Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-04

OH the hlghWay-he and his ORDERLY
both beginning TO get hungry and their
horses showing signs of hard riding.
1t ended in his picking a way past
the flank of the marching column.
every now and then narrowly shaving
some straggler along the dilapidated
stone wall that sl-irted the pile. and
after half an hoIr's groping. finding
himself once more at Csntrsville as the
rear of FranGlin's fine division was
clearing it.
On the westward rise of the road
way, just beyond the cid stone church
in Centreville. Burns. his orderly. set
TO work TO rub down the horses in the
fenceless yard of the first big house
to the right of the road and Benton
banged at the door in quest of supper.
Those were still the early-the vel
vet days oil the war when almost any-
thing but square fight could be had
Tor money. and the aide was in no wise
surprised to find half dozen field and
stan officers eating heartily in the
kltchen, and rather loudly and coarse
Iy, yet not really ill-naturedly. chaff-
ing an elderly, gray-haired man who.
seated by himself at little table. an
sWered their crude sallies with i'm
perturbable dignity and patience. One
oil the number knew Benton and TO-
vlally hailed him by name
What no, thou limb of the west,
Fred Benton, by all that's luckyi Well
met, my bold Badger. for we're we'll
nlga dead broke. Our Boniface here
wants dollar apiece for our supper
ana hYe dollars for the demiiobn of
peach brandy he'd been saving for Joe
johnston. We can manage the tax for
the victuals, Fred. It's the peach thar
stagSers US And there was uncon-
sclous truth in the statement, for the
entlre party showed symptoms of un-
due eXhilaration.
IL stake you, provided you've left
enough supper for me and nv orderly 5,
laughed Benton. Otherwise I'm coo
you banged first. How is it. friend9
what can you give me?" and he turned
to the man OF the house. and he in
turn to the tall, unkempt creature in
iaded calico, hair and complexion. inst
entering from the "lean-to'' at the east
ward side. shrug of the scraygy
shoulders was the significant reply.
supplemented by the brief word
"Nuth in"
Somewhere out on the pike cavalry
trumpet sounded Mount" and the
seXtette started. by Jove, There
goes the escort, so we must move"
cried burly major. Come Benton
fork over and We'll have a stirrup cup'
With that he lugged the demijohn from
underneath the table. slung il by
dett turn of the wrist. camp fashion
across his right forearm. and proceeded
to pour liberal shot into the glasses
and cups held forth TO him. Then the
devil of over stimulation sent him
lunging across the narrow floor to the
table where sat the lonely Virginian.
Come, old chap" he cried, you're all
right We've been a little free per-
haps. Soldiers will be soldiers. Won
know. You're gentleman. Join us in
a drink, sir. and toast. Hey, fellows.
let's have toast"
Forward" rang the trumpets on the
soft night wind, and the rumble of
wheels gave way to the clack and clat-
ter of countless hoofs.
Come on, major!" shouted Cant
Cranston. he who had accosted Benton.
and by this time had readily effected
the needed loan-with unneeded incre-
ment. Come on! Don't bother the
gentleman. We must be Off"
But the major was bent on another
drink and having the gray-haired
stranger share it despite the latter's
plea to be excused
One toast-just one," shouted he of
the demijohn. Here's to Little Mac.
by Jupiter, the best Seneral-the best
gentleman in the whole ARMY Amt
he, old chap"
And to the surprise of all. even in
the midst of the boisterous talk and
confusion as the party searched for
discarded sabres and gauntlets. the
elderly stranger arose, held forth his
glass and courteously said: Give
me thimbleful, sir I'll join YOU in
that with infinite pleasure"
Bully for you, old boyi" cried the
major, who had gulped a stiff three
fingers, whereas the Virgnian had
merely slipped at his glass. Now,
scuse me-just two drops more. One
more toast. Here's confusion to the
,onfederacy-an' everything c'nected
with tan. an"
"Oh, come out of this, Mullen!"
yrowled q comrade. grasping him by
the arm. Come out or PHI"
Not till I've had a STRAP cup with
this gen'leman-not till he drinks my
toasht-I've drunk his. Ready, sirc
Here's confush'n TO the confederacy
an everybody What You won't
drink that? You damned reb1 too?"
and before his friends could interpose
the half craZcd fellow had lunged
threateninsly forward at the pallid
stranger, who, having set down his
glass untouched, stood facing them,
one hand uplifted in silent protest. 1t
was Benton who sprang between them
and with apparently laughing ease,
whirled the major about. and with his
powerful hands on the burly shoulders
sent him struggling and swearing to
the doorway where the others closed
about and bore him away, one of their