The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-04

here in Pennsylvania, playing informant
for both forces again, and douptless get
ting big pay from ours! 1t was hlgh time
back was slow and tedious-even perllous
work. The dawn was breaking when, In
bedraggled garb, Benton made MS way
across the plateau TO the farmhouse on the
Taneytown road. where officers and order
lies were thickly grouped, and where ne
found his own gray-headed general in the
circle about the commander. Before Ben
ton had time TO whisper half his e%xplana-
ton. Wadsworth's tired eyes famed with
eager light.
eral!" he cried. Captain Benton. of ny
staff, is just in from that front Stuart is
there and Ewell means TO attack"
How do you know Stuart is there" de.
young officer. The most courteous and
polished of gentlemen at other times, Meade
was irascible in the extreme in battle
knew, an officer Of the First Virginia
heard them say that Fftz Lee was there,
and that Stuart would settle Gregg, and
that Ewell would attack at dawn But
even as he spoke came confirmation of his
words. In the dim light of the dawn the
guns of Greene and Geary had suddenly
the opposite woods, and Wadsworth sprang
for his horse. But the commander signaled
Benton to remain. You have done a GAL
liant deed. captain. and have brought me
most valuable information" were his words
a moment later. 1T shall not be forgot
ten"
Yet Benton was surprised late that after
noon when, after the din of the most ter
rifle ~cannonade ever heard on this CONT
nent, and, after daring and determined at
tack, Pickett, Ewell and Stuart all had
been repulsed-Pickett with dreadful loss
there came a message summoning the
aid-de-camp TO Meade headquarters. He
was faint with the fearsome sights encoun-
vast hospital. a sympathetic staff officer
gave him a nip from his flask, and then
pointed to where a little group of prison
Several were slightly wounded. All were
sad and weary, but there was none he
knew. An orderly led him toward a rude
wagon-shed beneath which knelt four OFF,
GERS, surrounding a PROSTATE figure, h
asked for you" said a surgeon, briefly, and
one glance at the face of the stricken sol
der was enough. Never needing the others
of the group-never even seeing them-with
a cry, half stified, of mingled anguish and
amaze, Benton threw himself on his knees
and clasped the cold, nerveless hand, feebly
lifted to greet him. The failing eyes light
ed up one moment in love, recognition and
relief. then closed in agony, as a spasm of
dreadful torment seized =. the fragile
Benton could murmur, for a great sob
choked his ~utterance, and a surgeon hur-
riedly brushed before him and held a lit
tie silver cup To the twitching lips of his
patient. Mortal, yes" was his whisper,
as the poor lad. exhausted. lay for a mo-
ment in n deathlike swocn. Then the stin-
uldll tSttllCd IL CNlNt MN q Dlt. liz
dark eyes slowly opened and fixed on Ben
tons quivering face. a flicker OF setting
sunbeam, breaking through the smoke still
drifting over the field. threw for an instant
almost a halo of rosy light about the
dark, damp hair, and gave a touch Of
warmth 10 the sweet, yet piteous little
smile that played. oh. so short a moment.
about the almost girlish lips. and then
they moved: BLESS you, old boyi'-and
every whisper seemed TO come with a gasp
II heard-I knew-you'd never give up
her letters. Observation-Disclosures" And
here the poor lad seemed drifting away
again. Benton thrust his left arm under
the fallen head and strove to raise IL. while
once more the surgeon placed the cup to
the parted lips; and. noting the name. a
staff officer turned quickly and said a word
TO a waiting soldier. IL was another min
ute before the Swooning lad reopened his
eyes. The end was swift coming, for their
light had fed. Two other forms had joined
the silent group. uncovering I'm the aw-
full presence. But Benton saw nothing but
the loved face-heard nothing but the la
bored breathing OF mis- friend and COM
rade whose young life had known
such cruel sorrows, whose early death was
so surely due TO the malign influences that
flag that once at least he had loved so
Loyalty. And now. in spite Of soldier reso-
luton. big tears fell from Benton's brin-
ming ewes and FLASHED on the fragile hand
still fondly clasped In his own. IL seemed
TO rouse the dying boy. He looked yearn-
ingly up into the face of his sorrowing
friend. just as somewhere down the field
som bugler HAD softly begun to play.
slowly and solemnly. the vesper hymn OF
the army the salute 10 the departing day,