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CHAPTER iv. j The average writer of fiction describes j every southern man as wearing long, black bair, a wide brimmed hat and a fierce mustache. The southern woman is pictured as tall and stately, with black eyes and raven tresses. Marian Percy was a true child of the south, and yet she had hazel eyes, brown bair and was petite in figure. As she passed the ragged little darkies in the street they looked after her and called: "Golly me, but dar goes Miss Sun? shine again!" Of sunny disposition, charitable in thought and deed, respected by all, she had dignity without haughtiness, was a queen among girls without arrogance, if every other girl of the south was ar? guing for and enthusiastically applaud? ing the right of secession and wearing the toy Palmetto flag, Marian was the exception. Not that the momentous events were lightly passed over, but be? cause she was weighing them and pon? dering deeply. Educated at the north, she had formed strong friendships and found hosts of friends. She had seen the Yankee at home, at his worst and at his best, and she rather liked him. That a general election, such as had been held so often before, should result in turmoil, bloodshed and separation she could not understand. Politicians defended the secession of South Caro ? *"(roUy me, hut dar goes Miss Sunshine again?" fina, but she was not wise enough to sift their sophistry from their constitutional - arguments. The talk of a southern con? federacy did not appeal to her patriot? ism. Her pride and patriotism belonged to Virginia first of all. Virginia's weal or woe was her anxiety. At 8 o'clock on the evening of the day of which we have written the widow Percy and her daughter were eagerly , scanning the columns of a Richmond paper which bad arrived half an hour before, when Royal Kenton was an? nounced. He was received in a manner to let him know that his presence was welcome, and conversation turned at once to the all important question. Aft? er it had continued for a time Mrs. Percy suddenly observed: "Mr. Kenton, we were speaking of you this afternoon and were agreed that your position was at least embar? rassing." ."Which means," he smilingly re? plied, "that you have been wondering which side I would take in this con? test." Mother and daughter looked at him j with considerable eagerness, but with out reply, and he continued : "No doubt I ought to be ashamed of j the fact that I have lived to be 24 years I of age and have taken no interest in j politics. If all others w??re clear on this ' question, 1 could soon decide it for my self. Here we have some of the ablest men of America contending that no state is bound to the Union by any constitu? tional law, while others equally wise j advise war as a penalty for secession, j We have no precedent to guide us. No j state was forced into the Union. If the people of any one state believe that sep? aration would be a benefit, how can we deny her right to withdraw? And yet no state has a moral or legal right to imperil the welfare of che general gov? ernment. " "1 cannot speak for the south, but for Virginia only," said the mother, j "I know little of politics. 1 am content j to leave the question to the statesmen I of our state. I have no bitterness of | sectional feeling." "You are from Rhode Island, Mr. i Kenton," observed the daughter. 4 4 Yes." "But you came here to make your home with us. The state has adopted j you, so to speak." "Yes." ! 44 You have become a voter here. You j have no intention of returning to the north?" 44None whatever." "Then you must stand on the same platform we do. You must stand by your state." "He bas doubtless given the subject serious thought, " said the mother in tones meant to gently reprimand the j daughter for her eagerness. "I have indeed," answered Kenton, "and it seems to me that" At that moment a colored girl ap? peared at the door and beckoned to mother and daughter in an excited way SIGHTED 1894 BY A/*?R?CAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. and whispered: ~"?)e sogers hev cum fur de Yankee, an dey's gwine to do 8unthin awful to him! Dey wants be un to cum outdoahs right smart !" "Soldiers? Wha1: soldiers?" asked Marian. "Why, dem soldiers dat's paradin up an down an makin sich a fuss! Dar's ober a hundred of 'em aroun de house!" "And they want Mr.Kenton?" "Yes'm-want him right bad. 1 f heard 'em talk 'bout tar and fedders!" Whispering to her mother to entertain their caller, the giri excused herself and passed down the hall and out at the front door. Just as she opened it Steve Brayton was reaching out to ring the bell. Behind bim were a dozen or more men. "Well, what is wanted?" quietly asked Marian as Steve pulled o? bis bat and shifted about in a nervous way. "N-nathin, ma'am, nuthin 'tall!" he replied as he backed off. "That is, we ?est considered that we'd better call and-and" "Did you want to see any one here?" "Why don't you un tell her?" ex? claimed Ike Baxter as he pushed him? self forward. "Waal, ma'am, we uns cum yere to see somebody," continued Steve. " Ye?, we uns cum to see that Yan? kee'" adiled Ike. "You mean Mr. Kenton?" queried Marian. "That's it! They say he's a Yankee spy, and it's our dooty to hev a little talk with him!" "Who says he's a Yankee spy?" "Beckon it was Duke Wyle, ma'am, and he orter to know. He's goin to be first lootenant of our company, yo' know." "And Mr. Wyle told you that Mr. Kenton was a Yankee spy, did he?" de? manded Marian as her eyes flashed and her breath came quickly. "Yes, ma'am." "Steve Brayton, yo' nn's a fool !" call? ed a voice from the crowd-the voice of some one who knew that Wyle was a caller at the house. "He dun told me so, and it's left fur us to find out!" continued Steve, who wanted to square himself. "And you want to question bim?" asked Marian. "As a dooty, ma'am, as a dooty to Yirginny. Can't hev no Yankee spy about yere, yo' know. We hain't got nuthin agin him as a man, but if be nu's spyin on us that's different. Will yo' please call him out?" "No! Three of you can come in and question him!" Steve Brayton, Ike Baxter and Tom Henderson followed her into the house, while the others crowded up on the veranda to wait for what might happen. "Mr. Kenton, some callers to see you," said Marian as they entered the parlor, and he rose np, with a puzzled look on his face. Steve Brayton had broken the ice and recovered from his embarrassment. He did not propose to do any talking. Kenton was either for or against. The quickest way to ascertain was to present the enlistment paper. He took it from his pocket, extended it to the young law? yer and said : "Mr. Kenton, some folks around yere ar' talk in that yo' un'e a Yankee spy. Will yo' put yo'r name down on this paper?" "I will, and I'll go with your com? pany whenever it is ready to go!" was the prompt answer as he drew a pencil from his pocket and wrote his name, which was the fifty-third on the roll. Twenty minutes later Steve Brayton and his companions appeared at the hotel, where Duke Wyle was impatient? ly waiting for news. "Well, Steve, is it tar and feathers?" he asked as the crowd came up the steps. "Does that look like farand feath? ers?" replied Steve as he handed out the paper and pointed to the same of j Royal Kenton. "What, be volunteered in this com- j pany!" "Exactly." "Did you threaten him?" "Not a threat! Reckon we'd better i make him second lootenant, eh?" But Duke Wyle did not answer. He j sat and stared at the name and was ! dumb with amazement. CHAPTER V. It took three days more to enlist the I men necessary to fill the ranks of the j Shenandoah guards, as the company called itself, and while awaiting orders from Richmond an election of officers was held. Only a few of the volunteers were surprised at Royal Kenton's en? listment. They were men who had but one political belief-state rights. They were not looking beyond it to the south? ern confederacy, but had enlisted and were going to the front to fight for Vir? ginia. Why shouldn't he fight for his adopted state? So argued the captain, so argued the rank and file and many citizens of the town, and, but for Duke Wyle, Kenton would have been elected second lieutenant of the company. When he saw how things were going, he called Steve Brayton aside and said : "Look here, Steve, you fellows are as blind as young kittens. If that Yankee hadn't signed the roll, what would have happened to him?" "Tar and feathers and aride on a rail!" replied Steve. "And he was sharp enough to realize it. He enlisted as a blind. " "Shoo! How kin he un bluff that way?" - "We are going to the front. Tho first Chance he gets ho will desert to his side. He's playing a Yankee trick on yon, and you ain't sharp enough to see it.' "Doggone him, but yo'maybe right, lootenant, yo' may be right!" "Of course I'm right! You just move about right smart and give the boys the tip. Don't even elect him corporal. He's just one o' that sort that if begets any office at all he'll want to run the whole company." "And we don't propose to be run?" "Of course not!" Steve soon turned the tide against Kenton, and that without any one knowing exactly what was taking place. The citizens of the town were almost as much interested in tho election as the members of the company. The old law? yer had left Kenton to settle the matter according to his own judgment. When he heard that the young man had en? listed, he was secretly pleased, and it was his influence which made a number of the rank and Ale decide on electing { Kenton as third officer of the company. "I am not in the least disappointed, " replied Royal when the result of the voting was known and the office had gone to another. "I enlisted without thought of position and prefer the ranks to any place they could gi*e me.. Be? sides, I am a Yankee, you know, and it is only natural that there should be a little feeling in the matter." There were two callers at the Percy mansion that evening. Duke Wy le came first. As previously stated,he had been a frequent caller for a year or more. Some people had even said that there was an engagement. That was a mis? take, however. Try as hard as he could, he could remember little or nothing to encourage him in believing that he was a favored suitor. Neither had he the slightest reason for believing that Royal Kenton had any advantage in that re? spect. It was simply the fact that he was also a visitor at the house that roused the spirit of jealousy and the de? sire to work mischief. His reception was cordial by both mother and daugh? ter, and both congratulated him on his election as one of the company officers. This paved the way for him to observe : "I presume you have heard of the un? blushing assurance of the Yankee, as all call him, in making every effort to be elected second lieutenant?" "Do you refer to Mr. Kenton?" quickly answered Marian. "Of course. He is the only Yankee I know of in this locality. The men saw through his scheme before it was too late, however." "Did he have a scheme?" asked Mrs. Percy. "Most certainly, ma'am-that is, the members of the company fully believed he had." "What was it?" quietly asked Ma? rian. "Well, they all think he volonte?ed to hoodwink us, and that he will desert the first chance he gets." "But you don't believe it?" "Well, I-I-I can't say that I do, but he leans toward the north, you know." "No, I did not know it. He is a Vir? ginian by adoption. He owes her alle? giance. He did not enlist until he felt it his duty to go with his state. You did uot enlist for ?any other reason, did yon. Mr. Wyle?" - "Of course not, but Tm a born Vir? ginian, you know." "Well, I think Mr. Kenton acted ac? cording to his conscience and best judg? ment, and that the guards would have had reason to be proud of him as an of? ficer." "Yes, I think so, too," replied the mother. The lieutenant realized that he was walking on dangerous ground and let the subject drop, but in his own mind he decided that he had new cause for hating Royal Kenton and removing him j from his path. During a moment of silence a pian flashed through his mind, j and he presently said: "It is an old saying, you know, that j blood will tell. It may prove false in j this case, and I hope it will, for Ken- j ton is a fine young man. Suppose, how- J ever, he should actually desert to the j Yankees and come back to fight against < us?" "Then 1 should be glad to hear of his being shot as a deserter and a traitor!" exclaimed the girl as her eyes flashed and her color deepened. "fie would deserve it," added the mother. Duke Wyle had made his call intend? ing to make every effort to discover just how he stood in Marian Percy's estima Dukc makes a call. tion. The presence of the mother acted I as a restraint, and the demeanor of the I daughter was not exactly what he had | hoped for. In one sense he was disap- ! pointed and chagrined. In another he ! ? was encouraged and enthusiastic. "I can wait," he said to himself as he walked down street. "When the ! news comes back here that Kenton has deserted to the enemy, I shall have the field all to myself!"* The reception of Royal Kenton half an hour later may not have been more j cordial, but his visit was more prolong- j ed, and he appeared to glean more com? fort from it. When the act of his non . election to position was incidentally re < ferred to, he said: "I did not seek for any position. In ! deed, had it been left to me to accept or j decline, I should have remained in the j ; ranks." j "This is only the beginning," replied ! ? Marian. "Virginia has always heen ; ready to honor those who honor her. ; Mother and I both feel a little disap- | pointed, but we know it will come out : right in the end. " ? "Your mind is fully made up?" [ queried Mis. Percy, thinking of Duke I Wyle's fling about desertion. "Fullv. ma'am." replied Kenton. ? "I stand or fall with Virginia." Two days later the company left for the front. Every soul in the ancient village turned out to bid them godspeed and goodby. Marian Percy shook hands with many, with Royal Kenton &nd Dake Wyle among the number. People remarked that she was excited and en? thusiastic, but if her lover was among those over whose heads waved the state flag of Virginia she gave no sign, not even to him. The Shenandoah guards were made Company A of a Virginia regiment, which was among the first on the bat? tlefield of Bull Run. When it was known that the Federals would attack, when they were observed marching out of Centerville on that July morning to find the Confederates and give battle, Lieutenant Wyle found opportunity to say to Ste^e Brayton, who had been made a sergeant in the company: "Well, it seems that Yankee is with us yet." "He un's right on hand, lootenant," was the reply. "How has he behaved himself?" "Right well, I take it. Hain't heard one o' the men find any fault. " "He's a deep one, Steve-deeper than I thought. He's been biding his time. If he gets a chance today, he'll go over to the Yankees. This is what he has been waiting for." "Shoo! But yo' don't think so?" "Of course I do. The captain wants you to make it your business today, in case the Yankees come out, to -watch him. If he makes a break, shoot him in the back! Better tell the rest of the boys, so as to make sure of him." "Reckon the Yanks will pitch in?" "Pretty sure to." "Goin to be a reg'lar fout?" "Looks like it." "W?al, doggone ray hide if I hain't feelin rather shaky in my legs already, and yo' don't look none too peart, loo? tenant, but I reckon I kin keep an eye on the Yankee if the shootin don't get too heavy!" "Shoot him right down if he makes a break!" "Jest so, unless I'm shot first. I've bin ach in fur a fout fur the past three months, but durn my skin if I don't wish I was back in camp and the Yan? kees 50 milds off! What's the use in all this fussin anyhow? Why can't we all sot down and hev a talk and fix things np?" CHAPTER VJ. Only a small portion of the Confeder? ate forces made pursuit of the retreat? ing Federal army and that so slowly that there was no fighting. The regi? ment to which the Shenandoah guards was attached moved down from the plateau and went into camp, lt bad been broken and defeated, and yet it had rallied and won a reputation. Ev? ery one of the 10 companies had been more or less disorganized, but the guards perhaps worst of all. That this company should have been led back into the hottest of the fight by a private, and that it should have brought off the field one of the guns over which the fight had been so bloody, furnished occa? sion for remarks throughout the entire brigade. Duke Wyle was no coward. There wasn't a taint of craven blood in bis veins. It was so also with his fellow lieutenant. The fall of the captain and the rush of the Federals had stampeded officers as well as men. War was a new thing, and few had served an ap? prenticeship. Wyle followed the com? pany back, but in the burly burly be? came separated from it. He knew it was Royal Kenton cairying the flag and leading. He saw the gun brought off, and he saw General Jackson halt the coatless, hatless and powder begrimed men to question them. '/He's a brick even if he is a Yankee, and I'll shake hands with him!" said the lieutenant to himself as he advanced to rejoin his company. That was Duke Wyle, the man. He hadn't taken 30 steps before Duke Wyle, the rival lover, cursed the luck which had given to another all the glory be had hoped to win, and he growled : "1 owe him another for this, and 1 can't pay him off any too soon!" The first man of his company he en? countered was Steve Brayton. If Steve had given way in the knees before the fight opened, he had pulled himself to? gether in good shape as soon as he smelled powder. He had been the first man to turn and follow Kenton, and he had fought beside him to capture the gun. "Waal, lootenant," grinned Steve as he awkwardly saluted, "I kept my eye on that Yankee all the time, but I didn't hev to shoot him!" "Curse him, but what business had he to assume command of the com? pany?" replied Wyle. "I was just about to halt and re-form when you fools all rushed off after him!" "Yes-I see!" remarked Steve, "but I wouldn't find any fault if I was yo'. We uns is the only company in the regi? ment which captured a cannon, and the boys feel as peart as game chickens about it. Reckon I wouldn't say nuth? in agin the Yankee either! It won't look exactly right, you see!" "You and the Yankee have suddenly become bosom friends!"sneered the of? ficer. "Not exactly, lootenant, but I hain't got nuthin agin him nomo'. If he un's a Yankee spy, we orter hev about 10, 000 mo' of 'em on our side!" Late that evening after the stragglers had rejoined their commands and order had been brought out of confusion Lieu? tenant Wyle received an order to report at brigade headquarters. On his arrival he was admitted to the presence of Gen? eral Jackson, who had that day won his famous sobriquet of "Stonewall." "Lieutenant Wyle,"said the general as he received him, "I am sorry to learn that your captain is so severely wound? ed that it will be months before he will be able to take the field again. I saw him in tho field hospital two hours ago and congratulated him on tho heroism displayed by his company. I wish also to congratulate you, and through you each and every man. That was a grand rally m ado in the face of disas? ter.. One of vour men acted .like a hero ! of old. If you will give me his name, I 1 will see that he is promoted to the po ! sition he deserves. He is a private, is I he not?" "Y-yes, sir," stammered the lieute? nant, confused and chagrined that his rival should be thus honored. "His name, sir, is Ike" It was on his tongue to rob Royal Kenton of his laurels and transfer them to Ike Barter, but he could not do it. "It was a private named Kenton, 1 believe, " he said as he lifted his eyes to those of the general again. "Thanks. He isa brave man, and you ought to be proud of him. Yea must not feel put out about it, lieute? nant. All of us are new to war yet. Coolness will come with experience. I have no fault to find with any of the officers or men. That's all, sir." The officer saluted and retired and made his way back to his company. But for one thing he would have sent for Royal Kenton and offered him his hand and his congratulations. Both loved the same maiden. Even if both had stood on the same footing in her es? timation when the company left the val? ley events had occurred that day which would give his rival the lead. The first thing Lieutenant Wyle did after reaching his lines was to send for Ike Baxter. He was much of the same mold as Steve Brayton-a small farmer, shiftless and uneducated and having a decided distaste for anything like hard work, but far more bigoted in his sec? tional feelings. He was not one of the handful Kenton had rallied and led back, but was forced up with others lat? ter on and had his musket been exam? ined after the battle was over it would have been discovered that it had not been once discharged. "Ah, I am glad to see you, my brave boy!" said the lieutenant as Ike came scuffing into his tent. "I want to com? pliment and congratulate you on the pluck and bravery you displayed in that battle. I had my eye on you most of the time, ar.d I never saw a cooler man in the face of danger." "Yo'-yo' doan' mean it, Jootenant!" gasped Ike, who fully realized that his conduct was open to censure instead of praise. "Mean it? Of course I do! I am proud to have such a brave man in the "Ah, 1 am glad to see you, my brave hoy." ranks of the company. As the captain is badly wounded I shall probably be promoted soon, and I will see that you are made corporal at least." "I enlisted to fight them dod domed Yankees, and I went for 'em the best I knowed how," said Ike, who had re? covered from his surprise and was now willing to take all the credit extended. "Yes, you did a power to help drive 'em back, " replied the officer, "and I'll see that yon are properly rewarded. By the way, Ike, what are the men say? ing about that Yankee?" "He un can't be no Yank." "Why not?" "Why, he un fout dead agin 'em. They all is savin that he's a snorter to fight. Reckon he'll get office." "Look here, Ike, don't you be taken in and done for like the rest! Do you know why he enlisted?" "On account of tar and feathers, 1 reckon." "Exactly. You had him boxed up that night. He wasn't ready to skip, and he was afraid of being coated. He reckoned on deserting to his friends .when we got down here." "Then why didn't we uns fix 'em?" "We had our eyes on him, but he was too sharp for us. He knew we were | watching him, and he didn't dar' to j bolt. He had a better plan than that, i When he grabbed that flag and led you i back-and I saw you were one of the first to follow-clo yon know what his plan was?" "To git that cannon, I reckon." "No, sir! No, sir! He fooled the whole pack of you! He intended to lead you into a trap and get you all cap? tured." "Yo' doan' say!" " But I do ! I know all about it. If I hadn't followed on with the rest of the company, not one of you would have got back alive." "Then, dod rot his Yankee hide, why doan' we uns jump right onto him heavy?" shouted the excited Ike. "Because we've no positive proofs, you see. He's been too deep and sly thus far. You see, he's even fooled almost every man in our company. You haven't no love fur Yankees, I take it!" "Dod rot 'em, I reckon I killed about 20 of 'em down thar', but I wish it had been a hundred!" "I wish this fellow was out of our company," mused Wyle. "So long as he is with us we have got to be on our guard against his Yankee tricks. He'd feel proud to take tis all over to the Yankees." "Why doan' yo' uh git him out?" asked Ike after a moment's reflection. "I'd like to, but how can I? I've just come from brigade headquarters, where General Jackson asked after him and as much as said he'd promote him. He'll probably give him the place I want you to have. He's fooled Jackson ! the same as he has the rest of us." "And Jackson will make he un a cor? poral?" asked Ike. "Sure to." "Say, lootenant." whispered Ike as he drew a step nearer, "I reckon I know how to get that Yank outer this company!" "flow?" "Shoot him out!' . "I-I don't nnderstand!" "If he un goes, do I git to be cor? poral?" . 4 Yes." "Then yo' leave it to me! Mebbe it will take a week or two, bat yo' bet yo'r last dollar be un's got to go!'* CHAPTER VD. After Bull Ron Federals and Confed? erates began making earnest prepara? tions for war. The holiday was over. There was no longer talk of 60 or 90 day campaign, of soldiers returning to the farm in time to harvest the crops. While the Federals gathered on the plains of Arlington to learn the tactics of war the Confederates remained on the fields where their first victory had been won and prepared for what was to come. There was fighting in the west, armies were being raised and troops moved in every direction, bat we fol? low only those which had confronted each other on that famous field. Organized and reorganize, drill, scont, reconnoissance, arm and equip. In the beginning the varions companies had been allowed to select their own officers by ballot. After Bull Ron all commis? sions came frem the secretary of war; all noncommissioned officers were duly appointed. Duke Wyle was commis? sioned captain of the Shenandoah guards, the second lieutenant was ad? vanced, and the orderly sergeant was promoted to a lieutenancy. Among those who secured brief turloughs were Captain Wyle and Steve ?rayton. The latter reached home first. The story of the battle was known, but the sto:y of the rally-the incident which had di? rected General Jackson's attention to Royal Kenton-was news to the people and a great surprise. Brayton had no need to exaggerate facts to compel cheers for the "Yankee." as Kenton was still called. He told the story over and over again, always toan interested audience, and he always wound up with the ob? servation: "I reckon yo' all knew that 1 was agin him and kinder hoped to put on the tar and feathers, but I've changed my mind. Durn, my hide if I don't wish he was captain of our company!" One day as he passed the Percy man- - sion Marian was at the gate, seemingly waiting for him. "I have read of the battle and heard a great deal of talk about it, " she said, '.but would you mind telling mother and I of the part taken by our own com? pany? We are naturally more interest? ed in them than any other participants. ' ' Sitting on the veranda with mother and daughter for an audience and using a piece of chalk to draw a rude diagram on the boards, Steve Brayton kept them deeply interested for an hour. "You were at first driven back?" queried Marian when he had finished. "Driv' right back like a flock of sheep, and thar' hain't no use to deny it," he replied. "Where were your officers?" [TO BK pOKTOgraxj ? Done to Death. Amateur Piano Player-What is your ?pinion of that piece I just executed? Musical Critic-I think it was exe? cuted.-New York Journal. Behind Time. Nervous Passenger-Is the block sys? tem in use on this road? Train Boy-Guesso. I just heard the engineer say that the feller that's work in ns through today is a blockhead. Good News. Miraculous^ Change Intense Suffering From Salt Rheum-Civen Up as Hopeless A Permanent CURE by Hood's Sarsaparilla. Miss Blanche Clark Duluth, Minn. "Seyen years ago our daughter Blanche, then four years of age, had a humor break out on her hands and face, which our physician pro? nounced eczema. She seemed to derive no bene? fit at all and If the cold air reached her face or hands, they would swell up at once and look al? most purple, and headed blisters would form and break, discharging a watery substance and The Burning and Itching that attended it would drive the child nearly wild. Unless we encased her little hands aha would tear patches of akin from her face and hands. The itching was intense. We tried many doctors and many remedies and at last gave up the case as hopeless. But in the sum? mer of '91 our daughter Cora tried Hood's Sar? saparilla, to cure a scrofulous lump near the left Hoois^Cures breast, which caused her much pain and diffi? culty at times in breathing. After taking four bottles it entirely disappeared, Blanche, who is now eleven, had spent seven years of suffering, so I concluded to give her Hood's .Sarsaparilla. She commenced the middle of June to take the medicine and at this writing has started on her fifth bottle. Her face is smooth and soft as baby's, The Color of a Rose Petal Her hands are soft and white, where four months ago they were blue and red and calloused nearly like leather. I cannot express my gratitude by pen or mouth. It seems a miracle and our friends are surprised." MRS. ANNA L. CLARK, 401 East 4th St., Duluth, Minnesota. Hood's Pills cure all liver ills, constipation, biliousness, Jaundice, sick headache, indigestion.