Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-09-21

Victims OF a possibly aVOlddDle ARRAY
between a searching party and certain
fisher people whose huts and sheds had
been too suddenly visited in the dark
ness that precedes the dawn. Shots
had been exchanged, due, it was
claimed, to the confusion and excite
ment; but the tall, lank, woe-begone
civilian who guided the party and got
three serious wounds as his share of
the casualties, swore he had been
singled out for vengeance because he
had been the means of breaking up
more than one well-planned escape Of
confederate prisoners. 1t was Jennings,
and Jennings before breathing his last
wished to see Capt. Chiffon, who swal-
lowed his repugnance and went; for,
in common with most of his people he
believed the stricken man a two-faced
spy and the seller of information
which he probably was, yet hoped to
play his game to the last and induce
Chiffon now to believe it was the dead
and d~efenseless Lounsberry that threw
the cavalry on Ladue that night below
Matthias.
1t was southern lead, however, that
ended Jennings's career, and he, at
least, had he lived, could never have
set foot again on Virginia soil.
These things they told Fred Benton
that soft April evening on the way
up to Charlottesville, as the sun was
sinking behind the ragged mountains
and the Rivanna bank full, came rush
ing and foaming down from the
beautiful Blue Ridge. They led him
from the wreck Of a railway, through
powered streets, to the gate of an old
Virginia homestead, where leafy trees
chung thick and protecting about the
columned portico and the widespread
ing caves. There these two war-trained
young cavaliers, still wearing their
uniforms of gray left him for a brief
hour, and went their way to answer
many a question, doubtless, from the
lips Of loved ones, not so entirely alb
| sorbed in their own bliss as to feel
no interest in the possibilities of an
other affair. Every girl in Charlottes-
| vile had at least one lover in the war.
| Some had many more than one Some
alas, had lost the only one. Was ii
! like that Queen Rosalie should care
for none? Queen Rosalie she was again
in the hearts of many Of her old CO.
terie, but imperious, wilful, domineer-
| ;,ox ~ 1Ar Ohio IN Ood IN nnn and oil
as all could see.
The trees and shrubbery were ringing
with a riot of melody as Benton softly
closed the gate behind him and stood
a moment, waiting for his heart tc
cease the violence of its t%hrobbing
Blue birds, wrens and orioles were
piping in final frolic before the close o.
day. The hedge rows and the lofty
boughs alike seemed thrilling with life
and ecstasy and song. Only the OLE
white mansion was still. The broad
doorway to the lower hall stood invit'
ingly open. An easy chair, cushioned
stood close beside it, and other chairs,
with a footstool or hassock, an old gray
travelling SudWi anu d iDOON VI LWt
we're scattered about. A venerable
horse, wheezy and sedate, was cropping
the grass and switching at gnats undel
the blossoming fruit trees on the south
ward side. The locusts dropped over
the old fence along the cross street
where that feathered, drab felt ha
first caught Benton's weary eyes. Blu
on this lovely, breathless evening nj
human form appeared, no human voic'
was heard in concert with the vespel
hymn Of the myriad ~songsters Of th'
air. Purposely had Benton given nj
hint Of his coming. Indeed, to whom
should be serd word2 why shoulA b
send to any one? Why, indeed, shouls
he have come at all?
Three years before, this very month
he had escaped In the darkness Of mid
night from these surroundings, and |
was Rosalie who pointed the way. Tw,
years before, this very month, she ha,
driven him forth from her presence, o
turned from him in a fury Of disdain
with insult on her lips, with wrath ant
contempt in her flashing eyes. Surely
announcement be had none; yet tn