Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-11-08

u,
yet, l assure you, but the ghost of
the fine young fellow who rescued me
that night at Centerville 1t will be
months before he can handle a sabre
again."
How about pen?" asked Louns-
berry, significantly, his eyes burning
into Benton's gaze as though striving
to read his innermost thoughts.
''Mr. Benton has certainly managed
to write three home letters-left-
handed" answered DR.. Chiffon, speak
ing for his captive guest, yet glancing
| nervously toward him. "They were
duly forwarded to Richmond to be
censored. Was it there you saw them,
Maj. Lounsberry?"
Il had reference to possibilities, doc
| tor, though l am not acquainted with
the Iieutenant's left handwriting 1t
| would be injudicious, for instance, not
| to say ungrateful to those who have
shielded him, were he to answer the
letter he found at the old side gate of
the garden, Monday evening""
The hot blood 1eaped to Benton's
| face. Lounsberry had spoken with
| the cool elaboration of one absolutely
sure of his ground. The doctor turned
| and stood gazing at his guest as though
expecting him promptly to deny the
| imputation. From the stairway came
| the sound of faint rustic as though
Rosalie shrank still further away, and
| Benton felt, rather than saw that her
eyes were fixed upon him in mingled
scrutiny and Indignation. The silence
was painful and Benton broke it.
There was nothing new in the
note, DOCTOR said he, purposely ig-
noring the staff officer. at was to tell
me-what 1 already suspected and,
since this gentleman's arrival, have
felt sure of-that l was to be sent to
Richmond. Do not let it worry you.
I have been preparing for it, and now
1 am quite ready to CO."
| For the life of him as the sentence
closed he could not avoid shooting one
swift glance at the stairway to note
the effect of his words. The major
saw, turned and finding that from
where he stood the landing and stair
way were hidden from view, stepped
| quickly forward. Benton instantly did
the same, and almost breast to breast
| they met there in the middle of the
| room-the blue and the gray-the fire
flashing in the eyes of each. There
| was the sound of whisking drapery, a
soft swish along stair and balcony rail,
and in an instant Rosalie had darted
to the landing and out of sight. A
half smile, contemptuous and cutting
played about the confederate's lips.
He gave no sign whatever that he had
heard. He addressed himself to Ben
ton:
Il presume you have burned that
note, sir, and therefore have nothing
with which to back your statement
but take you at your word. You are
ready to go, you say; be ready to start
then at six in the morning"
"My dear major!" broke in DR.. Chill
ton. Surely YOU"
'"Those are my orders, doctor.
have no volition," answered Louns
berry, coldJy. And now if l may say
adieu to Jack I'll leave you to sucl
preparation as may be necessary. The
guard will call for Mr.. Benton at six
go myself to Gordonsville tonight.
With that Maj. Lounsberry turned
haughtily away, as though the posi-
bility of further talk with fedora
prisoner was something intolerable
The doctor, stunned and silent, looked
helplessly from one to the other, ant
again it was Benton who spoke a re
assuring word. Cordially he held fortl
his one free hand
Its all right, DOCTOR" said he. "Yo1
and Miss Chiffon have pulled me roun
famously. 1 can stand Libby diet nov
just as well as anybody, and I'm bet
ting on speedy exchanges. Then-ou
fellows will be doing something now,
he added. with significant smile
: Who knows but they may gather i
game as big as that" with a laughin
nod toward the respondent major
"Or, is he, like SO many of our stat
d only for duty at the rear?" And Ber
ton meant that Lounsberry shoul
: hear, and hear he did and flushed re
under the taunt.
do not judge our methods by til
e little you know of yours, Mr.. Benton
h he retorted, albeit with admirab
self-control. Then, as though agai
: determined to ignore the northerne
r may 1 be permitted word wit
: Lieut.. Chiffon, doctor?" a Questio
d which seemed to recall the doctor |
n himself and left Benton to his ow
s. devices. Without another glance
lr the unwelcome visitor, the latter turne
If and assembled the stairs to the secor
N story, and there, in the dim light
p a night lamp, by the eastward windo,
Of stood the girl he longed to see az
;" speak with, and she who had avoide
lie now came half timidly forward
:" though to meet him.
he From the neighborhcod of her aunt
IS door and her own, and close to I'll
m westward windows Rosalie Chiffon S
". lently led her captive soldier, and the
h turned, her face pale and sorroy
ne stricken, her great dark eyes filli1