Barbour County index., 1905-11-15
CHAPTER XI.
QUEEN ROSALIE.

For ten minutes after reading that
strange missive Benton stood absorbed
IN deep, painful thought The alter
aative presented was a trying one.
from what DR.. Chiffon had said in the
course of the evenings conference the
prospect OF long imprisonment seemed
assured. Lounsberry was a man of
influence, even power, at Richmond,
and he could be relied on to exert it
against Benton because-".because,
said the doctor, as he was rearranging
the bandages on Benton's arm, "he is
40 longer kindly disposed toward my
household, suh,'' and Fred reasoned
that Rosalie could, if she would, give
further and mere explicit information.
5 Il have been fearing this for several
days, suh," said Chiffon. Several of
my patients, who are loyal Virginians
and fully in accord with the stand of
their state, sub, have nevertheless been
loyal in their friendship to me. They
believe in fair play. They honor
chivalric enemy, and they know how
you protected and aided me- From
three or four sources, therefore, these
warnings came, and-and other stories
that / prefer not to mention. | re-
fused to believe all until Mai. Louns-
berry practically confirmed the truth
at is-the truth of those referring
20 him. to-day. But | shall write to
-Longstreet tonight, sub, and to Jeb
Stuart and TO Gen. Lee. They will
have influence with the president, Mr.
Benton, and meanwhile" here both the
kindly voice and the gentle hand
seemed to tremble, Il would give
'elmost anything I own toto stop
'Your being sent to Libby, sub, but,
isee no way-I see no way"
And soon thereafter, leaving Pomp to
assist his soldier patient the doctor
had Withdrawn to his study on the
ground floor, promising to be with him
again about five.
1t was just after II o'clock by
Bentons s watch as he reused himself
from the spell of anxious thought and
looked about him. There was signifi-
rance in Pomps disappearance. 1t was
evident that the youngster had been
carefully coached" to point out the
lightning rod as the best means to
leave the house unseen, unheard. That
Benton was confidently expected to
make the attempt was obvious Other
wise Pomp would have remained to
help him off with his boots and uni
form. Even to his watch, purse, spurs
and boots not an item of his personal
equipment had been taken by his cap
tors. His sword had been stricken
from his hand during the melee at the
stone house and his revolver was gone
but that was all. A year later every
thing would have become legitimate
spoils of war.
Peering from his window Benton
saw, or fancied he saw, the dim
kght as of lantern fitting about
the barn. Evidently they were
even then waiting for him. Evi
IDENTIFY he was expected to 'lose not 6
moment" Yet who were they? Surely
aot his venerable host and helper-foi
DR.. Chiffon could not lend himself t.
any scheme for the escape of the
prisoner without breaking faith will
the confederate government. Surely
aot Jack, his wounded son, for court
martial and dismissal in disgrace woul.
follow even circumstantial evidenc,
that he had aided or suggested tn,
escape. Surely not Rosalie! She hat
shown such deep adherence of the plo
70 speed his going that, even afte
her impulsive outbreak early in tn,
evening, he could not but feel it woult
be treachery 10 her and to those sh,
held dear, were he now to make the at
tempt, Notwithstanding the fact tina
transfer to Libby stared him in tn
lace.
Pomp's completely it was easy to ex
elain. The negroes, as rule. wer
glad to help the "Lincum soldiers,
and, where they were hesitant, brib
soon settled the matter. Then Pomp'
suggestion of the lightning rod wa
still further proof that outsiders, no
chiltons, were at the bottom of tn
plan, for, did the household favor il
they would never have sent one
armed man swinging into space whe
che back stairs and the back - yer