story!"
"But i'm-I'm afraid it's true!" she
sobbed, bieaking down at last.
"See yere, chile," said the old man
after a bit, with tears in his own
eyes, "yo' jiss keep quiet till we find
out all about it. I'll hev dis shoe fixed
in 'bout 10 minutes, an den I'll start
fur Harrisonburg. When I git dar, I kin
find ont if Mars Kenton was killed."
"But it's almost dark now, Uncle
Ben."
"Makes no difference, honey. I know
de road an am feelin purry good. By
dis time tomorrer I'll be back wid de
news."
"But what if you should discover
that-that"
"Dat Mars Kenton was railly killed? j
Nobody can't diskiber what hain't so, |
kin dey? I'ze gwine ober dar jest to ?
prove dat he wasn't dun killed."
"Uncle Ben," said Marian as she
placed a hand on either shoulder and
looked into his eyes, 'if you can bring i
me news that Mr. Kenton is alive, I'll
make yon a free man before the week
is out!"
"Hu! What I want to leave yo' an
de missus an becum free nigger fur?
Reckon I wants to go to de porehouse
or jail? Hain't I allns bin like one o'
de family? Could de family git along
widout Uncle Ben? Whar would yo'
be right now but fur me?"
"That's true, Uncle Ben. You were j
born on the place, and you know how j
much we all think of you. It would |
break our hearts to have you go, slave ;
though you are and always have been
in the eyes of the law. But you shall
be rewarded, Uncle Ben. Only bring
me good news, and your reward shall be
great!"
"Hush up dat noise, honey!" he chid?
ed as he made ready to depart. "If j
yo'll let de ole man Iib right on in de
family, dat'll be reward 'naff. I'll
be back by foah o'clock tomorrer, and
I'll bring yo' de news dat Mars Kenton
am all right."
Marian watched him as be strode
bravely down the frozen highway and
vanished into the dusk of evening, and
as she turned away fresh tears came to
her eyes, and she murmured:
"Brave and unselfish old slave! God
grant that he may bring a message to
relieve my anxieties!"
CHAPTER XXII.
While Uncle Ben was slowly progress?
ing along the frozen and slippery high?
way, and when he had reached a point
about three miles from Rest Haven, he
suddenly encountered about a dozen
men, most of whom were mounted.
All but one were in citizens' dress, and
he at first supposed them to be farmers.
They rushed upon the old man with a
shout, and pistols and knives were flour?
ished before his face as the gang cried
oat:
. "Hang him up!"
"Slice off his ears!"
"Build a fire and roast him if he lies
tons!"
"Fo' de Lawd, gem'len, but what's
de matter?" asked the old man as soon
as he could get in a word.
"We want them two Yankees!" shout?
ed three or four men in choras.
"W-what Yankees? I nebber dun
seen a Yankee sence dat big army*'went
by de house on hors'back!"
"Yo* lie, yo* old black faced devil!"
said the leader as he got off his horse
and seized Uncle Ben by the collar.
"Now, then, tell ns where they are bid?
ing! Don't pretend to ns that yo' have
not seen 'em, for we know better! Out
with it now, or yo' won't live two min?
utes!"
"What yo' mean?" asked the old
man, who was badly upset over the sud?
den attack.
"We mean just this: We've been fol?
lowing two Yankee spies along the
mountain nearly all day. One of them
was wounded about an hour ago. They
were headed this way, and yo' must
have met them and know where they
now are. Did they send yo' for a doc?
tor?" ,
"Nebber, sah, nebber! 1 tole yo' de
(roof. I nebber did meet up wid nobody
sence I started from de house!"
"From what house?"
"Dat house back dar which b'longs
to Missus Percy. Mebbe yo' knowed de
Percys of Winchester?"
"The Percys, eh? Are you a Percy
nigger?"
"Yes, sah, an de only one dat's left."
"And where were you going?"
*. Down to Harrisonburg, sab, to git
news 'bout dat battle dey font dar de
odder day. I hain't seed a single pus
son on de road, an if yo' was to kill me
I dun couldn't tell yo' nufhn'bout no
Yankees!"
They had looked upon it as just a
chance that Uncle Ben had encountered
tbe men they were after, and their vig?
orous measures were intended to fright?
en the information out of him. While
he was trembling and afraid, his tones
satisfied the crowd that he was telling
the troth. It wouldn't do to let him
down too easily, however. The negroes
of the country were breaking over all
rules and regulations and traveling
about at night to confer with each other
and plan escapes to the Federal camps.
"Now, then," said the leader of the
band, '.yo* have had a powerful close
call, and.yo* want to remember it! Nig?
gers have no business away from borne
after dark. Yo* were probably going
to Harrisonburg to give yo'self up to
the Yankees, but we'll spoil that little
game! This will do yo' aheapof good!"
And thereupon, holding Uncle Ben
with bis lert hand by a first grip on his
collar, he used a rawhide over the old
man's back and legs with his right and
administered the first whipping of his
life. When his arm had grown weary,
be stopped and said:
"Now, yo* make a beeline for home
and don*t stop to rest on the way ! If any
other prowling niggers ask yo' about
that battle at Harrisonburg, yo' tell
him yo' was in it and got licked ! Gee
Up!
As the old man headed for Rest Ha?
ven the gang of men rode in the other
direction. He stepped out at a lively
pace until hidden by the darkness and
then stopped and turned fo shake his
fist and whisper:
"White man, I'ze only a pore ole nig
geri hutt somebody bas got' to bleed fur
dis! Nobody ebber put a whip on Uncle
Ben befo' sence he was a pickaninny, an
I'll kill yo' fur dat as shore as I ebber
git de chance!"
He at first thought of resuming his
journey toward Harrisonburg, but a mo?
ment's reflection convinced him that if j
he fell into the hands of the same party
again his life would be in peril. He re?
alized how much disappointed Marian
would be. but he would return and re?
port and perhaps make a new start, f?e
had covered two miles of the backtrack
when at a turn in the road a man step?
ped out from the rocks at his left and
ordered him to halt and added :
"Who are yo'?"
"Uncle Ben Percy."
"What, is that yo,' Uncle Ben?"
"Fur shore, but I hain't dun met up
wid no ?ankee spies, jess as I told yo' j
befo'."
"Uncle Ben, don't yo' un know me?"
asked the man as he came nearer. "I've
talked with yo' many a time in Win- j
chester befo' the war. I'm Steve Bray?
ton."
"Fo' de Lawd! Yes, I 'member yo r |
voice! I dan reckoned yo' was some mo' j
of dat crowd what was gwine ter kill |
me!"
"Hev yo' met up with anybody?"
"De Lawd furgive me, but I has! j
Back dar 'bout two miles a gang o' j
white men stopped me an war gwine to j
shute mo dead an cat my froat! Dey :
said I had sawn some Yankee spies, an
bekase I dun hadn't seen nobody 'tall [
dey giv me de moas' powerful lickin on j
airth!"
"Yankee spies?" queried Steve. "Ah,
I understand! And are yo' with the
Percy fam'ly, Uncle Ben?"
"Fur shore."
"Do they uns live nigh yere?"
" 'Bout a mile away, sah."
"Arid "whar war yo" g?in when yo'
met np with that crowd?"
"I'd dan started far Harrisonburg to
git news 'boat dat big battle. Dat
Cap'an Wyle he waa long yere tocay an
told Miss Sunshine dat Mars Kentun
was killed ober dar!"
"He did?"
"Yes, sah, an den Miss Sunshine cum
out to me wid her face as white as snow
an tears in her eyes an a big lump in
her froat, aa wheo I seed how powerful
she felt I dan said I weald go an find
out dat Mars Kenton was all right."
"See yere, Uncle Ben, I've got snn
thin to tell yo'!" said Brayton as he
drew him out of the road. "Mars Ken?
ton is np yere among the rocks and
bresh!"
"Fo' de Lawd!"
"That gang was after the two of cs,
though we are not Yankee spies. Mars
Kenton was badly wounded jest befo'
dark, and I had to cai ry he un on my
back fur a couple of miles. Uncle Ben,
yo' must go to the house and git blan?
kets and bandages and sunthin fnr us
to eat. Yo' must also bring that gal
yere, but not tonight. Tomorrer will
do far her, bat we mast bev the other
things tonight."
"Fui de lav. of heaben, but how yo'
do talk!" gasped the old man. "Den
Mars Kenton he wasn't killed at Har?
risonburg?"
'kNo>"
"And. be don got shot irvin to git
ober yere today?"
"Yes. Is Ike Baxter's wife at the
houser"
"Her am, an she dun jest bates Mars
Kenton."
"Then yo' must be keerful. Try and
see the gal alone. Tell hez she must
send the things tonight, but not to come
herself till tomorrer. Go now as fast as
yo' kin. I'll be waitin fur yo' right
yere on this spot. Hold on a minit. Hev
yo' got a gun at the honse?"
"Yes, a double bar Vd shotgun."
"Then bring it back with yo', and
powder and shot and caps. If we hev a
foot yere, it will be at clus range, and
buckshot will be better'n bullets."
"Fo' de L?wd!" muttered the old
man as he set off at his best pace. "Dat
Cap'an Wyle be lie to Miss Sunshine.
Den Miss Sunshine wants me to go to
Harrisonburg. Deni meet up wid some
gorillas an git switched till I smart like
pepper. Den I start fur home an meet
dat Steve Brayton an find ont dat Mars
Kenton hain't dead but hurted, an de
Lawd only knows what's gwine to hap?
pen tomorrer!"
The invalid mother had fallen into a
light sleep, and Marian sat thinking.
She and Mrs. Baxter had taken turns at
watching with the sick, and this was
her night, while the other had gone to
the help's quarters. Uncle Ben need
not have been cautioned about Mrs. Bax?
ter, as he felt that he thoroughly under?
stood her disposition. He terned off the
road to approach the house from another
direction, and so softly did he draw
near that the first warning Marian had
of his presence was a tapping on the
window pane. He pressed his old black
The first warning Mortem had of his pres?
ence was a tapping on the window.
face against the glass that she might
know who was there, and a moment
later she stood outside the door with a t
shawl thrown over ber head.
"You are back, Uncle Ben-what's
the matter?" she asked.
(TO BE CONTINUED. ]
Burning Pa?n
Erysipelas in Face and Eyes
Inflammation Subdued and Tor*
tures Ended by Hood's.
**1 am so glad to he relieved of my tortures
that I am willing to tell the benefits I have de?
rived from Hood's Sarsaparilla. In April and
May, I was afflicted with erysipelas In my face
and eyes, which spread to my throat and neck.
I tried divers ointments and alteratives, but
there was no permanent abatement of the burn?
ing, torturing pain, peculiar to this complaint.
I began to take Hood's Sarsaparilla and
Felt Marked Relief
before I bad finished the first bottle. I con?
tinued to Improve until, when I bad taken foot
HOOD'S
Sarsaparilla
CURES
bottles, I was completely cured, and felt that all
signs, marks and symptoms of that dire com
Slaint had forever vanished." MRS. E. E.
TTAWA, Hillsboro, "Wisconsin.
Hood's Pills are prompt and efficient, yet
easy in action. Sold by all druggists. 25c.
