Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-10

house with a demand to see the presi-
dent; had been promised an opportun-
ity Immediately after cabinet meeting
that afternoon; had met McKinnon
sauntering down the avenue in com
pany with a fellow soldier-lawyer, and
had hurled himself upon him then and
there, to the end that the major was
picked up and carried to Wizards,
the squire escorted to the police sta
ton, and the interview didn't come off.
1t is recorded of the president that
when told of the incident that evening,
his sad face frightened for the first
time in week. 81 wonder il the
squire would let me make him a gen.
eral," said he. cat least he fights.
That night a soldier of the regular
service did a thing that, had Stanton
known it, would doubtless have sent
that soldier to close arrest, if not to
q cell. He was an officer of rank, a
gentleman of gentlemen, and fellow
beloved of his fellow men. Entrusted
with an order to see that DR.. Chiffon
and daughter We're safely sent to the
steamer for Old Point Comfort. a suit
able guard going with them, he had
called on the kindly old Virginian late
in the afternoon.
There had been brief, courteous
talk. The officer deeply regretted, he
said, to have to be the means of car
rying out the order, but he would call
with carriage at $3.50. Was there
anything he or his wife could do for
Miss Chiffon?
There is, sir" answered a voice.
and with cheeks flushing through their
pallor and eyes that flashed despite evil
dence of recent tears, Rosalie Chiffon
swept quickly into the room. 1--WE hear
that Mr.. Benton-Squire Benton-too.
has been arrested and-my aunt will
not admit of anything-but l feel that
1T is to him we are indebted for most
generous aid. Major, I wish to see
him, to thank him, to-tell him some
th1ng-as his daughter is not here.
Can that be arranged before we go?'
If possible thing" said the major
well knowing the squire was out on
bail by this time, and would certainly
come in person. All the same, he told
his wife at dinner of Miss Chilton's
request and, what had not that keen.
witted army woman already known or
surmised?
"He cannot leave barracks" said
she, on the spot, "but you can invite
him here to your quarters; then bring
them here on the way to the boat
and leave the rest to me-"
He cannot leave! Why, my dear,
he isn't in barracks. The police
begins the major, obtusely.
Major! You ask Capt Benton here
and-and-no questions" interposes
madame with severe and superior wis
dom. Then bring-her to me-" And
light begins to dawn on the master
= and he obeys.
That evening carriage whirled past
the guarded gateway Of the barrack
square and drew up at the quarters Of
the commanding officer. The major
stepped forth, rendered his hand to an
agile, slender girl who followed her
soldier escort to the doorway, where,
with eyes that shone and cheeks that
colored and lips that puckered and
hands that clasped in sympathy and
compassion, o warm hearted wife and
mother met the motherless girl and
drew her in. The major went back to
the doctor; the lady led her guest to
the parlor door and ushered her into
the dimly-lighted, cozily-warmed and
closely-curtained room; then vanished,
and, for the first time since that night
at Charlottesville, Fred Benton stood
face to face, alone, with the girl he so
fondly and SO sadly loved.
And when he, in yearning and love,
stepped eagerly toward her, his eyes
shining, his hands outstretched, the
turred hood fell back from her flushing
face, revealing it in all it's dark and
queenly beauty. Her eyes, too, flashed,
as in amaze, and then in anger she
recoiled. One instnat she glared at
him, then spoke:
Capt. Benton, you- you're a cow
ard!"
CONTINUED in next issue.)