Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-05
Copyrighl l2a2, By G. W. Dillingham; Co
CHAPTER xvIII.-(continued,)

near washington to become an ardent
administration man. Only twice in the
past has he seen the plain, unassum-
ing western lawyer, the humorous M.
G. who had not reputation enough to
came to speak at the squire's home
city, but later, when they met at the
fremont in Chicago, was the rival of
the little giant, Douglas, in joint de-
bate. Now, just as Douglas had held
the hat of the victorious Lincoln dur
ing his inaugural address, so would
Squire Benton go to any length to back
this inspired, and, as Benton is now
beginning to believe, God-given leader.
More troops must be had without de-
lay is the burden of what the senator
says. Will Benton go west at once
and use his utmost influence? Benton
will. He has only come, he says, to
assure himself that Fred is safe-to see
Elinor, now scorning the sea, breezes
of Cape May and insisting on her right
to be useful as nurse among the hos
pitfalls. Then the squire will start
within the day. Meantime, says the
senator, we must see the president,
and then there is further muttered
conversation that Fred cannot hear,
nor does he care to. His one thought,
after seeing that Jack Chiffon lacks
nothing-after one little word, per-
haps, with Jacks no longer imperious
SISTERS to reioin the division as it
comes through with the now reorgan-
izing corps. But, meanwhile, it is the
senator's wish they should both go
with him to the white house, and
there, amidst the throng of impor-
tunates in the ante-room. Fred is
startled to see the colonel of a regi-
ment in the First brigade holding low
toned conversation with a portly, dig
nified man in black swallow-tailed coat,
high stock and silken waistcoat, to
whom their western statesman bows
with Difference and then whispers to
them his name. Then the colonel
turns and Benton is more startled to
see how sad, sorrow-stricken and hag-
gard he looks. The matter is soon ex-
planned, though the colonel speaks with
choking voice. His son, lieutenant
in the Fifth New York-Duryeas zou-
aves-had been down with Chickahom-
my fever at Newport News, so i'll that
the mother had hastened thither.
nursed him through and then stayed
and cared for dozens of poor boys
whose mothers could not possibly
reach them, and SO. Slapped her own
strength and finally succumbed, and
now-her coffined body lies here at
the wharf. Their sympathetic general
had given the bereaved soldier permits
sion to turn over the command of the
regiment temporarily and to seek at
Stanton's hands a four-days' leave
just time enough to take the beloved
and honored dust back to the home
where weeping younger children await
1T. Then, the last sad rites performed,
though the wife of his youth, his man
hood, his maturer years, the love Of
his heart and life is laid away, he will
return instantly to his duty, his COM
mand~ Impossible will it be for them
to catch Lee within that time. No
battle can occur that will involve the
old division, but Stanton sternly says
no; bids him ship she remains that
night if need be, but rejoin his regi-
ment before the morning.
"The brigade is marching through
this moment" says the colonel, with
quivesing lips, but the senator
brought me hereto the president. l
have telegraphed to brother to come
If must CO." and the haggard eyes
look in dumb appeal into the equally
haggard face of Lincoln, who inclines
that ever-patient ear to both, as again
the sad, pathetic tale is told. Oh, the
pity and sorrow and sympathy in the
deep-set, somber eyes, the anguish ii
the rugged features as he hears the
words, Stanton says no, because the
brigade is marching through this mo-
ment."
For an instant the strong hands art
clenched and uplifted almost as though
In appeal to Heaven, but though tn
deep voice breaks and trembles, though
the pallid lips twitch with pain, tn,
answer comes infexibly:
And no it must be! Not man, no
musket, can we spare 1t may b.
the very crisis of the war, and l SHOULD
be false to my trust if / did not hol'
myself and every soldier to the dut,
CT the hour Let the dead bury thei
dead. l cannot rob a regiment of it
leader at such time"
And the two men, the sorely griev
Ing colonel, the sorely-tried command
er-in-chief, look one instant into eac
others swimming eyes, There is
solder salute-but utter silence, an
the colonel turns away.
you don't need me here" gulp
Fred moment later. II am going t
see il l can help the colonel There
no one with him. I'll come to yor
father, later-at Wizards
And SO it happens that, riding o
the earliest dawn to catch the division
Benton passes carriage at the out
skirts Of Georgetown, preceded by
cavalry sergeant who speaks a wor