Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-09-14

him in the face with his gauntlet. A
meeting had been arranged for to-mor-
row morning. He, Winston, was Pei
hams second, and would almost give
his parole, were such a thing possible
to an officer of Stuart's cavalry, to get
back to the confederate lines and bring
that fellow to book.
"You owe him a grudge as well as
Maud Pelham's kinsmen." said he.
Sooner or later he's got to fight or
funk. l can't be there to second Pei
ham, and now there's no telling when
any of us can get at him"
"Why not Chilton?" asked Fred.
Chiffon" and Winston flushed with
embarrassment. Chiffon has just
been sent away on--other duty"
with his wounded leader and kins-
maMAto Richmond" hazarded Fred.
"Nc--o," was the hating reply. In
| fact Winston could not say whittier he
had gone.
It seemed long indeed before any
of those who owed Lounsberry a
| SIuuSG WOle lidDlCu " SSt oS hihs
But there came a time, and not to those
that wore the gray, but to Benton, still
serving with Sheridan.
Grant had crossed the James and in
vested Petersburg, when to shake him
loose, if possible, by the old device OF
soaring Washington, Early was sent
down the Shenandoah valley, with 12,-
900 men and orders to stir up Mary
land. Sir accordingly he did, until
the arrival OF the Sixth corps from the
James and tle approach of the Nine
teenth. Then Early harked back,
leaving just . few OF his men cut on
by a sudden rush of union cavalry,
one of these a young captain of his
own staff. an almost invaluable Off
Ger. So, this warm August even
ing, as Benton came riding down
from a scout among the beautiful
heights that border the valley on the
east, he stopped his horse at the public
trough and caught a glimpse OF three
forms that had stopped short at sight
of the blue-jackets and, after a mo-
ment's hesitation, had turned back the
way they came. One, an elderly clergy
man. gave his arm to a gentlewoman,
evidently bowed with care and sorrow.
The third form was that of a girl, Slen-
der, graceful, and in her walk there
was something vaguely familiar to
Benton's eyes, even before he noted
that she wore a drab felt hat, broad
brimmed and feathered. Benton fol
lowed to the corner, and saw the girl
enter the gateway Of an unpretentious
little home, while the other two walked
slowly ON. Quickly he crossed the
street, followed along a hedge of rose
bushes, turned sharply through the
gate, and face to face at the trellised
porch met the girl whom he had first
seer sauntering along that leafy side
street at Charlottesville in the spring
of '62. Bearded, bronzed and stalwar1
as he was to-day, she saw nothing tt
remind her Of the pallid prisoner o.
the Chiltons, and only indignation a
his intrusion blazed in her cheeks ant
: eyes, but, in spite of gallant effort
she struck her colors at his very frs
word, when, with uplifted forage-cal
, he bowed and calmly addressed her:
, Miss Pelham, l believe, whom
} had the pleasure OF seeing at Char
lottesville. hope your brother is no
, wounded-and here"
Then he repented him of his cruelt,
! when he saw her sway and stretch forth
her hand for the support Of the rail
ing at the steps. Pardon me-" h
continued, his blue eyes fixed on he
, almost ashen face, ''but nothing les
could have brought you here, and, par
( don me again, but | must enter" AM
he moved as though to pass her by
Instantly, almost in terror, she graspe'
his arm.
"fJo! Oh, mol" she cried. Il give 20,
! my word! My brother is not here!"
Then l am more than glad" sal,
Benton, for it all seemed to flash owe
him in the instant, and, despite he
clinging hands and almost frantic ap
peal, he sprang up the steps and int
the open doorway. There on the bee
gaunt, fever-stricken, and gazing u
at the startled, colored nanny, actin
n as nurse, and then into the face Q
T the blue-uniformed intruder, lay tn
wreck of the n personal enemy Ere
Benton was aware of in all Virginia.
! all that was left Of Scott Lounsberry
Maud Pelham sprang past the unto
b officer and stood almost defiantly fac
ing him.
b you shall not take him-touc
him!" she cried, in tones intense an
low. "He is terribly wounded. H
has done you no wrong!"
"He tried hard to harm me and b
made you the Instrument" he sait
did you not know that note wa
meant to lure me into a trap? Did 70
not know that his men were waitin
Is there to seize or possibly kill me?"
d From the bed there came a feebl
e cackle Of laughter, and the girls wilt
dilated eyes that at Bentor's word
n were staring at him, turned in sue
10 den alarm to the fevered man, who's
voice quavered in a sneer Of mingle
10 hate and triumph.
q, you got away, thanks to her, an
D her meddling, but he worthy Cod
= he won't! They've got Jack Chilto
Q hard and fast this time-a spy with
g hatful Of information and they'll han
Y him within the week."
ERo ~ CsAtanaA1