Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, June 06, 1894, Image 1
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VOL. -40. YORKVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JTJNJZ 6, 1894. NO. 38.
A YANKEE
BY CHARLES B. LI
Copyright, It?', by the American Press Assoc
CHAPTER XX.
Kenton made no reply to Steve Brayton's
inquiry, but tho latter noticed a
look on the young man's face he had
never seen theie before. The Virginian
by adoption bad pursued the courso he
thought was right. He had done his
duty under all circumstances and had
been thoroughly loyal to the cause
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 ho had not
enlieted, he would have been called a
traitor and driven away from his home
with bodily injury. He had joined the
ranks to be suspected and denounced.
* ~ V*n /mnl/1 nnf loo un
J\a iud i;aou liun oiuuu wui\? uuw ? v
the southern cause without being returned
on the roils as a deserter. If ex- I
changed, he would be put on trial, and
he realized that enough influence could
be brought to bear to further disgrace
him.
"Look yere, Yank, what's botheiin
yo'r head?" asked Steve after a few minutes
of silence.
"A good many things," was the re- j
ply.
"I've been figgerin a bit. Both Captain
Wyle and the major axe now down I
on yo'. If yo' ever gits back to the
Confederacy, they'll shet yo' up or
shoot yo'. Can't yo'see it?"
"It looks that way to me."
"The Yanks may keep us six months,
and doorin that time thar's goin to be
a heap of lyin about yo' to that gal.
She'll be told that yo' deserted or ineb- i
be that yo' are dead. Yo' kin bet Captain
Wyle won't let no grass grow under
his feet. I've hearn that she was
over in the mountains."
"Yes."
" And 1 was told that Captain Wyle !
and his critter company had bin sent
vere to heln hold the Yankees.
Can't yo' see?"
"Yes, but I can't act."
b "Why not? It's comin on dark, and
ft it's goin to rain. See how the line ha9
B straggled! Them bluecoats hain't got i
ft moie'n one eye open. Tell yo' what my |
plan is. Let's make a dash fur it! It
^ft hain't over 20 miles to whar yo'r gal is.
Go'n see her. She's powerful level
headed, and I reckon she may give yo'
Q^^ft some good advice. Yo'll hev a show to j
explain things anyway, and that will
make dough of the captain's cake."
"And what about you?" asked Kenton.
"Waal, I'd just as lief run up thar
with yo'. I ain't jest exactly satisfied j
about all this thing. Mebbe I'll surrender
to the Yanks agin, and mebbe
I'll go back to the company and let '
the major pile it on and be hanged to
him! I want a day cr two to think it j
over. What do yo' 6ay?"
"I'm agreed," replied Kenton after ;
a moment's thought.
"That's bizness! Jest about 40 rods j
down yere I'll give yo' the word. We
une 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 had begun to fail.
The cavalrymen were strung out so that
there were gaps of several feet between j
horses, and as the prisoners were singing
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 because
the fencing had been used by soldiers
from one side or the other for their
campfires. It was a distance of about j
80 rods to the edge of the woods, and
it was likely they would not only be
c?a ? ? i- l?
ureu on, out pursueu oy eoiue oi iuo
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 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
l with their carbines, but pursuit was
prevented by a dozen other prisoners
\ evincing a disposition to alsc make a
t bolt. Some of the half dozen bullets
\ came unpleasantly near, but not one
struck the fugitives, and in two or three
minutes they were safe in the woods.
With darkness already at band, there
wae no tear of pursuit.
"Yank, we uns did that as neat as a
b'ar backin down a bee tree!" said !
Steve as tney stopped to recover their
breath and shako hands.
"And no"W what?" asked Kenton.
"Now fur the mountains. Reckon ,
we'd best put on steam and git out o'
this locality as>oou as possible: I know
this ground and will lead the way."
Stopping to rest for a few minutes
every hour or bo, the pair held their
coarse for the Allegbanies and about 3
o'clock in the morning turned into a
thicket among the foothills to rest and
sleep. It was still raining, and the j
night was raw and cold, but they crept i
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 highway
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 critters,
and the hull heap are southerners,
but only a few are in uniform. They
^ can't be recruits goin to the army, bev.
cause they are goin the wrong way."
"It may be a Confederate raiding or
scouting party," suggested Kenton.
"Mebbe so, but we uns don't want
nutbin to do with 'era. Hang me if
they hain't a bilious lookin lot!"
I The fugitives waited for a quarter of
| an hour after the last hoof heats had
died away and then stole out into the
\ highway. The rain had ceased, but it
-i ^
? 1* i 71 w
Il)th men uxrc running (it the top of their
speed before an alarm was raised.
was a lowering morning, and they were
6harp Bet for breakfast. The log house
of a farmer was plain to view a quarter
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 questioned,
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 uniforms
brought a cheerful invitation to
enter and sit down to breakfast.
"Don t yon una ueiong witn mat
crowd which jest passed up the road?"
sho asked as they iell to eating.
Steve Bravton took it upon himself to
answer in the negative and then asked
what crowd it was.
"It's Kurnel Mosby and liis gang.
They hain't much on the fight, I reckon,
but they do pester the Yankees like all
git out. Most of 'em nro farmers, and
; IN GRAY.
:WIS, "M QUAD."
L'iatiun.
some of 'em live around yere. Whar ,
did yon uns cum fiomV"
Steve told her of "the fight with Custer
nnd their escape the night before, j
and she lifted her hands and cried out:
"Then vou uns dun seen tho Yau
kees?"
" Yes'm."
"Reg'lar livo Yankee sogers?"
"Yes'm."
"Ami yo' got away alive?"
"Of co'se."
"Waal, I wouldn't 'a' believed it! j
Mrs. Sam Duncan dun tolo mc them i
Yankees killed everybody with tomahawks
as soon as they got holt of 'em!
Yo' tins must hev bin powerful cute to
git away."
Breakfast had been finished when j
there came a knock at the door, and
next momenta munin the uniform of a
Confederate cavalry sergeant entered |
the 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." 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 before
on horseback, and therefore it was
impossible to grant the colonel's request.
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- i
long to?"
"To Captain Wyle's cavalry company,"
replied Kenton.
"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- j
gent's supercilious airs and lofty tone.
"Oh, it bain', eh? 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 tako vo' along to Knrnel
Mosby! He'll mighty soon find out whar
yo' belong!"
"You see," began Kenton, who, reoliro<?
fViof if vvno fnnlish tn nrnns? fhfl
man's anger and suspicion, "we were !
guarding tho stores at Harrisonburg, :
and the Federal cavalry came in yes- j
terday and"
" Whar's yo'r pass?" interrupted the j
aergant.
"Whar's yo'rs?" demanded Steve.
"Show yo'r pass, or I'll take yo* to j
the kurnel!"
"I should like to explain tho case to
you," said Kenton, motioning to Steve |
not to interrupt him. " We are Confed- I
erate soldiers. We were captured at 1
Harrisonburg by the Federals yesterday
forenoon, but escaped at dark last night.
Therefore we have no pass and do not
need a pass."
"Yo' may be all right, and yo' may j
be a couple of Yankee spies!'' replied !
the sergeant. "If yo' are straight, yo'll 1
come along with me and explain to tho j
kurnel. 'Deed, but yo've got to come,
straight or crooked!"
He had left his revolver and carbine
on the saddle. He started for his hoise, |
but Steve was there betore him. He !
had stepped softly out while Kenton j
was explaining and was now in posses- |
sion of both firearms and a supply of j
ammunition. Even as tho trooper i
reached the gate Steve gave his horse a '
slap and sent him galloping away and
then turned and asked:
"Who's takin anybody to see the kur- I
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 Ins manner be- j
trayed his anxiety.
"Goin to git shot of yo' about the
fust thing!" answered Steve. "Left
face! Forward march! Keep goin right
down the road till yo' find the kurnel I
and then give him our love!"
The trooper marched away without
a backward look, and when ho was lost
to sight by a turn in the road Kenton
said:
"Steve, you did a bad thing for us. j
That whole crowd will bo alter us in- ;
sido of a hour."
"Don't holh-T befo' yo'r hit, Yank!"
laughed Steve. ''If we uns hadn't tooken
him, he'd hev tooken us, and besides
that it suddenly occurred to mo that
we'd got to hev something toshootwith.
v~... n.fo i.? ? ii?
V?? ) Uiuii) ivi o n-jjcum oiiuigiiv iij> i
tho 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, its
months, of black figures relating the
number of widows and orphans and tho
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 burial
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 tho stony road, but they had
left tho family in peace. Letters no
longer came and went. The country
was in the hands of the Federals, and
many of the inhabitants bad fled away.
The Percys would have gone before winter
set in but for the state of the mother'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 all necessaries lie
managed so well that nearly every want
was supplied in some way. On two occasions
beyond the one mentioned Federal
reconnoiteiing parties left supplies
at the house, and once Cantaill Wvle 1
sent a store of articles which could have
only been gathered at considerable cost
and trouble. Beth sides pitied the
unhappy and defenseless situation of the
family, which was only one of hundreds.
The sufferings of the southern
women during the war have found 110
historian, and the heroism displayed by
them in the face of peril and adversity
has not gone down to theii children 011
printed pages. Who could write it?
Where would he begin or end? In 110
epoch of history weie mothers, wives
and daughters called upon for greater
sacrifices, nor were sacrifices ever so
cheerfully made. Brave, patriotic, enduring,
and yet 110 state or community
has reared a marble shaft 011 which is
engraved the words of praise and commendation
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 the woman and
Uncle Ben. and yet he did not cease to
suspect and to watch her. lie found
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 tho
neighborhood of the house. Owing to
the interruption of the mails, it was only
at long intervals th.it Marian heard fioni
Royal Kenton. For a month previous
to tho battle in which he was captured
she had heard no word from him. When
news came, it was from Captain Wylo '
himself on liis second visit "to the Hu- ' n
veil. His company was acting as a if
guard for a wagon train of forage gathered
in tho valley, and liis stay was d
brief. While his welcome was fairly P
cordial, he realized that circumstances o
were not propitious for any approach to d
the subject nearest his heart, and he v
forced himself to be content with gen- b
eralities. Incidentally, as if the matter
was of little or no moment to her, he b
mentioned the fact of General Jackson n
having become 'suspicious of Kenton b
and suggesting the detail which was t)
made and of his having heard only a ii
day or two before that the Federals had b
descended on the post and captured the n
entire Confederate command. What ho g
added was both false and cruel?viz.
that it was rumored that Kenton was e<
among the Confederate killed. y
If the captain hoped that Marian fi
would betray her real feeling, he was b
not disappointed. As she received his I
information every vestige of color fled a
from her face, and she seemed about to
faint. b
"You?you say it is so rumored?" I v
she gasped. a:
"Only rumored, but" h
"But you believe tho rumor will be
confirmed?" g
"I must say that I do. Mr. Kenton r<
was, I believe, a friend of yours, and of
course tho news of his death will shock
and grieve you. He and I would also
have been friends but for his, to say tho "
least, disloyal conduct toward the cause w
ho for soiuo reason best known to him- a'
self espoused." si
"Captain YVyle, you wrong him, Iiv- n:
ing or dead!" exclaimed Marian as sin A
braced herself against the shock caused h(
by report of the rumors. "Ho enlisted T
because bo was imbued with the sarno si
feeling I hope you were?a feeling that is
he owed allegiance to Virginia first of 01
all."
"He has acted very strangely for a
Virginia patriot, I must declare," said
tho captain. tc
"How strangely?" she demanded as
the color began to return to her cheeks d<
and her eyes to flash. as
"Every one in my company firmly
believes he joined ns that the Yankees ec
might have a spy within our lines."
"And who made them believe it? se
Royal Kenton has periled his life in the b;
cause oftener than any man in your
company or regiment! Tell me of one sa
Binglo instance where an honest, un- ai
biased man could have questioned his "
loyalty!" in
"Why was he left behind, detailed n<
to guard stores, and that at General w
Jackson's suggestion?" asked the cap- ul
tain.
"Yon aro already possessed of that m
knowledge!" sho scathingly replied. d<
"There has been a conspiracy against
him from the very outset, and it is not lo
the fault of the conspirators that he was ra
not assassinated before a battle had been w
fought!" w
"PrivateKenton, if alive, should feel hi
grateful for such championship!" u<
"It is my duty to champion him! I tc
am his promised wife!"
While Captain Wyle felt pretty cer- tr
tain that there was more than friendship se
between them ho had hoped that things
had not gone that far. As she stood beforo
him and looked into his eyes and tc
spoke the words which made his heart P
fall like lead he was dumb for a mo- j
ment. Her face was set and hard, and ni
he realized that his fate was sealed forever.
There was but one thing for him
to do, and he did it. Though rago and
despair filled his heart, he did not forget n<
the fact that he was a born southerner, oc
It required all his nervo to tako his sc
leave gracefully, but ho accomplished I
the feat, and it was only when ho was Y
in the saddle that curses passed his lips
and his smiles were replaced by wicked cl
frowns. ti
"Southern chivalry" has been held up 01
to ridicule and scorn, but only by the er
ignorant or by those who had a purpose h<
to accomplish. Chivalry was born in sa
the heart of the truesoutherner; it came tl
down to him legitimately in the blood. d<
Now and then he may forget himself in oi
the presence of a man, but never in the rt
presence of a woman. al
Had all been well at Rest Haven, Ma- ai
rian Percy would have given way to her
grief and mourned as women do. But bi
the mother's condition was still regard- ci
ed as dangerous, and she must not even g<
suspect the sad blow which had fallen a]
on the daughter. Uncle Ben suspected tc
some calamity from the grief in Ma- tl
rian's face, and trom the fact that Mrs. gi
Baxter dodged out and had a word with
Captain Wylo at the gate before he rode w
away. He must have repeated the ca- cc
naril about the death of Kenton, for tho , 111
woman's face betrayed great satisfac- a<
tion as she returned to the house. There li
was a smaller house to lodge the " help," hi
but just then Uncle Ben had it all to
himself. About an hour after tho cap- ai
tain's departure Marian appeared in tho ot
old man's quarters to find him cobbling tl
one of his brogans. hi
"Look yere, honey," he began as sho uj
entered and before she could say a woid,
"I knowed when I saw yo' at de doah v<
an hour ago dat sunthin had dun hap- di
pened. Am de good missus gwiuo to pi
die, or did dat Captain Wyle say sun- tl:
thin to make yo' feel bad?" fi<
"Uncle Ben, I have heard sorrowful
news!" she answered as her tears began g<
" ^^ ^ ^ w
"Uncle lien, I have hawd Knmnrful hi
new*!"
to fall. "Captain Wylo told me he had as
heard that Mr. Kenton was dead? ta
killed over at Harrisonburg a day or cl
two ago." to
"I shall neliber dun believe it!" he
exclaimed. "Dat Mars Kenton he doan' v<
writo no nio', but dat hain't 'cause lie of
was dead. It's 'cause de possoftis was in
all turned upside down."
"But they had a battle a day or two
ago. Uncle Ben, and Mr. Kenton was B
killed then." w
"Whar was dat battle?" si
"Near Harrisonburg." sa
"Dat's a right smart stop from yere, b<
an wo didn't heah de guns. Mobbe doy d<
dun had a battle, but dat doan' disquali- ai
fy dat Mars Kenton was killed. Shoo,
now, honey, but doan' yo' believe any I
sich storvl" P
"But I'm?I'm afraid it's true!" she
sobbed, bicaking 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 n:
out all about it. I'll hov dis shoe fixed
in uom in minuies, an cien 1 a siari pi
fur Ilarrisonlnirp. When I pit dar, I kin C
find out if Mars Kenton was killed." t<
'But it's almost dark now, Undo w
Ben."
"Makes no difference, honey. I know
do road an am feel in party pood. By 01
dis time tomorrer I'll lie back will do ai
news." In
"But what if you should discover si
that?that" 01
"Dat Mais Kenton was railly killed?
Nobody can't diskiber what hain't so, tl
kin dey? I'/e pwine olier dar jest to d
prove dat lie wasn't dun killed." k
"Undo Bell," said Marian as she b:
placed a hand on either shoulder and
looked into his eyes, "if you can brinp
xne news that Mr. Kenton is alive, I'll ' tj
lake you a free man before the week j
3 out!"
"Hu! What I want to leave yo' an ,
e missus an beeum free nigger fur?
Leckon I wants to go to do porehouse
r jail? Hain't I alius Inn like one o'
e family? Could do family git along
rid out Undo Ben? Whar would yo'
e right now but fur me?"
"That's true. Undo Ben. You were
orn on the place, and you know how
inch we all think of you. It would l
reak our hearts to have you go, slave j
lough you are and always have been
l the eyes of the law. But you shall
e rewarded, Undo Ben. Only bring
le good news, and your reward shall be j
rent!"
"Hush up dat noise, honey!" hochid3
as ho mad* ready to depart. "If
o'll let do ole man lib rigid on in do I
imily, dat'll bo reward 'nuff. I'll
o back by foah o'clock tomorrer, and
'11 bring yo' do news dat Mars Kenton i
m all right."
Marian watched him as he strode
ravely down the frozen highway and
anished into the dusk of evening, and
3 she turned away fresh tears came to
er eyes, and she murmured:
"Bravo and unselfish old slave! God
rant that he may bring a message to
jlievo my anxieties!"
CHAPTER XXII.
While Undo Ben was slowly progressig
along the frozen and slippery highay,
and when he had reached a point
bout three miles from Rest Haven, he
iddenly encountered about a dozen j
len, most of whom were mounted. 1
11 but one were in citizens' dress, and
9 at first supposed them to bo farmers. !
hey rushed upon tlio old man with a
lout, and pistols and knives were flour- !
hed before his face as the gang cried j
at:
"Hang him up!"
"Slice off his ears!"
"Build a fire and roast him if ho lies
? us!"
"Fo' de Lawd, gein'len, but what's
i.4. ^1/1 .v,
J ilJUllt'i i uBhuu 1111: uiu iiiciii uo ouvu i
i lie could got in n word.
"We want them two Yankees!" shout- ,
I three or four men in chorus.
"W-what Yankees? 1 ncbber dun
!en a Yankee sence dat big army went
p de bouse on bors'back!"
"Yo' lie, yo' old black faced devil!" j
lid the leader as ho got off his horse
id seized Uncle Ben by the collar, j
Now, then, tell us where they are liidig!
Don't pretend to us that yo' have j
it seen 'em, for we know better! Out j
ith it now, or yo' won't live two mintes!"
"What yo' mean?" asked the old
an, who was badly upset over the sud- j
;n attack.
"Wo mean just this: We've been fol- ;
wing two Yankee spies along the
ountain nearly all day. One of them
as wounded about an hour ago. They
ere headed this way, and yo' must j
ive met them and know whero they j
jw are. Did they send yo' for a docT?"
|
"Nebber, sah, nebber! 1 tole yo' de
oof. I nebber did meet up wid nobody I
nee I started from de house!"
"From what house?"
"Dat house back dar which b'longs j
i Missus Percy. Mebbo yo' knowed de ,
ercys of Winchester?"
"The Percys, eh? Are you a Percy !
igger?"
"Yes, sah, an de only one dat's left." j
"And whero were you going?"
"Down to Harrisonburg, sah, to git
sws 'bout dat battle dey fout dar de
Ider day. I hain't seed a single pusin
on de road, an if yo' was to kill me j
dun couldn't tell yo' uuffin 'bout no
ankees!"
They hail looked upon it as just a j
lance that Uncle Ben had encountered j
le men they were after, and their vig- |
ous measures wero intended to fright- j
1 the information out of him. Whilo j
3 was trembling and afraid, his tones j
itisfied the crowd that ho was telling
le truth. It wouldn't do to let him '
3wn too easily, however. The negroes |
I the country wero breaking over all !
lies and regulations and traveling
bout at night to confer with each other j
id plan escapes to the Federal camps. ;
"Now, then," said the leader of the j
and, "yo' have had a powerful close :
ill, and yo' want to remember it! Nig- j
?rs have no business away from home
Fter dark. Yo' wero probably going :
t Harrisonburg to give yo'self up to ,
io Yankees, but we'll spoil that little
une! This will do yo'a heap of good!" !
And thereupon, holding Undo Ben
ith his left hand by a firm grip on his
illar, ho used a rawhide over the old j
inn's back and legs with his right and ,
lininistered the first whipping of his j
fe. When his arm had grown weary, '
3 stopped and said:
"Now, yo' make a beelino for home j
id don't stop to rest on the way! If any j
her prowling niggers ask yo' about j
lat battle at Harrisonburg, yo' tell
im yo' was in it and got licked! Gee- i
p!"
As tho old man headed for Rest Horn
the gang of men rode in the other
irection. Ho stepped out at a lively
ice until hidden by the darkness and
len stopped and turned to shake his !
it and whisper:
"White man, I'ze only a pore ole nig- i
;r, but somebody has got to bleed fur
is! Nobody ebber put a whip on Uncle
en befo' sence ho was a pickaninny, an
II kill yo' fur dat as shore as I ebber
it do chance!"
He at first thought of resuming his
uirney toward Harrisonburg, but a mo
lenrs renecnon convinceu mm nmt u
) fell into the hands of the same party
*ain his life would be in peril. Here- i
ized how much disappointed Marian *
ould bo, but he would return and re- |
>rt and perhaps niako a new start. Ho
id covered two miles of the backtrack
hen at a turn in the road a man stepid
out from the rocks at his left and
dered him to halt and added:
"Who are yo'?"
"Undo Ben Percy."
"What, is that yo,' Uncle Ben?"
"Fur shore, but I hain't dun met up
id no Yankee spies, jess as I told yo'
jfo'."
"Uncle Ben, don't yo' tin know me?" i
iked the man as he came nearer. "I've j
Iked with yo' many a time in Win- 1
lester befo' the war. I'm Steve Bray- ;
n."
"Fo' do Lawd! Yes, I 'member yo'r
lice! I dun reckoned yo' was some mo'
' dat crowd what was gwine tor kill
le!"
"Hev yo' met up with anybody?"
"Do Lawd furgivo me, but 1 has!
ack dar 'bout two miles a gang o' i
hito men stopped me an war gwine to j
arte mo dead an cut my fro.\<! Dey
lid I had sawn some Yankee spies, an j
ikase I dun hadn't seen nobody 'tall [
y giv me demons' powerful lickin on j
irtli!"
"Yankee spies?" queried Steve. "All, '
understand! And are yo* with tho i
crcy fain'ly, Undo Ben?"
"Fur shore."
"Do they uns live nigh yere?"
" 'Bout a mile away, sail."
"And wliar war yo' goin when yo' !
let up with that crowd?"
"I'd dun started fur Harrisonburg to j
it news 'bout dat big battle. Dat j
ap'an Wylo ho was long yere today an j
ild Miss Sunshine dat Mars Kenton j
as killed ober <lar!"
"He did?"
"Yes, sail, an den Miss Sunshine cum :
it to 1110 wid her face as white as snow j
n tn;iv? ill ln*r r<v<>)( nil :i bi<? IlllllII ill
r*r front, an when I seed how powerful j
le fell I <lnn said I would go an find !
it dat Mars Kenton was all right." !
"See vow, Uncle Den, I've got sun- j
lin to tell yo'!" said Bray ton as ho j
row him out of the road. "Mars Ken- j
in is up ycro among tho rocks and '
rush!" J
"Fo' do Lawd!"
"That gang was after the two of us, j
lough we arc not Yankee spies. Mars> <
Kenton was badly wounded" jest i.tfo'
dark, and I had to cairy he tin on my
back fur a couple of miles. Uncle Ben,
yo' must no to the house and git blankets
and bandages and sunthin fur us
to eat. Yo' must also bring that gal
yere, but not tonight. Tomorrer will
do fur her, but wo must hev the other
things tonight."
"Fur do Juv of heaben, but how yo*
do talk!" gasped the old man. "Den
Mars Kenton he wasn't killed at Har- |
risonburg?"
"No."
"And he dun got shot tryin to git j
ober yere today?"
"Yes. Is Ike Baiter's wife at the j
house?"
"Her am, an sho dun jest bates Mars !
Kenton."
"Then yo' mu6t be keerful. Try and
see the gal alone. Tell her she must
send the things tonight, but not to come
herself till tomorrer. Go now as fast as 1
yo' kin. I'll bo waitin fur yo' right j
yere on this spot. Hold on a rainit. Hev
yo' got a gun at the house?"
"Yes, a double bar'l'd shotgun."
"Then bring it back with yo', and
powder and shot and taps. If wo hev a |
font yere, it will be at clus range, and
buckshot will be better'11 bullets."
"Fo' do Lawd!" muttered the old !
man as he setoff at his best pace. "Dat
Can'aii Wvlo he lie to Miss Sunshine.
Den Miss Sunshine wants me to go to !
Harrisonburg. Den I 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 out dat Mars
Kenton hain't dead but hurted, an de
Lawd only knows what's gwine to happen
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 ho thoroughly understood
her disposition. He turned 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
* I
The first warning Marian had of tils presence
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
shawl thrown over her head.
"You are back, Uncle Ben?what's
the matter?" she asked.
"Heaps de mattah, Miss Sunshine,
heaps. I dun met up mo* dan fo'ty
bushels o' trubblel I zenews fur yo'!" '
"You?you met some one who told
you about Mr. Kenton?"
"Fur shore! Dat Cap'an Wyle lie to
yo'l Mars Kenton he dun git away j
arter dat battle, 'long wid Steve Bray- j
ton."
"Thank God!" she whispered as she
raised her clasped hands to the bright
stars in the winter sky.
"But dar's trubble, Miss Sunshineheaps
o' trubble! Dey was tryin to git !
ober yere when some gorillas reckoned
dey was Yankee spies an dun shotted !
Mars Kenton. He hain't dead, but he's
bad hurt, an he's lyin in the bresb an
rocks down yere 'bout a mile. I met
dat Steve Brayton, an he dun tole me
all 'bout it."
"Royal Kenton wounded?badly hurt
and lying in the brush this winter's
night!" moaned Marian as she grasped
Uncle Ben by the arm.
"Hist dar!" he cautioned. "Wo i
mustn't woke up do missus or dat Bax- ,
ter woman. Now, den, yo' be bravo.
Yo's got to be! Steve Brayton ho dun
said I was to bring back blankets an
bandages an sunthin to eat. We must
step around mighty softly an pick 'em I
up!"
"And I willgc back with you! God
grant that his life may be spared!"
" ffimli Miilnl Vn1 non't rrn wirl mn
tonight, but toinorrer. Dat's what Steve
Brayton dun said. When I git back
dar, I'll see Mars Kenton wid my own
eyes, an I'll tell him all 'bout yo. an
I'll stay right dar all night an nuss
him."
"Oh, Uncle Ben, but I feel that 1 I
must go to him"
"Hush! Yo' jess git all dem fings ;
what I spoke of packed up fur mo as
quick as yo' kin an let me go back! If ;
yo' want dem gorillas to finish Mars 1
Kenton, yo' jest make a fuss so dat
Mrs. Baxter will open dem big ears o'
hern an find out do news!"
CHAPTER XXIII.
As wns stated in a previous chapter,
Captain Wylo's company, along with
others, had been returned to the valley ,
and placed under the orders of General
Imboden. Ike Baxter and the others
captured at Kernstown had rejoined the
company when exchanged. Ike felt
more than ever that Royal Kenton was !
an enemy ho must get rid of, and Captain
Wylo encouraged this feeling in
various ways, though never openly and j
directly committing himself. On two
occasions Ike had been granted leave of
absenco to visit his wife. Both times
he had met her secretly.
The spirit which animated this humble
twain will surpriso only those who
have never encountered the "poor
whites" of the south. Nino out of ten
of the bloody and long continued feuds
we read of in southern communities ,
begin among the poor and ignorant, j
Tho cause is generally of trifling char- |
acter. Tho "poor white" may be hum- |
bled by tho law, but outside of the j
courtroom ho hates with an intensity
hard to realize. Ho is persistent, eun- j
ning, merciless. Ike Baxter had never j
had an ambition in his life up to tho i
hour he eulistecl. Ho could barely read
and write, was naturally lazy and indifferent
and felt no pride in anything
n.n tVmt Im vviiii " hptt?>r than
UAUt'ja 11IU iULl uiuv .... ,
a nigger." When ho found that corporals
and sergeants were looked up to
and respected, there came a queer teeling
in his heart. Ho could not credit
it at first, but Captain Wylo aided liini
in his mental struggle. The day came
when Iko had an ambition and a burning
desire. It was to be a corporal or
sergeant. In his wild dreams of glory j
ho did not stop there. Ho determined j
to go higher and becomo a lieutenant or
captain. As soon as ho was given to j
understand that Royal Kenton stood in
his way it was but natural with one of
his nature to determine to remove the (
obstacle by any means possible.
Before the war the " Yankee," both
as a man and as tho representative of a
section of tho republic, had few friends
in tho south, lie was supposed to be
hostile to r.ll southern "institutions."
Tho more ignorant tho southerner tho j
inoro heartily ho hated and despised the
citizen of tho north, llo believed what J
the firo eating politicians pretended to
believe and often asserted. The John
Brown raid upon slavery in Virginia
and the events in "Bleeding Kansas" |
served to intensify tho sectional hate of ,
tho "poor whites." Thus it was that '
fke Baxter, picking up his crumbs o? 1
history and his bits of information on
current events at the doors of the livery
stable or around the stove of the barroom,
was something of a local champion
in the matter of Yankee hating. If
Kenton bad not stood between bim and
military glory, he would still have felt
a bitterness toward him as a man born
in the north. Uncle Ben's cautious approach
to tho house cn this night had
reference only to Mrs. Baxter. There
Wao auuiiiur in<iii Bieiuiug iijidu^ii mu
darkness and making a noiseless approach
at the same time--Ike Baxter.
Neither Uncle Ben nor Marian Percy
caught a sight of him, but he noticed
their every movement and drew his own
conclusions. The gun which tho old
man had been told to secure was in his j
room in tho little house. Ho had de- |
parted from Rest Haven without being
seen or his absence noted by tho woman,
but his return aroused her, and her
sharp eyes were upon him as he carried
away the firearm and loaded himself
with the bundles Marian had prepared
and brought to the door. She was dressing
to follow him as ho disappeared
down the highway, having a dim suspicion
of the state of affairs, when Ike
knocked nt her window and was admitted.
In les3 than a minute ho had related
what he saw outside, and she had
told him of Uncle Ben taking tho gun.
"Whar's ho un bound fur?" queried i
Ike.
"Dunno, but sunthin's happened sumwharl
Yo' must foller hiral"
"Has that Yankee bin yero?"
"No, but the gal's hearn news, fur
shore 1 Reckon ho un may bo lyin out
around yere surawhar, and the nigger's
takin out stuff to him! Git right arter
he un, Ike, and if yo' find tho Yankee
go'n tell Captain Wylo and hev him
cum with his critter company!"
"I'll do better'n that!" grimly le- '
plied the man as he stepped out into
the night. "If I find that Yankee around
yere, I'll put a bullet into him fust and
tell Captain Wyle next!"
Uncle Ben had only a few hundred
yards the start, and the man on his
trail soon lessened the distance until ho
conld hear the old man's footsteps and :
make out a shadowy form through the
darkness. There seemed nothing more
certain than that he would follow on
and uncover the hiding place of the fn- \
gitives. For nearly three-quarters of a
mile the slave messenger had but one
idea?to return to Steve Brayton as fast !
as possible. He was hurrying along
when a sudden thought flashed through ,
his brain, and he instinctively stepped
aside and halted to listen.
"How do I know but what dat woman
dun heard me git de gun an is fol- :
lerin me?" he whispered to himself.
"She'd do it! She's powerful wicked,
she am! An mebbe some mo'of dem
gorillas am waitin long yere to grab me
an giv me anodder whippin!"
He was listening as well as whispering,
and after a minute he heard the j
Bounds of footsteps coming down the
road. He drew back into the deeDer ,
shadow of the high bank, dropped his ;
bundles, and taking a firm grip of his
gun he mentally resolved to make a
fight for it if he was overhauled by the j
same crowd as before. A few seconds
later he realized that only one person
was approaching. The footfalls were
too heavy for a woman. He had just
decided this point when a man loomed
up in the darkness before him and halted
almost within arm's length to mutter:
itn a. L:i i i Li A. ~ 1 ~
\L/rat my mue, uui uua uiui ui? uigger
left tho road an giv me the slip? I
heard he un only a minit ago, but him's
dun gone now!"
It was Ike Baxter of course. He stood
peering and listening for half a minute
and then growled:
"I orter hev run ho un right down
an made him show me tho way! Now
tho cussed Yankee may git away from
me! No, he won't though! I'll bunt
over every foot of this country but what
I'll find him an hev his scalp!"
Uncle Ben did not recognize the man i
at all, as it had been many months
sinco ho had heard Ike Baxter's voice.
It was instantly plain to him, however,
that the man was a determined enemy
and was seeking Royal Kenton's life.
Ike took three or four steps forward and |
stopped again to listen. Noiselessly
anil with such a feeling as he had never i
experienced beforo Uncle Ben clubbed
his gun, took one 6ilent step forward j
Uncle Ben clubbed his quii.
and next instant brought tho heavy
stock down upon Iko's head and felled
him to tho earth. The man sank down
without a cry or groan, and after wait- ,
ing half a minuto the old man gasped
out:
"May de good Lawd dun furgive me,
but I had to do it fur Miss Sunshine's
sake!"
Ho picked up his bundles nnd has
tened on and 10 minutes later was telling
Steve Brayton what had happened.
"Glad of it!" replied the latter.
"Beckon I orter go up tliar and make
shore he's dead, fur I sorter think his
namo are Ike Baxtor. Hain't got no
time, though?not jest now. This way,
Uncle Ben."
They passed between two great bowlders
which had fallen from the bank
above, followed a ravino into the hills
for about 200 feet, and after a climb up
the right hand bank found the hiding
place among the rocks. Thero was a
small fire burning against a great bowlder,
and on a bed of leaves and branches
lay Royal Kenton with a bullet
wound in the calf of tho right leg. It
was a hit of good luck for him in the 1
midst of adversity that tho bullet had
passed clear through without touching
the bone. It was a painful and tern- j
porarily disabling wound, and he had
lost much of his strength before tho
bleeding could be checked, but he was
inclined to make light of tho situation
as Brayton and Uncle Ben appeared.
The old darky knew Kenton only by
sight, but tho sight of him lying there
in that helpless condition was a call for
him to throw himself down on his knees
and moan out:
"Fo' do Lawd an fo' do 'Lawd, but
what am Miss Sunshine gwine to say an
do when she knows dat ho has bin
shotted wid a dozen bombshells?"
Kenton soon made the situation plain
to him, and then as tho two talked about
affairs at the houso Steve Brayton
washed and bound up tho wound afresh,
made up a comfortablo bed, arranged
ono of tho blankets for a shelter and
saw that Kenton ate as well as talked.
Tho ndventuro which Uncle Ben had on i
tho road was felt to bo another menace
to bo guarded against. After leaving
tho houso where they had taken breakfast
and encountered tho Confederate
sergeant, they had hastened up tho side ,
of tho mountaiu and headed direct for
Itest Haven. Witlnn an Hour tney tounu
that a number of men were on their
trail, and two or three times during tho
day they were obliged to hide them- j
selves for au hour or two. No shots
were exchanged until about 5 o'clock in }
tho evening, and then they were fired
upon by threo men in ambush. Kenton
was hit and fell, but he struggled up i
and made a run of if, with Steve Bray- s
ton covering hid retreat. Pain and loss
of blood finally brought the wounded
man down again, and he appealed to
Stevo to leave him and make his own
i
escape.
"Couldn't think of it, Yank?couldn't
possibly play any sich dirt on a man '
who has font 'longside o' me so often!" .
was the hearty reply. "Thar was only
three of 'em when they fust popped at '
us, and I'm sartin shore thar hain't but , j
two now, and mebbe one o' them is wuss
off than yo' ar'I I hain't been shootin '
five or six times jest fur the fun of it! '
If yo' can't walk, yo'vo got to bo carried!"
;
Heeding none of Kenton's protests,the !
faithful fellow got him on his back and
picked his route through scrubs and over (
rocks until he reached the spot where j
Uncle Ben found them. Ho knew it was
within a mile or two of Rest Haven, !
and he was about starting for the house
when the old man came along.
"I'll take a trot up the road and see .
how the nigger's dead man is," said ,
Steve when he could do no more for
Kenton. "It's my everlastin opinyun 1
mai me cuap win iura out tu uu iku
Baxter, and I shan't be overly sorry if
iich ar' the case. I'll hev to rrit the
body outer the way anyhow, befo' any- '
body stumbles over it."
in the course of 20 minutes he reached 1
the spot, but no man, living or dead, !
was to be found. lie made a thorough '
hunt, but nothing could be discovered. ' '
TO UK CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. 1
piswUnucous parting. ';
A TARIFF CATECHISM. ]
A Curious Paper Found In the PohkcknIoii
of a Wealthy Man, Now Deud.
The following short catechism was (
found among the papers of George Otis, j ,
a wealthy American recently deceased. I
It is published here to show what a
queer way he hud of looking at things.
Still, that may have been because the ;
things are so very queer : ]
Q. What is the meaning of the word 1
"tariff?" i
A. It is so-called because, hundreds i
of years ago, sea pirates at Tariffa, ]
Spain, forced every passing vessel to <
pay for the privilege of going into and <
from the Mediterranean sen.
Q. What is the meaning now ? i
A. A certain sum forced from the <
people by land pirates. I
(J. Why do you say taken by force? <
A. Because congress says to thepeo- <
pie, "Stand and deliver."
(j. Stand and deliver to whom?
A. To the manufacturers, etc.
Q. In what part of the constitution j
does congress lind power to pass a law '
compelling the poor to support the j
rich ?
A. In 110 part. i
Q! Then where did it find the pow- j i
er? | !
A. In the Bible. i
Q. (Jive the book, chapter and verse. , 1
A. Matthew, xiii, 12: "For whoso- '
ever hath, to him shall he given, and
he shall have more abundance; but (
whosoever hath not, from him shall be ! l
?-l ?!... I.A ? i
lUKl'U iiwuj rwii i ticii iic mini.
(I. Is such a law Republican in the ; <
sense of beinf? Democratic?a govern- i '
rncnt in which the people rule? j <
A. No. It is aristocratic.
Q. What do you mean by aristo- I
crntie. i
A. A government wherein the few
rule the many ; where the many work
to support the privileged few. <
Q. Explain how the tariff'law estab- ; I
lishes an aristocracy in a Democratic j
government.
A. Congress says to the poor, "be- i '
cause this or that man is rich and pro- 1
duces iron, or cotton goods, or woolen j i
goods, you shall pay him so much I
money for so many pounds, or yards or 1
go naked and work without tools." <
Q. What reason does congress give '
for such tyrannical law ?
A. Congress says, the law is a "dif- I
lerentiation of industrial functions."
which means that industry is the func- '
tion of the poor, and the difference *
goes to the rich. i
Q. Is that the only reason congress <
gives? t
A. No. It says the tariff'is intended <
to foster infant industries at home.
Q. Are the iron, cotton and wool industries
infants?
A. No. They are a hundred years 1
old. ; <
Q. What date has congress fixed for 1
those industries to become of age? ;
A. When Gabriel blows his horn. ! j
One congressman did move to make '
the time later, but when reminded j '
that asbestos was not protected, he (
said he would withdraw his motion, 1
"as it would do no good after Gabe 1
blew." He sighed and sat down. (
(}. What is the meaning ofa protec- f
tivc tariff'? '
A. Protection of the rich from get- (
ting poor, and ofthe poor from getting (
rich. j 1
(J. What is the difference between I
the tenants in Ireland and the farmers (
in America ?
A. None. In both cases the tax gath- \ 1
erer lives in the East and the sheriff" is i '
after both. 1
(.}. Is there any other similarity in ,
the condition of Irish tenants and s
American farmers? I
A. Yes. The tenants are too poor
to stay, and the farmers too poor to {
leave. 1
Q. Is that the only benefit the pro- 1
ductive tariff' confers upon the poor? I
A. No. It improves their morals;
keeps them contented : keeps down J 1
useless desires. 1
(^. How does protection produce '
such happy results? J
A. The poor have to work so hard !
to support the rich they have no time s
for mischief. Having no money to 1
leave home or travel, they see nothing, I
and their desires arc kept dormant. 1
That brings content. I
BUYS AM) UIKLS.
I'nlil Ihe ages of eight, nine or ten,
boys and girls engage in nearly the
same sports, if permitted so to do, and
enjoy them equally. A girl can climb
a fence or a tree as well as a boy. She
can skate or coast or run as well as a
boy. But when she is taught that all
boyish sports are improper for girls,
and is kept in the house and employed
chiefly in sedentary occupations, she
becomes weaker in mind and body
than her brothers, who live boys' lives.
Many girls enjoy boys' sports and
occupations, not because they are masculine.
but because the exercise they
give is vigorous, and calls into exercise
various capabilitiestof the body
and mind.
If you have the giving out of books
from a library to boys and girls, and
by way of experiment give a boy a
girl's book, he will almost invariably
bring it back without reading it, and 1
with some sort of contemptuous expression
as to its contents. But if you
give a girl a boy's book, sbe will not
Itrimr if imelc unread : she eniovs the
outdoor character of the book, and in j
her secret heart, in nine cases out of t
ten, wishes she were a hoy.
There are mothers, possibly those j
who think a mistake was made in the
sex they assumed when they came in- i
to the world?who permit their girls r
to share all the sports of their brothers , t
and enjoy the freedom and variety 1
and vigor of the boy life. There are (
mothers who insist on having their ? \
hoys learn to do what is commonly
i 1 <i i. a
I'UllijHIl'I'l'll UIU \>uil\ in linn n mi s:
(io not find that it makes boys femi- ;i
nine any more than participation in i i
boy's work makes girls masculine. ! f
Hither sex can harness a horse, hoe in I i
the garden, cook, wash, iron, sweep, I
*e\v, without changing l?y so doing
iheir essential natures.
In our sehools and colleges for girls,
ire taught light and heavy gymnastics,
rowing, swimming, and athletic exercises
without regard to sex, though re;ard
is had to the fitness of the individual
scholar for the exercise given
her. In mixed schools, where physi
L'al exorcises form a part of the daily
routine, no distinction is made between
>oys and girls, both take the same exercises,
and enjoy them with apparently
equal zest.
All this is in the right direction,
md when the clothing of girls shall be,
tnd continue to be along into womanhood,
as free and untrummeling as that
of boys and men, the time will have
*one by when physically women will
be to so great an extent the "weaker
vessel."
JOIIX~CALYIN.
John Calvin, the founder of what is
known as "Calvinism," was a great
lawyer, as well as a student of theology.
While engaged in the prosecution of
his legal studies, the learned men of
Kit rope were called upon for an answer
to the question, whether or not
Henry VIII, of England, did right to
marry the widow of his brother. The
V'OllIIlawyer, Uliuunt iicsiuwify, f;u>c
it as his opinion that such a marriage
was illegal and ought to he declared
null and void.
The life of Calvin has exercised a
wonderful influence upon the world's
Christianity. This noted man was a
native of France and was horn in the
province of l'icardy, on the 9th of
May, 1509.
His father's natnejwas Gerard, and
John was the second of six children. I
He was reared in the faith of the
Catholic church and his parents were
distinguished for their deep piety. At
the age of fourteen he was sent to
Paris, where he mastered the study of
Latin. Here he remained for several j
years. His father designed him for
priesthood, and his early education
was hent in this direction, hut giving j
jp tliis purpose, he sent him to a fatuous
law school. At this place his
proficiency was such that lie was frequently
called upon to supply the vacancies
in the professorship.
He was destined, however, to remain
hut a short while in the practice
if law. He was prevailed upon hy
Lis association with Martin Luther to
enter the ministry. After the death i
:)f his father, in 1532, he went to Paris,
where he applied himself with vigor to
I he study of theology.
In Paris a new rector, whose name i
is-not given, was to preach his first
sermon. Feeling his inahlity, he applied
to Calvin for assistance. The
latter wrote the entire sermon, and as |
II result of the views expressed the
rector had to fly for his life. Calvin's
share in the act was also discovered,
and he was obliged to leave Paris. He
clad himself in a vine dresser's frock
and secretly made his escape. He
found shelter at the residence of the
queen of Navarre, who was known to
favor the reformation, and there he
completed the manuscript of his wonderful
hook entitled "The Institutes of
the Christian Religion." He was then
only twenty-four years old.
Pnlvin next retired into Switzerland.
finding that opposition to the reformation
was too violent in France.
Here, in 1535, he completed his "Manual."
In the following years he visited
Italy. Geneva, however, was destined
to become the final abode of the
jreat reformer. At this place, from
1530 to 1504, lie carried on his life's
work. The friends of the reformation
were beginning" to lose hope on
lccount of the passing away of their j
;reat leaders. The man of the hour
was Calvin. He had the brain, the
education and the courage which were
needed to carry on the great work. I
He thus became the acknowledged
leader of the reformation.
Calvin died in 1505, at the age of
ifty-four. He gave to the world a |
system of theology which has started
nto being all of the Protestant church?s
of the present day. No monument
o the great reformer has ever been |
jrected.
IIICKS'S FORECASTS FOR JINK.
Fair weather will prevail in most
mrts.ofthe continent at the opening
)f June. A storm period, together
with the new moon, is central on the
Id. The conjunction of Jupiter and
Neptune with each other, as well as
he earth and moon, all being on a j
ine with the sun, brings to bear a
ombination of rare occurrence, and
which no doubt will affect in a percepible
way the general meteorology of ,
ntr L'lobe. A warm wave of much
severity will pass over the country
rom about the 2d to Gib, the centre
)f dangerous storm disturbances being
)ii tlie 3d, 4th, and 5th. There are
narked indications of earthquake
perturbations on and about these same
lates. A wave of cooler air from pour
regions will How in after the disurbances
and dominate the weather
"or several days. On and touching
lie tub and 10th it will grow very
varin again, and series of rains and
itornis will set in, with many prospects
of continuing indefinitely. This
s the entrance of the summer solstice,
iihI showery, stormy weather, with
musual displays of lightning, may be j
xpected until the solstice period is
passed.
A storm period is central on the 14th,
m equinox of Mercury is central on
he Kith, and the full moon is on the
IStli, all within a few days of the
arth's turning point, on the 21st.
Therefore, many startling electrical
itorins will be natural from about the
14th, until after the reactionary disurbances
due normally about the 20th
md 21st. A peculiar and often surprising
feature of the solstice storms,
s the tendency of clouds to whirl into
etrograde motion, storms appearing
o arise from easterly directions, and
Irenehing the earth with unlooked for
lownpours. This solstice period being
veil within the Jupiter period, many
,'ery heavy rains and local cloudbursts
vill be most natural. About the 22d
o 25th much cooler weather may be
'xpected, with a probable cessation of
ains and storms. The last June storm
!--> #!,?
If null 1> 11UIII UIU .IIIU KKJ lliU
hiring which time a wave of intense
varmtli will pass over this country as
veil as other parts of the globe, and
nany atmospheric and electrical disurbances
may be expected about the
?Gth to 2i)tli. The Venus equinox,
entral on July 11th, promises rain for
he most of that month ; hut we beieve
the tendency will be to local
loudburst, with dryness covering many
vide districts of the country. As. a
irecautionary measure, we urge all our
eaders to make all possible provisions
or retaining in ponds and cisterns all
he water possible during the rains in
fune and the li rst half of July. In
ases of late crops give your soil tliormgli
and repeated plowing as soon as
lossible after rains. Never let it bake,
especially in July.
FROM TADl'OLK TO FKOU.
There is probably nothing in the anmal
kingdom which meets with more
emarkablc changes in its natural life
han a frog. It begins as an egg and
latches out as a lisli? that is a tadpole j
>r polliwog?its gills at lirst bieathing 1
vater alone.
In its early days, however, a tadpole
oon loses the outside part of its gills
iml breathes air, so that it has to
:ome to the surface of the water every
ew minutes, like a porpoise, to take a
rcsli breath.
During the early part of its career I
| tlie tadpole swims l?y sculling with a
I long tail. After awhile its legs begin
to grow out, the hind-legs coming first.
The tail gets to be shorter and shorter,
and when the tadpole is a complete
frog it has no tail at all, but swims by
kicking.
When half frog and half tadpole it
still has a good deal of tail, and in ad- ?
dition big hind-legs and mere sprouts
of fore-legs, so that it is really a very
<*........ Innl.i,,?
I The tadpole eats water plants, hut
when it becomes a frog it feeds on animal
life and has even been known to
nibble at the toes of small boys who
wade in pools where it abounds.
Tadpoles eat the green moss that we
sec so often on logs in a stagnant pool,
and they have a good appetite for soft
| decaying water-growths. As they
thus devour a great amount of matter
that would make it unhculthful to live
I near a stagnant pond, they are really
useful creatures.
In captivity they will generally eat
meat as well as bran, and, as a special
relish will sometimes lunch on one
another's tails,
i The common frog gets its final shape
in the lirst season, but the bullfrog
goes under the mud for the winter, *
i when still a tadpole, and it takes
at least another summer and some,
times more before it has the full right to
be called a frog.
He is some four years from the egg
when in full growth, and does not become
a bull frog until two years more.
MELTING OLD JKWKIjRY.
"Looks funny, doesn't it ? All the
same there are a dozen of those machines
goinf? at least once a week in this
city that the public never heard about
before. When you understand it you
will be able to tell your friends what
becomes of the gold and silver they
leave with their 'uncle' and never redeem.
'On the dead,' now: don't give
me away and I will tell you some of
the secrets of the pawnbrokers' trade."
The remark was made in a little
dark room in the rear of one of the big
loan oflices of Chicago to a reporter for
The Tribune of that city. The proprietor
went on to say the reports show
that 10 to 15 per cent, of all the articles
placed in "hock" are never called for.
Then, often gold and silver are purchased
outright by the pennyweight or
ounce, and in one way or another, a
large amount of the precious metals is
accumulated. To turn old style goods
into ready cash is the problem that confronts
the loan broker. Bankrupt
stocks of new designs and fresh goods
lill the cases in the counters and show
windows, and the old material goes
into new golden eagles with Uncle
Sam's stamp upon them.
On the lloor of the back room, reached
after setting half a dozen electric
alarms going and the pressing of numerous
buttons, was a peculiar contrivance
looking like a (5-inch tile stood
on end with a brass barrel covered with
pipes by its side. A copper pan, some
i iron tools, and some bowls that look
like common flower pots, lay on the
floor.
"This copper barrel," said the proprietor,
"is tilled with naptha; these
pipes lead to this tile or furnace ; this
handle here is for the forcing of air behind
the naptha so that it will make a
strong blast; these pots are crucibles.
Into the furnace we place the crucible.
into the crucible goes the gold. Hot,
.isn't it? So hot that we are compelled
to wear colored glasses to see what's
going on. But that's nothing to the
way the thing is done in Uncle Sam's
| furnaces. Now here goes to fill the
crucible."
Into the stone jar went gold watches
and chains with family histories,
crests and initials, souvenir spoons and
breast pins of forgotten dales, rings
that could have spoken of wedding
bells and birthdays in the long ago,
golden charms, scarf pins with the
jewels removed, and odds and ends,
collected in a week's trade. The estimated
value of the hatful of stock was
$1,000 in pure gold. Into the melting
collection went a handful of borax.
That was to make the gold How when
sufficiently melted. There was no
smoke, nothing hut the sickly smell of
naptha, the noise of the blast and the
glittering whiteness of the crucible.
To get a closer look at the melting
gold a pair of green glasses was* furnished.
As the broker stirred the contents
of the crucible with an iron
poker, black bubbles would come to the
top, pieces of coarser metal would he
seen struggling to the surface, only to
sink into the yellow gold, now turned
to fluid. The broker lifted the crucible
out of the furnace and poured its
contents into an iron mold and the
borax turning black as it hit the water,
stayed on top. In a few moments the borax
was knocked off and out fell a bar
of gold weighing several pounds, S inches
long and probably i] of an inch
square. After cleaning, the bar was
laid aside for shipment to the treasury.
"We do this once a week," said the
proprietor, as he shut off the valve to
the naptha barrel. "From here the
bars go to Washington by express. Before
its value is returned we will pay
out nearly $4 on $1,000. At Uncle
Sam's works the bar will be rcmelted
by a fiercer heat. Then the melted
mass will be poured into water, where
it will form into shots or pellets ofgold
and silver and copper. These pellets
are then placed in acid and the different
metals separated. No you can't
fool the government for a minute.
Science does the work in good shape.
After this process the treasury ships
gold eagles for the gold and silver contained
in the bar. So you see the old
battered watch case, the broken chain,
or out of date ornament comes back in
new coin of the realm. Over $200,000
worth of gold bars is sent from Chicago
brokers in just this way, and not
one person in 10,000 ever sees how the
melting is done. Of course many gold
coins are made into jewelry, and in
course of time are sent hack through
our crucibles once more. This is on
account of change of style in gold ornaments
of all kinds which is constant*
.. * i! a o /
1 y goilltf Oil. .Any juuiil : vmi, vu>,
figure on all such things. An article
pawned means to us only its weight in
the crucible with a prolit deducted.
This prolit may be (J or it may be 12
per cent. A chain weighing ?10 worth
of gold we buy for ?8.50, or some less.
The ?1.50 is for prolit, handling and
the risk. Yes, it's quite a business,
and many a family history has been
told in the golden heirlooms that have
fallen into a loan broker's crucible.
Fou Sl'.VSTHoKK.?In view of the
arrival of the hot season, the Philadelphia
police department has issued the
following directions for the course of
treatment to be pursued in ease of
sunstroke. Kveryone should be familiar
with these rules:
Remove patient to a cool and shady
place, where there is plenty of fresh,
pure air. Strip the clothing to the
waist, and place the sull'erer in a recumbent
position. I'our cold water
upon the head and chest and wrists
until consciousness returns. Apply ice
to the head and rub the body with it :
but if the skin is cold no ice should be
applied. When practicable, the patient
should be put into a bath at 70
degrees, to reduce the temperature.
In heat exhaustion, stimulants should
be given freely, and if the temperature
is below normal, as shown by the skin
being cold and clammy, the hot bath
should be used. Ammonia and water
mav be given if necessary.
The subject of sunstroke is liable to
a second attack, and should do no
mental work for months, and keep
from all excitement.