The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-05

could not be made to hate the Chiltons-
any of them-or to look with anything less
than love on the memory of Paul Ladue
So he came back from Washington In
time for the Mine run affair, bolllng over
again with wrath at the way he had peen
badgered. Stanton as much as intlmateo
that Benton knew Jennings to be false 10
his obligations, and was shielding MIN as
he had striven TO defend the Chiltons ana
Ladue. mo man can serve two masters ..enS
young SIR" said the stern secretary, and
you can't properly serve your country ana
shield those in rebellion against IL I've
seen too much of this disposition on your
part, and IL i see any more OF It'll preak
you"
Words were these to be we'll remembered
in the light of later events. -
No wonder Benton was aname Win III
dignation. and narrowly did he escape
court-martial for the hot wrath OF his re-
ply. He demanded court of inquiry, put
to no purpose. There was little evidence
but his own He continued to serve VIII, MIN
Wadsworth, who, from having been more
than half-inclined at one time 10 snare
own for differing radically with that ire
mendous power, and took up the cudgels
for Fred in his vehement fashion. and
own had il not been for the shot that ended
il all that bitter day in the wilderness
Then Benton was transferred for time
TO the headquarters OF the cavalry corps
and rode with Sheridan to Yellow Tavern.
where the plumes of Stuart went down at
last, and the brilliant leader of the South
ern Horse was borne away to die within the
walls of the weeping city, and here II was.
after Yellow Tavern, Fred Benton had one
of the oldest, yet most opportune, meetings
of the war.
dead and wounded still Icy in numbers on
the field of the stirring fight. The lines
had surged hither and yon during the late
afternoon. Three Confederate officers, un-
horsed and captured, had been brought TO
Sheridans camp fire near the Richmond
road, and in one of these Benton instantly
the braid of major of cavalry. The recog,
milton was mutual, and Benton's well-hlled
flask was brought into requisition at the
instant Soldiers sink their enmity at such
time. The blue and the gray were soon
in cordial chat but Benton saw the Vir-
ginian was in deep chagrin. A question as
was needed, and Winston launched at once
into TRADE. There never was such in
fernal luck, he said. For months three
men had been bounding that fellow to get
an accounting from him on a matter that
-that-wel Pelham's sister had been en-
gaged-at least believed herself engaged
to Lounsderry ever since early in the war.
yet in January came the announcement OF
his approaching marriage to a widow of
wealth and social position in Charleston.
He had tricked Maud most damnably. said
Winston, and Floyd Pelham, the very
young fellow who was so nearly killed try
| ing to save Lounsberry out there near
Gainesville. captain now and only twenty.
| had been trying to get fight out of him,
and so had Jack Chiffon, but Floyd had the
| best claim, and now Lounsberry had ac-
tTaly been nailed; He had come to stuart
| him in the face with his gauntlet. A meet
| ing had been arranged for tomorrow morn
ing; He, Winston, was Pelham's second.
| and would almost give his parole, were
such a thing possible to an officer of
| Stuart's cavalry, to get back to the Con-
federate lines and bring that fellow TO book.
You owe him grudge as well as Maud
| Pelham's kinsmen," said he. Sooner or
| later he's got to fight or funk. 1 can't be
there to second Pelham, and now there 5
no telling when any of us can get at him"
| why not Chilton?' asked Fred.
Chiffon and Winston flushed with en-
barrassment; Chiffon has just been sent
with his wounded leader and kinsman-
to Richmond?" hazarded Fred.
MOO" was the hating reply. In fact.
| Winston could not say whittier he had gone.
1t seemed long indeed before any Of those
| who owed Lounsberry srudge were en-
abled to ''get at him. But there came a
| but to Benton, still serving with Sheridan,
| still wearing the blue. still praying for a
| break in the straining lines that circled the
| still defiant capital-a break that would
| permit him to ride again to Charlottesville
| where he had left the silken sash. to say
nothing Of his heart, in the hands Of that
| through Elinor, neither word nor sign had
come from her in all these long months.
Grant had crossed the James and invest
| ed Petersburg. when to shake him loose. II
possible, by the old device of soaring Wash
ington. Early was sent down the Shenan-
doah valley with twelve thousand men and
| orders to stir up Maryland. Stir accord
| ingly he did, until the arrival of the Sixth
| Corps from the James and the approach OF
| the Nineteenth warned him he could not
too soon drop II all and scurry back. He
| had come close enough to sigh the spires
| of the capital city and put Stanton into q
| fume. He had displayed remarkable knowl.
| edge of all our works and ways, and had
found time to substantially reward certain
farm people near Shepherdstown and tC
shake hands with not few enthusiastic
| sympathizers who came flocking out from
Baltimore to meet him. No wonder Stanton
was wroth! Then Early harked back, leav-
ing just a few of his men cut off by sud.
| den rush Of Union cavalry, one of these q
young captain of his own staff an almost
| invaluable officer. 1t seems that he had
dared to ride too far to visit and thank Ger.
| tain people who had won his gratitude on 9
| previous and more extended visit. Thi.
time 1t was not so easy to get away across
the Potomac: He was still i'm hiding wher
Grant sent Sheridan TO put stop to fur
Their use of the Shenandoah valley as the
| highroad to invasion of the North. Stan
ton growled at the order. Sheridan wa.
too young. said he, for so important a com
mand, but the President had seen enough
| of the policy of interference at the real
with the fighters at the front. Grant.
| choice was sustained, and speedily justified
itself With Sheridan went Fred Benton
The Sixth Corps had followed Early
across and fought him sharply in the Blu,
| Ridge. Some OF the wounded were still
lying in farmhouses, and sorrowfu
women were busily caring for these as bes
they could, for most of their medical mer
had gone with the army. One warn
August evening, Benton came ridinl
down from scout among the beautiful
heights that border the valley on the east
he stopped to water his horse at the pub
lie trough In front of a village tavern ans
while his half-dozen troopers were reset
ting saddles and exchanging laughing low
toned comment over the disfavor in tn,
few feminine faces visible. his quick ey.
caught a glimpse of three forms that, com
ing suddenly from a leafy side street has
stopped short at sight OF the blue jackets
and after a moments hesitation, has
turned back the way they came. One, al
elderly clergyman. gave his arm to a gen
tlewoman, evidently bowed with care anC
sorrow. The third form was that OF a girl
slender, graceful and in her walk there wa.
something vaguely familiar to Benton,
| eyes even before he noted that she wor,
| a drab felt hat, PREDETERMINED and feath
| cred There seemed no houses in the littl.
hamlet that warranted the presence O.
| people of such evident station. and BentoI
| followed TO the corner. saw the trio holt
| brief conferences. saw the young lady bow
her head as though In acquescence, ther
enter the gateway of unpretentious lit
tie home, while the other two walked slow
ly on. He had seen just enough TO rous
| both memory and interest. Quickly n,
| crossed the street, followed along hedg
| of rose bushes. turned sharply through
| the gate, and face TO face at the trellises
porch met the girl whom he had fifs
seen sauntering along that leafy sid.
street at Charlottesville in the spring O
81 Bearded. bronzed and stalwart as n,
her OF the palid prisoner Of the Chiltons
and only INDIGNATION at his fntr,,slo,