Iron County register., 1905-06-15
custodian Of Lieut.. and AIde-de Canp

DtlOIe ever IL udO DeCOUlt tQe RElLl
and deadly earnest tney were to know
so bitterly and so very soon. The car
was cleared of all save passengers, the
train was started before he could and
words with which TO thank the courtly
southern general, and the doctor, bend.
ing over him, was saying, You must
not discredit my repoht, sub, by look
ing so much alive as you do at this
moment. represented your case. sub.
as one requiring constant attention,
otherwise you might have had to 90
to Richmond"
And so for a day or two these
pleasantries-these courtesies of war
prevailed. Then all of Johnston's men
remaining north of the Rappahannock
came drifting in before new forward
move of the union force along the rail-
way. Howard's strong division Of
Summers corps swept out in reconnais-
sance, even as the bulk of McClellans
army was being directed on Alexan.
dria for the now inevitable swing to
the Peninsula between the York and
the James-full details of the gathering
Of every kind Of bay and river craft
reaching Johnston quite as speedily as
they did New York. So that skilled
soldier withdrew still further to the
line of the Rapidan where he could be
nearer Richmond in case of need.
Then when Banks should have come
ha o,n1
cred" Washington, up sprang that rest.
less, watchful. prayerful Virginia lead
er, Jackson, and so stirred the situ-
alton in the valleys that Banks and his
men had to hurry back through the
mountain passes, and further delays
and complications arose before April
set in and Mcclellan could sail for
Fortress Monroe, and in all the hustle
and excitement, the rumors flying
hither and yon, the marching to and
fro of cavalry and tleet-footed infan-
try, it happened that for full a fort
night DR.. Chiffon and his patients,
nurse, guard and all, had settled down
to something like peace and physical
comfort at cozy, homelike old Char
lottesville, and no man sought seriously
to hamper or disturb them. From
Gainesville DR.. Chiffon had penned a
letter to be sent through the lines,
notifying the commanding general OF
the union force along Bull Run OF
Benton's capture after gallant effort
to cut his way through, in the course
of which he was quite painfully though
not dangerously wounded-that he was
in good hands and would be we'll cared
for, and this news-a great relief-was
promptly transmitted to Fred's general
and by him telegraphed to the far
western home.
On well-made stretcher lay the cen.
trail figure Of household and local in
terest, Lieut.. Jack Chiffon, slowly but
surely gaining strength and spirits
with every day. And who wouldn't
under similar influences?-for two fair
young daughters of the old common
wealth Wed with each other in assidu-
GUS effort to entertain" the trooper
invalid. Lovely were they both, these
cousins Of the blood, and most carefully
had they been chosen for this special
duty by their acknowledged leader,
chief of the little clan of kinswomen.
Brilliant, beautiful and daring, who
of their brave order could lay claim
to leadership so long as Rosa allie cared
to hold it? They followed a<ld obeyed
her eagerly, loyalty, though in years
she was but Is, and five, at least,
of the sacred band were her seniors.
Ever since the days of short dresses,
braids and pinafores, she had been
dominant among them. Tomboy had
they called Rosalie at ten, for she
could ride any horse within miles OF
Charlottesville, and preferred walking
stills, flying kites or running races TO
the customary allurements of girlhood.
She had one envy, one champion, one
idol-her brother, barely two years
her senior-and apparently but one
sorrow-that she could not do every
thing that Jack could, and not for lack
of trying.
Then as they grew older, and other
girls brothers began showing hither-
to unsuspected fondness for Jacks So
ciety, and coming to see him at all
hours Of the day, and other girls them
selves began making eyes at Jack, her
Indifference to the first and her fury
at the second were comical to see. And
then, when the war came on and Vir-
.ginia sprang to arms and Jack to sad.
die and his first commission in Jeb
Stuart's famous First cavalry, she was
all afire with fervcy and patriotism on
the one hand and Of mad jealousy OF
Maud Pelham on che other, for on
Maud had Jack cast favoring eyes.
And so, when she brought her brother
home to nurse and pet and coddle to
her hearts content, while she was all
soothing sweetness on the side that
showed to him, she fairly bristled on
the other-that which all well-favored
feminine callers, inquirers and friends
must needs encounter when they asked
to see him. She established a regular
roster book and told off the list Of
the sacred band-her henchwomen, in
to four ''reliefs" Of two girls each--one
relief only to be on duty each day and
no outsiders to be admitted. Needless
to say Maud Pelham was not of the
elect, and Jack speedily showed he
wished 1t were otherwise
And so this sweet April morning,
with a soft, languorous air playing
about the wooded, sun-kissed heights,
she had two such awfully nice
young girls to cheer him, while she
herself turned dutifully to another
wounded officer, a youth in dark blue
and gold who had been for over an
hour a silent watcher Of the merri-
ment about Chilton's cot, while he,
Fred Benton, sat lonely and longing