The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18
THE IRON BRIGADE
AsTORY OF THE ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC

tie, as though Rosalie shrank still further
away. and Benton felt. rather than saw
for under the majors stern, relentless,
searching gaze he dare not look in the lead
| of his heart-that her eyes were fixed upon
him in mingled scrutiny and indignation.
The silence was painful. and Benton
broke it.
There was nothing new in the note,
DOCTOR" said he, purposeIy ignoring the
staff officer. 1T was to tell me-wha l
already suspected, and. since this gentle
mans arrival. have felt sure of-that L
was TO be sent to Richmond. Do not let it
worry you. L have been preparing for it.
and now 1 am quite ready to CO."
For the life of him. as the sentence
closed. he could not avoid shooting one
swift glance at the stairway to note the
effect of his words. The major saw. turned
J and, finding that from where he stood the
landing and stairway were hidden from
view, stepped quickly forward. Benton in
stantly did the same, and, almost breast
to breast. they met there in the middle of
the room-the blue and the gray-the fire
flashing in the eyes Of each. There was
the sound of whisking drapery, a soft
swish along stair and balcony rail, and in
an instant Rosalie had darted to the land
ing and out of sight. A half smile. con-
temptuous and cutting, played about the
Confederate's lips. He gave no sign what
ever that he had heard. He addressed him
self to Benton:
II presume you have burned that note.
sir, and, therefore, have nothing with
which to back your statement. but L take
you at your word. You are ready to go,
you say; be ready TO start, then, at 8 in
the morning.
my dear major!'' broke in DIR. Chiffon.
Surely you
Those are my orders. doctor. 1 have no
volition," answered Lounsberry, coldly.
And now. if I may say adieu to Jack I'll
leave you to such preparation as may be
necessary. The guard will call for Mr..
Benton at s. 1 go myself to Gordonsville
tonight"
With that Major Lounsberry turned
haughtily-there is no other word for it
away. as though the possibility Of further
talk with a Federal prisoner was something
intolerable to an officer of his rank and
station. The doctor. stunned and silent.
looked helplessly from one TO the other,
and again it was Benton who spoke a re-
assuring word. Cordially he held forth his
one free. hand.
It's all right. DOCTOR said he. You
and Miss Chiffon have pulled me round
famously. 1 can stand Libby diet now just
as well as anybody, and I'm betting on
speedy exchange. Then-our fellows will
be doing something now,'' he added. with
significant smile. who knows but they
may gather in game as big as that?" with
a laughing nod toward the ~resplendent ma
jor. "Or is he, like so many of our staff.
only for duty at the rear?' And Benton
meant that Lounsberry should hear, and
hear he did and flushed red under the
taunt.
DO not judge our methods by the little
you know of yours, Mr.. Benton he re-
torted. albeit with admirable self-control.
Then. as though again determined to ignore
the Northerner. May 1 be permitted a
word with Lieutenant Chiffon, doctor?" a
question which seemed to recall the doctor
to himself and left Benton to his own de-
vices. Without another glance. at the I'M
welcome visitor the latter turned and as
cended the stairs to the second story, and
there, in the dim light of a night lamp, by
the eastward window, stood the girl he
longed to see and speak with. and she who
had avoided now came half timidly for
ward. as though to meet him.
The broad hallway of the lower story,
extending from the colonnaded portico in
front to the wide veranda in rear, was vir-
tually repeated aloft by as broad a land
ing" from which opened four bedrooms in
the main building and passageways leading
to the wings. India mating covered the
floor. Couches, divans and easy reclining
chairs were scattered about. Several por-
traits in oil of famous connections of the
-family-Cabel, Custis or Stuart-and many
a good engraving hung about the walls.
Two windows. heavily curtained. opened to
the east; two others, draped in Unity.
looked out over the fine old-fashioned gar
den, over a few Virginia homesteads peep
ing from the midst of oaks and naples.
with the roofs and cupola of the university
in the distance, and beyond them the tum-
bling outline of the Ragged mountains. ris-
ing against the backbone barrier to the
great valley. the beautiful Blue Ridge. 1t
was away from the neighborhood of her
aunt's door and her own and close to the
westward windows that Rosalie Chiffon ST.
lently led her captive soldier, and then
turned, her face pale and sorrow-stricken.
her great dark eyes filling with unshed
tears. For days she had been distant. re-
pellent almost, in manner that relented not
one whit. even when she saw it stung and
grieved him. Tonight she seemed sudden
ly to nave determined on making amends.
Without, the skies had been covered with
heavily charged masses of clouds that
poured their torrents on the thirsting earth.
but now a vigorous young moon was peep
ing through the thinning veil and throwing
a vague. ghostly light upon garden, village
street and vine-clad arbor, and tracing
marvellous pattern of fretwork on the India
mating. Within, just in like manner. Ro-
sales almost perfect face had been dark
ened by clouds Fred could neither Danish
nor fathom, but now a new, soft, tender
light seemed shimmering through. What
could it mean? he asked. with beating
heart. for there was a moment in which
neither spoke.
II have a confession to make, Mr.. Ben
tom said she. at length. do you think
it's easy for a girl to say-she's glad to
find that she was wrong?'
Something has seemed to me very wrong
of late answered Benton so much so I
was glad TO get away on any terms. even
TO Libby. For what have 1 been pun
ished?"
81 shall tell you-frankly." she answered,
standing with downcast eyes before him,