Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-10-29
CHAPTER XIV.
LINcoLN's DILEMMA.

The president desires to see Lieut.
Benton of your staff" wrote the ad-
jutant general, three weeks later, tc
the division commander and, just at a
time when he hated to go, for there
seemed a prospect Of forward dash
on Gordonsville, the aide-de-camr
found himself enrouec. A confederate
gallant, painfully wounded in charge
OF Benton, was being escorted to Wash
ington. He had refused parole. He
would rather share the fate of Louns-
berry, said he, if his wounds speedily
healed, or Of poor Floyd Pelham, still
languishing in hospital, if the wounds
proved battling. How much those fell
lows seemed to know Of everything
transpiring within the union divi-
sions! Just what had been done with
Lounsberry and Pelham-just where
they were confined and everything con-
nected with their capture was all told
at Charlottesville almost as soon as a.
Washington. How little, until long
weeks after, as a rule, did our generals
know Of the daily doings beyond this
picket posts along the front! With
sorrow and anxiety inexpressible Ben
ton heard that in spite of Dr. Chill
toms long years Of kindness and gen.
erosity among his townsfolk-in spite
Of Rosalie's acknowledged queendom,
an almost bitter feeling now existed,
and there was talk of arrest and in-
generation at Richmond. Not until
he had studied Benton for several days
did young Winston admit all this-and
more. He had heard it through Off
GERS at Robertson's headquarters. He
had known the Chiltons we'll when he
was junior at the varsity. He had
often seen Lounsberry and had heard
much of his standing and influence
had heard, moreover, that he had been
devotee of Miss Rosalie's. "How-
ever" with quick glance at Ben
tons face, which colored instantly,
even under its coat of tan and sun
burn, Lounsberry didn't seem to find
favor" There was some trouble, he
didn't know what, and Maud Pelham
had ''had flare up" with Rosalie, and
that was something people didn't un-
derstand, for Jack Chiffon was as
much smitten with her as Lounsberry
had been with Miss Chiffon. Don't
s'pose you heard much about it," said
he in the confidence bred of the un-
looked-for kindness with which he had
been treated, but adding, with an
apologetic laugh, "they do say al
Charlottesville that Miss Rosalie jus,
ruled every body about her like she
was a bohn queen
Benton was most unwilling to leave
the front, for there were indications OF
brisk work and a forward movement
that might relieve the situation. Let
ters from home had showered him with
blessings and congratulations on his
escape. The squire was now full of a
scheme to come on to Washington,
bringing Elinor with him, but. much
as she longed to see her brother, the
girl was now 10th to leave home-Mrs.
Ladue was swiftly failing and seemed
to need her gentle nurse more and
more with every day.
McKinnon, wrote certain townsfolk
to Fred's general, had so lost caste in
the community that he had determined
on a war record to rehabilitate him
self, and was now seeking the lieuten-
ant-colonelcy Of new regiment being
raised in their midst. What with bad
news from Schencl1 and Milroy, falling
back on Fremont after a thrashing at
the Bull Pasture, deep disappoint-
ment over McClellans being held an
entire month in front of Yorktown and
feeling that we were getting rather
the worst of the grapple on the penin-
sula, the atmosphere about the war
department was gloomy enough the
day the young officer arrived.
( In the ante-room, with officers. or
derlies and messengers grouped about
or coming and going, sat the long
lanky and phenomenally solemn Vir.
sinian he had first seen that night at
the stone house on the Warrenton
pike. Jennings knew the newcomer
at glance and, springing up, shook
him effusively by the hand. A mo-
ment later an officer appeared at an
ether door and beckoned Benton tc
enter. What do you know about that
man." was the very first question pro-
pounded the instant the door closed be.
hind him.
Nothing" said Benton, except thai
he was at the stone house, in trouble
with some of our brigade the first time
saw him-seemed to be well known
to DR.. Chiffon and other virginians
and later was with the Sixth Wiscon-
sin the afternoon they captured Maj
Lounsberrg."
"But-how about papers -informa
tion-concerning our forces that he re.
ceived that night? You were captured
while graphing with the cavalry of.
hcer who brought them"
"[?" cried Benton. Good heavensn
And then stood dumb, for all on 6
sudden it flashed over him. Rosalie!
Rosalie. who had so inexplicably
donned Ladue's uniform, ventured
down through the darkness to the
pike, seeing some one at the stone
house. Rosalie, who had refused tc
tell what influence prompted that ap.