The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18

who was seeking to be of service to him.
at that?
"oh, you needn't say!' cried Miss Chill
ton, with a curl of her lip. 1--WE know-at
least 1 know-the girl. What we heard,
or at least L heard. a week ago was that
you-that they, that-oh, l can't explain-I
can't go on.' she said. and now burning
bushes. to his amaze. suffused her face,
and she covered it with her hands.
Then voices were heard below stairs-tGe
doctor showing the major from Jacks room
to the door, ceremonious and courtly even
when aggrieved.
He will wish to see me-perhaps you.
too-at once suddenly exclaimed Miss
Chiffon, starting impulsively forward. II
just want to know that-that what now
| believe is true, and to be able TO say so
confidently to father, and, perhaps, toto
others. You had not thought of trying to
escape so long as you were with us?' And
for an instant the dark, glorious eyes
looked full into his face, then fell before
the intensity of his.
"On my word. Miss Chilton-no!"
"Then-then," she vehemently cried, u
don't care how soon you do try-now!' and
with that she darted past him TO her own
IOOiu, anu presently III OOCtOA . ~" NNNP
was heard ascending the stairs.
1t was late that night and the moon had
dipped beyond the Blue Ridge when. after
a family talk in Jacks room, they sep
araced. Not another chance had Benton to
speak to RosaIie, but for good and sufficient
reason he had found her actions of most
unusual interest. Pale and silent, absorbed
in thought, she had taken little part in the
III l. 49, T,f 4 A.
window, drew aside the curtain and peered
through to outer darkness; then. while her
father was earnestly talking. she seated
herself close to the curtains, and Benton,
watching her with devouring eyes. saw that
she was listening intently for sounds. sig
mails. something from without, and paying
little heed to what was said within. Then,
he could not be mistaken. there came a low
tap, tap on the pane. Rosalie quickly,
silently drew the shade aside enough to
enable her to give one answering tap, and
a moment later she stole quietly out of the
room while the doctor was still talking,
and when she returned. nearly half an hour
later, there were drops of water on her
ripping hair.
By this time between the Chiltons, father
and son, it had been determined that every
AildNAiN ShOdl0 a OliNt NC OAOO6hl " bNdl
at Richmond to bring about Benton's ex-
change-Fred himself agreeing to write ur-
gent letters to friends in front of Wash
ington. Already qui,e a number of officers
and men had been returned from Libby.
the first small boatload having gone to the
capital and been welcomed by the President
himself before the winters SHOWS were
swept entirely from the Virginia mountains.
ssInEt N thing II fanr - -o;J tho cot
that the same influence that logged you
here and led TO the order for your delivery
there may pursue you at Richmond"
"And will you tell me what that is and
why it should be so bitter?' asked Benton.
The doctor glanced uncertainty at the
thinned face. flushing family even through
the pallor of this long confinement, then
turned to Resale. Quickly she again left
her chair, hurried to the window and threw
open the curtain. as though to look forth
into the night. where all was apparently
dark as Erebus.
1T is a family-jah, sub. i hardly under
stand it myself. But I'm bound to say that
Major Lounsberry has forfeited any claim
he may have had upon my friendship. Now
1 must look to that bandage again before
you retiah, subj" And thus closed the con-
ference.
Not half an hour later young Pomp was
nervously idgeting about the room on the
customary plea of helping Marse Benton
undress. when he rolled his big eyes thrice
to the west window and finally said, with
a chuckle:
"Marse Jack never thought nuthin' of
swingin' out of that window when dis was
his room, TO de wah.'
l.-l 49, .,
suggested Benton, wondering to what this
conversation might lead.
"Lawd Marse Benton, you done fo'got de
lightnin' rawd!"
Stepping to the window, the lieutenant
peered forth into the moist and windy
night. The clouds were sailing swiftly
overhead, alternately hiding and revealing
the few peeping stars. A warm wet breeze
was swaying the boughs of the big oak at
the back of the garden and the branches
of the locusts along the unpaved side street.
Not a glimmer of light came from any of
the scattered houses; not a sound was
heard save the sweep and rustic of the gen.
tie gale. A few heavy drops still battered
from the caves and splashed upon the sill
beside him-drops such as shone on Rosa
lies wavy hair. Putting forth his hand,
he could feel, just to the left of the win
dow, the stout, thick iron rod that Pomp
had Observation-Disclosures means of egress in
wild university days, not so long gone by.
Slowly, thoughtfully he closed the shade
and returned to the dressing table where
stood the single candle. Pomp had van
ished, but there, pinned to the cushion. was
the mate to the strange little billet he had
found at the gate. Even the handwriting
was the same:
Horses. guide and everything you need
waiting back of the barn. Lose not a mo-
ment. Choose between the mountains for
a day or two. or Libby for the rest of the
war. Burn this, too"
ITO Be Continued To-Morrow.1