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V THE ARGUS, SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1894. 7. flViMmMaeKtinxxvvvv., !f I TtAPTETt XIX. I Mr fnl.Ttil poured Into the Fhcn. I, ;iley ami regained lost ground (ii;:r'erimiter ami commissary r, .. . ;t by .'nekson nnder the guard Mure men at Harrisonburg ttiii'li' ready to be forwarded to I ,11,1. While Koyal Kenton folly ; th.it his l ing left behind was I ,i. :li r move in the rouspirncy to turn, lie allowed no cue to nn I '.In- rent state of his feelings. . v. .1- work to do. and plenty of tt, ,i i. ti hold unwillingly that only I. w .!:r. . had passed Iteforo he was ,.,, i.,' .! f..r his x-nl by the major in t ii. iM. I i f the (Hist. ;..if.'d iltflienltlca arose abont !r iM-i'ltnfion. a lid though re- ! ... u Fulcra! advance were daily , I the iiinjor hung nn in hopes of : ;.. stores. One morning at snu , 1 1- ; -n I;. f were driven in by troop ,: bin-, iii! I in itiiimtes later he re- . i :i -in. iiioiis from (icneral Cnster -I. - - I t. He hail uti'y aliont WW 1 t. ! I. while it wns plain to bo . ;i .' h was fairly surrounded by I epposed. He asked fur 15 i- - r. i o:i-ider and nt the end of - !i" r- rnrne l n refnsal. His little ;.!!!,. -r to n man had agreed to ; t t' last. Three or four cartii-r- I, id le?i thrown np to protect . ! ib jii.f. but toey Were with- ' rv. The force was divided so i :.i!i tli 'tn nil, and Koyul Kenton ! -i. .. Frayton found themselves i ;, at '.'ii other men in n work with- . a a noncommissioned oflicer !!: in. As they were already tin- K tit.'ti was by common consent . !: i ;:l!l. tin I. y- n.s i g.mo np this tlmefnr it; " 1 rvt il Steve as Cnster posted - r--.;.l- and then openeil firo with a ; ;, "l.iit 1 reckon we might sorter . a i a it i j . !,ri'nn1r unit tftfn npcnrd . r ,ih ii l,ntti ry. . v l::r !. r ;.' and b t 'em sen we . r.. Vcst-rdayl liggi ml that T.if" could liek al out seven - :n any sort o' s'-rtlliimigp. but ' ii v l uttoiis u things don't look ! t .lav: ' .irewii-!? shelti ri'd t!in from an I mm:1 of t'ie nrtillety, and n r. d tli" liitle band to lm ' t'.. ila!i h" knew w. ml. 1 s-nn'T ' ni.idc. The Federals could Ii !ii 'ii!,ting just oiliile of ' i lrj' .atid n u force of abotlt !. iti! o-it to charge tie- fort i- fiajor be rr.isi d a white flag Mirr. Tiii r. Tl ther t wi i ' i I o in. I by bii action, btit mi v.m eli irge.l with rheer 1 "! M;itiiri d atfir firing a v '' v, i Viiti!--. v. hill's tli" word now?" 1 f '. nion'a iie-ii ua all real " i.; ai'tiiiri). :'.'' tlm brief rej.'y. " k.ioni-il h- nn was gam". i.' b r Iv-ntunl" shoutid Steve " " -in-n with n will, but 1k ' n. - ba died away Custer's ' t' M-r.as tnmeil ngairtst the ' huielred ili 'iMKilii'.' d lu n 1 n r.o stmt and ip'iietl n lire ' . '. tli defenders to remain K'jitim km w that the lire ' u a charge wrs about to 'I In cv.iiig to the nafnio of ; i mill I enlj-lm made from ' 'eiii nml I v a small liody of I' ll came, mid undercover ' '."in di -mounted men of '' Mn !.ig!in tiashed forward, n.-iiviil by a volley which I .eld eh-eked t le ni, ati'l while little band hail time to le 1 ' inoti' Volley sent the troop- " : ' ' cover, and Steve Erayton " h if int'i tl!o air mid shouted: ' ' - I. ' just In ked the hull 'ioy m.iit out -. its butes and i i nch on Washington!" ' ' ' i .-t. i nnot In r charge with 1 " s. 1 lit instead of that Cus- I' e.'of truce mid a de-iiiand Me lilated that an nt- " l t:ie pisiMuii after nil the ' 1 ' l en taken was simply v t- o biliiuiti lire. He knew ' I t'DMl.er ami knew Ihey had In r water. Tin y had proved ' If..ve men, and ho trusted ' '" I iinwr realize the situation " i't it as brave men should. ' i'i tic note aloud, so that all "Ml wti.M he bad finished it "v tl.-. "if stop another charge, but '""tain tucsptero a in tho 1 i-e surrender." ' f" a lew dlssenlers, Imt 15 r tim 't-i ,.ti bad inarchei! iinlcl their arms in token 1 1.- Ha 'it. a! . -5 i- - i t r o "I " .art ,V'iHW GWfU&HTIB 1894 BY Aft.CFt.CA., PUSS ASSOCIATION. of snrrpnrVr Ti,i- . .., ..i.-i " V " "-" n -..,., ...is uiaicn, no mut ter l.y whom displayed. As the stnrcn l.r was idr.Io 4.000 trocars waved their ImN nml cheered. "I inn not nn officer, and I therefore liavo no sword tosnrreiuler,' said Ken ton ns Ocnernl Custer rode to the head of the Miojt line and seemed somewhat astonished to find only private soldiers. "Unt who coiuiuauded in there?" asked the general. "I pavo what orders were given, sir." "Well, the southern confederacy made a mis of it in not making von a captain long ago. H;,d the other forts held out ns plm-kily as yon did we should have had a hard fibt to get at the stores." While a list of the prisoners was be ing made ont and the arms collected the troopers tnrncd their attention to the ston-s. The idea whs not to remove but to destroy them. The quickest war to do it was to apply the torch, and in' the course of an honr everything was in flames. Tho Confederate major had, as stated, surrendered the fort he occupied with nUmtgOnf the men without firing a shot. A court martial wonld have promptly exonerated him from the charge of cowardice had it been made, for the situation was almost hopeless. That one of the forts should have held out mid that the high private in com mand of it should have been compli mented for his bravery rankled in the major's heart. H? received permission to niter the field where tho rank and file were surrounded by a Federal guard, mid searching out l'. ;yal Kenton he an jriily demanded: .'. "Ey what aiitbo.iw d yon presume to hold that fort am.: surrender of the post?" "We did not know that your surren der included more than the fort you were holding." replied Kenton. "Captain Wylo told me something about you In fore be left," continued the major, "lie regarded yon with the greatest suspicion. It wonld not have snrprised nit: had you surrendered first of all." i neueveinat I'onor was left to you, sir." (inictly replied Kenton. "Hooray fur the Yank three cheers fur Kenton:'' shouted the excitable Steve. And they were given by the whole force of Confederates with great enthusiasm. "I fully nnderstand your motive, sii!" exclaimed the major when the cheering had ceased. "You, simply wanted to reap a littlo glory to stand well in the estimation of your friends. Yon have accomplished it, but there will be u hereafter. The minute I am ex changed I shall prefer charges and have yon court martialed. If you don't con clude to remain among your Yankee ft lends. I shall" "Henr he un talk like a fool!" inter rupted Steve, treating army discipline tinder foot in his excitement. "If the major hadn't surrendered befo' a man was hit. tin se Yanks couldn't 'a' got us in all day!" "That's eo! That's so!" shouted a hnndrcd men. And theenrite lot began cheerin-; for Steve Erayton. "And who are yon. sir?" demanded the iiiajot, now pale with passion. "lYivate Steve Ernyton, sir, of Cap tain Wvlc's critter company, and I was bit behind here because I was a friend of K'-nton's." "Oh. I see! Well, I'll see to your case at tne same time." "Yes. mm! ft 11 em thar's l.'idead and wonnded men to show what we nns did befo' v,, surrendered." replied Steve. "Hush him! litish him!" shouted the crowd, overcome by excitement and forgetting the respect duo an officer. The major backed away, but in an instant he was carried oil his feet and rntdied to the sentry line, and when he picked himself up off the grass ho was bruised nnd battered and his uniform in n very dilapidated condition, (imnns and hi.-M-s followed him as he walked away, and the laughter of the Federal troojicrs was in no sense a balm for his rulih 1 pride. It was nem before tho stores were destroyed ami the list of prisoner!! com pleted. Then camo an alarm. Colonel Mosbv. who ha." been dubbed "The Eandit of tho Potomac," Imt who was ns regularly commissioned ns any officer in tlie Confederate army, appeared in tho neighborhood with about 200 men. and Is fore he was driven off and tho prisoners were ready t-j start down tho valley under guaid it was midafter nooti. . . Yank. I've been thinkin this thing over," said Steve Erayton to Kenton as they'moved off. "and I jest tell yo we ar' in a fix. We hain't neither Federal nor Confedrt any mo'!" How do you mean?" ?' hv, if wo mis stay yere, we II bo held prisoiieis fur goodness knows how long, nnd if we git back to tho Confed- fraevtho major will make it hot lnr us S-v yo'! I don't know what yo re thinkin of jest this very minit, but I want to ik yo' a straight question. "(io ahead." "Yo' won't git mad?" "No " ..v-.7 then, don't yo' come pnrly nigh bcin .ft i" tho head? We mis don't wnntyo' on our biuc,". - & aenrv nlmff tueV hanker to snoot t j "-j - -- - - what do yo' want to stay fur? If yo' dn;t want to light agin us. why don't yo sorter ........ ...,t ..f the hull bizness and let go ; tf w tin. (ion i in. 9 ! liko a toon fullin from a limb?" CHAPTER XX. Kenton made no reply to Steve Bray ton's inquiry, but tho latter noticed a look on the young man's face he had never seen theie before. The Virginian by adoption had pursued the courso he thought was right. He had done hia duty nnder all circumstances and had been thoroughly loyal to the canse which he espoused. Those beside whom he fought had made every attempt to degrade and disgrace him and drive him out of the service, if he had not enlisted, he wonld have been called a traitor and driven away from his home with bodily injnry. lie had joined the ranks to be suspected and denounced. As the case now stood he could not leave the southern cause without being re turned on the rolls ns a deserter. If ex changed, he would lo put on trial, and ho realized that enough influence could he brought to bear to further disgrace him. "Look yere, Yank, what's botherin yo'r head?" asked Steve after a few min utes of silence. "A good many things," was the re ply. "I've been figgerin a bit. Both Cap tain Wylo and the major are now down on yo'. If yo' ever gits back to the Confederacy, they'll shet yo' np or shoot yo'. Can't yo' see it?" "It looks that way to me." "The Yanks may keep nssix months, and doorin that time thar's goin to be a heap of lyin aliont yo' to that gal. She'll bo told that yo' deserted or meb be that yo' aro dead. Yo" kin bet Cap tain Wylo won't let no grass grow nn der his feet. I've beam that she was over in the mountains." "Yes." "And I was told that Captain Wyle and his critter company had bin sent back yere to help held the Yankees. Can't yo' see?" "Yea, but I can't act." "Why not? It's comin on dark, and it's goin to rain. See how the line has straggled! Them blnecoats .hain't got uiore'n cne eve open. Tell yo' what my plan is. Let's make a dash fur it! It hain't over 0 miles to whar yo'r gal is. Go'n see her. Slit's powerful level headed, and 1 teckon she may give yo' some good advice. Yo'll bev a show to explain things anyway, and that will make dough of thp captain's cake." "Aud'what about you?'" asked Ken ton. "Ward, I'd juntas lief rnn np thar with yo'. I ain't je.-t exactly satisfied about all this tiling. Mebbe" I'll sur render to the Yanks agin, r.nd mebbe I'll go back to the company and let the major pile it on and be hanged to Lim! 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 biznesa! Jest about 40 rods down yere I'll give yo' the word. We uns will break for them woods to the right. We'll be fired on and mebbe killed, bnt 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 bad begun to fall. The cavalrymen were strung out so that there were gaps of several feet between horses, and as tho 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 camo a field which was open lie cause the fencing had been used by sol diers from one side or the other for their vnuipfires. It was a distance of about 5Ji rods to the edge of the wooils, and it was likely they would not only be fired on. bnt pn rsued by somo of the troopers. Erayton stepped into the road ahead of Kenton, increased his pace to reach the center of a gap between two horsemen and suddenly threw up his 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 also make a bolt. Some of the half dozen bullets came unpleasantly near, but not one struck the fugitives, nnd in two or three minutes they were safe in the woods. With darkness already at band, (here was no fear of pursuit. " Yank, we nns 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 Kenlon. "Now fur the mountains. Reckon we'd best put on steam and git out o' this locality ns soon ns possible. I know this ground nnd will lead the way." Stopping to rest for a few minutes every hour or so, the pair held their course for the Alleghanies and about 3 o'clock in tho morning turned into a th'cket among tho foothills to rest and sleep. It was still raining, and the night was raw and cold, but they crept Both mm vnc rvnuiuijnt the tnp of f7icr ticcd Im Uitc an (tlarm tea raised. into tho thick bushes 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 th 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 tho hull heap are southerners, but only a few are iii unifpriBj They can't be recruits gofn to Tne army, oe canse they are goin the wrong way." "It may be a Confederate raiding or scouting party," suggested Kenton. "Mebbo"8o, but we nns don't want nuthin to do with 'em. Hang me if they hain't a bilious lookin lot!" The fugitives waited for a quarter of an hour after the last hoof beats had died away and then stole ont into the highway. The rain had ceased, but it was a lowering morning, and they were sharp set for breakfast. Tho log bouse of a farmer was plain to view a quar ter of a mile down the road, and they made sure tbey would find something to eat there. In a few words they agreed on the story Ihey were to tell if ques tioned, and 10 minutes later they were at the door of the house. It was opened to them by tho farmer's wife. She was a strong advocate of the southern canse, 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 np the road?" she asked as they tell to eating. Steve Brayton took it upon himself to answer in the negative and then asked what crowd it was. "It's Knrnel JJosby and his gang. They hain't much on the fight, I reckon, bnt they do pester the Yankees like all git out. Most of 'era are farmers, and some of 'em live around yere. Whar did you nns cum from?" Steve told her of the fight with Cns ter and their escape tho night before, and she lifted her hands and cried out: "Then you uns dun seen tho Yan kees?" "Yes'm." "Reg'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 tbey got holt of 'em! Yo' uns ninst hev biu powerful cute to git away." Breakf j been finished when there can . -c. -rock at the door, and next moment a man in the uniform of a Confederate cavalry sergeant entered tiie cabin. He had been sent back by Colonel Mosby, he said, to ask for the loan of a horse and equipments. He used the term "loan." bnt 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 awar withent a word to our two friends, but after reaching his horse he returned and asked: "What command Co you fellers be long to?" "To Captain Wyle's cavalry com pany," replied Kentcn. "Where is it?" "I don't kuow." "Humph! Wbar yo' goin?" "None of yo'r X'izness!" answered Steve, who had been roiled by the ser gent's supercilious airs and lofty tone. "Oh, it bain', eh? Mebbe yb'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 j-ou uns either 6how a pass, or I'll take yo' along to Knrnel Mosby! He'll mighty soon find out whar yo' belong!" "You 6ee," began Kenton, who, re alized that it was foolish to arouso the man's anger and suspicion, " we were guaiding 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 kurntl!" "I should like to explain the case to you," said Kenton, motioning to Steve not to interrupt bim. "We are Confed erate soldiers. We were captured at Harrisonburg by the Federals yesterday forenoon, but escaped at dai k last night. Therefore we have no pass aui do not ueed a pass." "Yo" may be all right, and yo' may lie a couple of Yankee spies!" replied the sergeant. "If yo' are straight, yo'll come along with me and explain to the knrnel. 'Deed, but yo've gat to cor.:e, straight or crooked!" He had left his revolver and carbine on the saddle. He started fcr his hoise. but Steve was there before him. He had stepped softly out while Kenton was explaining and was now in posses sion of both fiiearmi and a supply of ammunition. Even as the trooper reached the gate Steve gave his horse a slap and sent him galloping away aud then turned and asked: "Who's takin anybody to see the knr nel? Sorter 'pears to me that yo've dun stubbed yo'r toe and fell down:" The sergeant very quiet! v asked what he was going to do. and his manner be trayed hi" anxiety. '(toil to git shet of yo abont the fust thing!" answered Stevp. "Left face! Foi ward inarch! Keep goin right down the road till yo' find the ku.nel and then givo hnu our love!" The trooper marched aiw.y without a backward look, and when !.) was lost to sight by a turn in tho road Kenton said: "Steve, yo-x did a bad tbimr for ns, That whole crowd will be after us in- eido of a hour," "Don't holier befo' vo'r hit. Yank!' langhcd Steve. "If we nns hadn't tookeu him, he'd hev tooken ns, am' besides that it suddenly occurred to me that we'd got to hev something toshoot with. Now, then, let's be a-gettin straight up the mountain. " CHAPTER XXT. , We bave made no note of time. A year of war seems to fly more swiftly by than a mouth 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, its months of black figures relating the number of widows and vmhans and the tens of millions of dollars expended, its years of despair and desolation crying to heaven. Winter bad fallen npon mountain and valley, npon the blackened ruins of once happy homes, upon blood spot and buri al ground. While things had gone very quietly at Rest 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 Percys wonld have gone before win ter set in but for tho 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 be 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 of 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 during, the war have found no historian, nnd 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 wcte 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 has 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 the cause of Captain Wyle, she did not let the matter worry her. A sort of truce was declared between tho woman and Uncle Ben. and yet he did not cease to snspect and to wach her. He found out that Ike had lmen exchanged and had rejoined his company, and on two occasions he had good rtasons to believe that the mau secretly met her in the neighborhood of the bouse. 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 heard no word from him. When news came, it was from Captain Wyle himself nn his second visit to the Ha ven. His compauy was acting as a guard fcr a wagon train of forage gath ered in the valley, and bis stay was brief. While his welcome was fairly cordial, he realized that circumstances were not propitious for any approach 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 bis 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 would betray her real feeling, be was not disapjioiuted. As she received his information every vestige of color fled from her face, aud she seemed about to faint. "You you eay it is so rumored?" she gasped. "Only rumored, but" "But yon believe the rumor will be confirmed?' "I must say that I do. Mr. Kenton was, I lielieve, a friend of yours, and of course the news of his death will shock and grieve you. He and I wonld also bave been friends but for his. to say the least, disloyal conduct toward the cause he for some reason best known to bim Jelf espoused." "Captain Wyle, you wrong him. liv ing or dead!" exclaimed Marian as she braced herself against the shock caused by report of the rumors. "He enlisted because he was imbued with the same feeling I hope you were a feeling that he owed allegiance to Virginia first of all." "He has acted very strangely for a Virginia patriot, I must declare," said the captain. "How strangely?" she demanded as the color began to return to her cheeks, and her eyes to flash. "Everyone in my company firmly believes he joined us that the Yankees Liiuht have a sny within our lines." ' And who made them believe It? Royal Kenton has periled his life in the cause oftener than any man in your company or regiment! Tell me of one single instance where an honest, nn biased man could have questioned his loyalty!' "Why was he left behind, detailed to guard stores, and that at General Jackson's suggestion?" asked the cap tain. "Yon 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 lie 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 bim! I am his promised wife!" While Captain Wyle felt pretty cer tain that there was mure than friendship between them be had hoped that things had not gone that far. As she stood be fore bim and looked into his eyes and spoke the words which made bis heart fall like lead he was dumb for a mo ment. Her face was set and bard, and be realized that his fae was sealed for ever. There was bnt one thing for him to do, and be did it. Though rage and despair filled bis heart, be did not forget the fact that he was a born southerner. It required all bis nerve ' to take bis leave gracefully, but hp accomplished the feat, and it was only when be was in the saddle that curses passed bis lips and bis smiles were replaced by wicked ftowns. "Southern chivalry" has been beld np to ridicule and scorn, but only by the ignorant or by those who bad a purpose to accomplish. Chivalry was born in the heart of the true southerner; it came down to him legitimately in the blood. Now and then he may forget bimaelf in the presence of a man, but never in the presence of a woman. Had all lieen well at Rest Haven, Ma rian Percy would have given way to her grief and mourned as women do. Bnt the mother's condition was still regard ed as dangerous, and she must not even suspect the sad blow which bad 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 bad a word with Captain Wyle at the gate before be rode away. He must have repeated the ca nard about the death of Kenton, for the woman's face lietrayed great satisfac tion as she returned to the bonse. There was a smaller bouse to lodge the "help," but just then Uncle Ben bad it all to himself. Abont an hour after the cap tain's departure Marian appeared in the old man's quarters to find him cobbling one of bis brogans. "Look yere, honey," be began as she entered and lief ore she conld say a wotd, '1 k no wed when I saw yo' at de doata an hour ago dat snntbin bad dun hap jiene.l. Am do good missus gwine to die. or did dat Captain Wyle say sun thin to make yo' feel bad?" " Uncle Ben, I bave heard sorrowful news!" the answered as her tears began, sr.v i v 'c "Uncle Den, I hare heard torrovrfvl tirw.m to fall. "Captain Wyle told me ba bad heard that Mr. Kenton was dead killed over at Harrisonburg a day or two ago." "I shall neblier dun believe it!" be exclaimed. "Dat Mars Kenton be doan" write no mo, but dat bain't 'cause be was dead. It's 'canse de possoffis was all turned upside down." "But they had a battle a day or two ago. Undo Ben, and Mr. Kenton was killed then." "Whar was dat battle?'' "Near Harrisonburg." "Dat "a 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 Urn afraid it's true!" she soblied, bieaking down at last. "See yere, chile," said the old man after a bit, with tears in bis own eyes, "yo' jiss keep quiet till we find ont all about it. I'll hev dis shoe fixed in 'lwut 10 minutes, an den I'll start fur Harrisonburg. When I git dar, I kin find out if Mars Kenton was killed." "But it's almost dark now, Uncle Ben." "Makes nodifference, honey. I know de road an am feelin pnrty good. By dis time tomorrer I'll be back wid de news." "But what if yon should discover that that" "Dat Mars Kenton was railly killed? Nobody can't diskiber what hain't so, kin dey? I'ze gwine ober dar jest to prove dat ha wasn't dun killed." "Uncle Ben." said Marian as she placid a baud on either shoulder and looked into bis eyes, "if yon can bring me news that Mr. Kenton is alive, I'll make you a free man before the week isont!" "Hn! What I want to leave yo' an de missus au becuin free niggrr fur? Reckon I wants to go to de porebonse nrjail? Hain't I alius bin like one ' de family? Could de family git along widmit Cncle Ben? Whar would yo be right now bnt fur me?" "That true. Uncle Ben. You were burn on the place, and yon know bow much we all think of yon. It wonl4 break our hearts to have yon 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!" be chid ed as he made ready to depart. "If yo'll b t de ile man lib right on in de family, dat'H be reward nnff. I'll lie back by foah o'clock tomorrer, and I'll bring yo' de news dat Mars Kenton am all right." Marian watched him 8S be strode bravely down the frozen highway and vanished into the dusk of evening, and as she turned away fresh tears came to ber eyes, and she murmured: "Brave and unselfish old slave! God grant that be may bring a message to relieve my anxieties!" fTobceoal!nae4.) Mrs. W. J. Fahey. of Roj, X X., says: "Have tried 60 cough cures. Park g' Cou;h Syrup is the onlv one that helped me. I know it is the best cough rented v." Sold by II .... T. 1-11 uuub viicuii-yi-r. aa f - J Ply pAINT cracks It often costs more to prepare a house for repainting that has been painted in the first place with cheap ready-mixed paints, than it would to have painted it twice with strict ly pure white lead, ground in pure linseed oil. ( Strictly Purek White Dad forms a permanent base for repaint ing and never has to be burned or scraped off on account of scaling or cracking. It is always smooth and clean. To be sure of getting strictly p lire mhite lead, purchase any of the following brands: - Southern "Bed Seal," , "Ctollier,' " Ship-man," 44 Fahnef3tock.' Fob Cows-Ntionl Le,i foi Pure While Lead TiMidk Colon, a onemond caa to a is-pnuiKl lce of Lead and aim vntirnwa jamta. Save lime and anaovaore m inatrtuac Fhadn. and hKom the bat punt that m not silile lo pat CM wood. Send u a postal card and get oar hot oa rami and color-card, tree; a UJ probabiviava you a good aunv dollar. NATIONAL LEAD.CO. t hirago Krant-h, Sute and Fifteenth Streets, Chicaco. AR6US BUSIKESS DIRECTORY BOOES, WALL PAPER, ETC. rrampton, R, ITS Second avenue. BF.STAl'KAKT. A Harm. L, 1003 Second avenue. ri KSlTL KE AKD CABPETS. Cordea, B F, 1SU3 Steond avenue. GLOVES AKD FCKS. Bennett, Geo, ISOS Serot dvanae. MEBCnAXI TAILOR. talC W, 1707 Second aeenne. CIGARS AKD TOBACCO. Beteliu, t B 1S0S Second avenue. BAKERS. Monro, IX Hue ft Andenon. SSI Market Sqaara. ItRLGGISTS. Tnonua. T II. 1630 Seermd avenue. Speidcl, CJ16P7 Second aveane. PLCMBERS AXD GAS FITTERS. Blake A Mnrpby, 1M0 Third avenue. WALL PAPER, ETC. Adaina Wall PaixTCa. S10-3M Twentieth street GROCERS. Bnncher, Cnw A, tSl Twentieth ttreeU Ben Broa. 1K0 frecond avenue. Brook A Thiermac. 001 Fifth arcane. Knachmann, Root. Stor Fourth arcane. Long, C t, Second arcane and Sine teen La (tract. Browner Co. f.fll Firth venue. CXDERTAKER. Knox. B F, 4"t Twi ntit th tree1. HARDWARE, STOVES A!fD MAKTELS Xoftcker, i T. H Twentieth etreet. LAL'KDRT. Parker'a Laandrr, 1WI Third aveane. COD, S21 and Its Eighteenth etreet. BREWERIES. Bock Island Brewing company. MEAT MARKET. Schroeder Bans, 311 Twentieth at reel. Tri-City Packing and Provision Co. 4th and 1Mb. JEWELER AND OrncIAJS. Bainser, i ft Son, lftrT Second arenas. MILLIN'ERT. Blackbnra ft Co,'IT0 Second trenns. BOOTS AKD SHOES. Boron Shoe Store, IKS Second avenoe. REAL ESTATE AKD P.SCEAKCE. Harris. Geo WD.tS Seventeenth HELP FOR ALL. Summer Advantages Com mence Now. In all troubles of a catarrhal or bronchial nature, one month treat ment in t lie summer is as a rule, worth two in the winter. It is in the sntumer that nature lemis her aid to the work of the phjsieian. 1'be even ti-mperature makes conditions fijiec. ially i favorable for a f peedy eurc. The liabilitr to catching cold is re. dured to tlie minimum. Time and again have the physicians of the Scott Medical Institute urjred pa. tienta in desperate stage of catarrh to wait nntil cummer for treatment, and they have never failed to urge all who bave any traces of this intii.l-'-ous disease to embrace the opportu nity which summer offers, and rid themselves of it then, even when its symptoms are less distressing than usual. Teat iaaoalala These Peotila are fared. Kev. M. A. Head. Rirk laUnd. 111. Catarrh. Kev. M. Xordrtrouie, SYoodtiuH. 111. Catarrhal dafnee. Kev. M- Blonibrny. Everett. Mae Bronchltl. Kev. J. bo-lrotnr, Darmport, Iowa Catarrh of the ttnmtrh. ltr. Wilana has la bis aoaaeaaioa over I'M teetl Bkinials froai MUiejt ran-d ! bla treatment. Kaar la the Tlaaa ta Cwaaanmee. EVERT Cl'RABLE DISEASE TREATED. Scott Medical Institute, Over America Express Oa. ta Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa, SPECIALTIES-Catarrh. Ere, Ear. Moae Throat, Luiira; Scrvoui a israset, eitja ilia r asm. Chronic dieaea. OFFICE HOL RS to H a. t ta 4 p. aa.. T toSp,aa. Oa Sundays Um oBca arlll ba opea froai I a. b to 4 p.av. IftOUIG (SoccaMor at H. WEKTJTJ Merchant -:- Tailcr, 119 EifbtMnth Street. fFit and Workmaaship Guar, an teed the Best Glaaslagud Repairing Dona.