Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-09

of Stuart's impudent dash at Cham bersburg and the second circling of the Army of the Potomac. He was then just beginning to stump around quite comfortably. Elinor and the squire had returned to the west, the former with red-rimmed eyes and pallid cheeks. No one knew how she had sorrowed over the sad news about Ladue. It was that, though that seemed to break the ice of Rosalie's reserve, for now, for the first time. the Virginia girl read the secret of her Wisconsin wou1d-be friend, and melted to her instantly. It was that. though they rarely spoke his name, that led to the letters now passing frequently between them. It was through that correspondence the sisterhood began that. despite trial and trouble, proved eventually so sure an alliance in time of need.
 But though Elinor wrote in many a page of her brother, and iii only few referred to Paul-and then only as .he'' or ..him''-Rosalie would write only of the latter. Ordinarily this would have led to resentment and breach. Nowit did not, for what Rosa lie had to say was stirring new hope into the somber current of the western girls monotonous life. Rosalie had amazed and rejoiced her, about the end of October, by the assurance that she believed Capt. Lamar to be totally mis- taken. 1t was true, she admitted, that, Paul Ladue had not been seen with EwelPs division, but neither had EW- ell, as yet-for the latter had not be- come accustomed to cork leg--yet she had tidings from 'friends '--who, she would not say-that Paul Ladue was still alive when borne from the awful front of Gibbons guns, then belching canister in double rounds. More dead than alive he looked" said her inform ant, but while she had no tidings of :. his present whereabouts, neither was there any record of his death. All this was presently sent to Fred on the Rappahannock, and made him the more eager. to communicate with some one across that modern Rubi- con-some one who could speak ad- visedly. But though there were places near the lords up stream where the cavalry vedettes sat long hours in sad dle, facing, and often within hailing distance of each other, the orders against communication of any kind had become exacting, for it was evil dent that Burnside was marshaling his grand divisions for move.
 s In the early summer time, when he Lo%o5 +o Ioorya opd Ion orod f<> push on to Richmond or Charlottes- vile. Benton had been summoned to ! Washington. Now, when he longed to- go6to astingto there was. prospect of a midwinter dash across the Raprs pahannock. News of the Chiltons was sorely disquieting. Rosalie would not write. Jack, in prison camp, could not, except to kindred, and the doctor evidently shrank from writing. It was winter of courts-martial at the capital, and several such tribunals were in session. trying officers of vari- ous grades. Many new regiments had come and were held about the city until suitably drilled and disciplined, As a consequence the avenues again were alive with uniforms, the hotels crowded, and many thrifty households were "coining'' money taking boarders. Mention has been made of Dr. Chil-' ton's sister, with whom they were again dwelling after their return from the summer seashore. Being only moderately well-to-do,. and besieged with applications, she had yielded to pressure and let two of her rooms to ' officers sojourning in the city, Then | one of these, ordered west, begged leave to present successor, major of a new regiment, who, being a smart lawyer, had been assigned to duty as a judge advocate of a court l for the trial of officers of rank in the l that McKinnon had been appointed major of a newly raised regiment and I ordered with it to Annapolis, Fred Benton felt, so great was his antipa- I thy, vague sensation of annoyance and chagrin. Three weeks later when Col. Golf, of the teenth, came down 1 to pay the Iron Brigade two-days' visit, the young staff officer, was con- founded to hear that Mai McKinnon had just found domicile under the same roof that shielded Dr. Chiffon and the lady of his love. It meant mischief and Benton knew it, s#'
 I One bleak December morning Ben
 ton had ridden with his general down the river bank on the Stafford side and sat watching the work of the
 engineers. The pontoon wagons were
 being run to the front, and many an sof1icer and man looked at the heavy
 ungainly boats and the long loads o1
 balk and chess, then studied the dis
 tant line of heights across the stream
 saying little but thinking much. Who
 ever sought to storm that crest had $
 precious job on hand. was an expurga.
 tion of the way in which the average
 veteran expressed his individual views
 And while seated in saddle, shiverins
 in the wind blowing from the distan
 Chesapeake, and wishing the chic
 would quit his comments on the order!