Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-04
CHAPTER WI.

y f'AiN-N-NNtANAS ~ IL III VI * tAIES-
When Lieut.. Benton ode away from
the Henry house that s1hshiny evening
the long shadows were lslanting across
the levels, and the dazzling shield of
the day god was well down at the west.
Shadows, too, had fallen on the blithe
spirits that had been HIS in the earlier
hours. Surely he could not have been
mistaken about that face. thinned and
haggard as though fronb recent illness.
and livid with the Consciousness of
imminent peril; and. If he had not
been mistaken, just as surely he had
been tricked-triclled in all probability
by that defiant and yet most attractive
Virginia girl Virginian he believed
her TO be, partly because her accent
so reSembled that of the very palpable
Nirginian, the owner, and partly be-
Cause that courteous and well-man-
nered native, in answer to somewhat
imperious question, 81 THE young
lady, sub, is daughter of old Doctor
Chiffon, of Char,ottesyAie.'
To the very natural question that
followed, What was MISS Chiffon do
ing there?' the Virginian had an an
u.
Her brother, lieutenant in Stuart's
cavalry, had been accidently shot by
the pickets the dark night of March
9Th, had been left with an attendant at
The Thornton place across Bull Run,
too badly wounded to be moved when
johnson fell back from Manassas, had
bribed his friends to send him away
in cart when he heard of the union
advance, and cart and contents had
been run down by other troopers
Averelrs- before they reached Manas-
sas. The wounded boy, delirious with
fever. was even now lying in the room
his sister guarded. DR.. Alexander, of
Gen. McDowell's staff had twice been
to see him. DR.. Chiffon had come.
bringing his devoted daughter, and
then gone on to Fairfax in hopes of
obtaining from Gen. Mcclellan permis-
sion to take his son home on parole
by slow stages, to Charlottesville, and
Miss Chiffon meanwhile remained there
under what was left of roof. and what
he, Mr.. Henry, could offer by way OF
care and protection. Brief conference
with the guard without did much to
confirm Benton in his faith in the truth
of the statement They assured him
that If anybody else was harbored or
hidden there he could not escape. for
they We're ordered to prevent the oc,
cupants from leaving, as well as to pro-
tect the premises from harm.
AT five O'clock, therefore. the young
aide-de-camp went his sas, not fully
satisfied by any means, 0ntent to
- ! l.,.s - - ~.
and to investigate further on his re-
turn. Ia point of fact he was doubt
full as 10 his duties and prerogetives
In the matter and needed his generals
advice. He meant TO tell i'm just what
he feared or suspected-that Paul
Ladue himself, in some unaccountable
manner had become separated from his
regiment, possibly through illness OF
wounds, and was concealed within the
shattered walls of the old Virginia
farmhouse. But, Just at the time when
he most needed the Instructions of his
own division chief, he was destined to
be cut off from him-and for many
day.
1t was after uriown, and long after
when at last, riding some miles at
swift trot, he overlook the corps COM
mander with his staff on the road"
beyond Centreville. All said that
soldierly leader, the general is prompt.
What time did he start?"
Start, sir?" said Benton, his heart
beating quick and hard again. Il don't
know. | was instructed to deliver this
letter and to ask to have these others
sent on TO Washington by your courier
tonight, but / thought to find you west
Of Centreyille, not ON the march, sir"
Then my orders had not arrived
when you left? Why, what hour did
you leave, STRIP and McDoweIPs face
Redeemed as it would when he was an
aoyed.
About four o'clock, general, but
-Four o'clock, sir! Then where on
earth have you been all this timer"
Il came by way of the Henry house
TO look at the old battlefield, general :
We had no idea of your moving, and
there was plenty of time before dark
answered poor Fred, noting with much
concern the ominous silence of the.
listening staff and orderlieS.
you must have stayed an uncon-
scionable time there" grlmbled the
general, who had not yet ceased to feel (,
touchy at any mention of Bull Run the
First. CLonger than he did last July
laughed O'Kane, of the Montgomery's, /
when told of IT'D 'Ah, 1 remember.
That pretty daughter of cd Chilton's
is there. You saw her, / suppose?"
Il suppose | did, genera" was the
rueful answer, though she in no wise
sought to detain me. Quite the con-,
trary."
well, Mr.. Benton, your division is
doubtless following us by this time, ,
and should be across the Run. My
compliments to the general and say L
will have his letters forwarded. Now,
don't get lost in the WOODS on your
way back"
And thus summarily was the brief
interview ended, and the corps COM
mander with his staff rode on.
Now here was a plight fer an aide
de-camp! His tent and all his belong
ings were with those of division head
quarters and would doubtless be taken