Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-06-22

stood the girl he longed 10 Q and
speak with, and she who had avoided.
now came half timidly forward -
though to meet him.
81 have a confession to make, MI.
Benton" said she, at length do You
think-it's easy for q girl to say-she's
| glad to find that she was wrong?"
Something has seemed to me very
wrong of late" answered Benton, so
much so | was glad to get away on
any terms, even to Libby. For what
have I been punished"
Il shall tell you-frankly," she an
swered, standing with downcast eyes
before him, her white hands loosely
clasping. do you know, l thought
heard-that you were plotting with
people outside to escape, and, father
being responsible for you, it seemed
ungrateful-indeed dishonorable@
But what on earth have | said o.
done to warrant the belief? / have
talked with no one. communicated
with no one, except that, after | had
noted your cold and distant manner,
there came this little unsigned note,
saying that l was to be sent to Rich
mond. | have never answered 1t. l
haven't an idea who sent it"
But the note" and now she
looked up eagerly, you have it-still?"
Burned it to ashes the hour it
camel" he answered.
But you saw who brought it-or
who left it,"
81 saw" he impulsively began, then
stopped short. What right had he, a
union soldier, to give information
against some possible union lover in
their midst, one who was seeking to
: be of service to him at that?
"Oh, you needn't say!" cried Miss
Chiffon, with a curl of her lip. 1--WE
know-at least l know-the girl! What
, we heard, or at least I heard, a week
ago was that you-that they, that
oh, I can't explain-I can't go on!" she
said, and now burning bushes, to his
amaze, suffused her face and she GOV.
cred it with her hands.
: Then voices. were heard below stairs
the doctor showing the major from
Jacks room to the door, ceremonious
and courtly even when aggrieved.
"He will wish to see ~me-perhaps
: you, too-at once" suddenly exclaimed
Miss Chiffon, starting impulsively for
ward. 81 just want to know that
that what | now believe is true, ant
to be able to say SO confidently t
| father and perhaps toto others. You
had not thought of trying to escape
J so long as you were with us?" And TO
an instant the dark, glorious eye
! looked full into his face, then fell be
fore the intensity of his.
I "On my word, Miss Chilton-no!"
"Then-then," she vehemently cried
II don't care how soon you do try
now!" and with that she darted pas
him to her own room and present.
the doctors slow step was heard as
cending the stairs.
1t was late that night and the moo,
had dipped beyond the Blue Ridg
when, after a family talk in Jack
room, they separated. Not anothe
chance had Benton to speak to Resale
but for good and sufficient reason h
had found her actions of most unusus
\ interest. Pale and silent, absorbed i
thought, she had taken little part j
the conference. Twice she stole softl
to the window, drew aside the curtai
J and peered through the outer darl
ness; then, while her father was cal
nestly talking, she seated herself clos
IL to the curtains, and Benton, watchir
nc her with %devouring eyes, saw that 81
oe was listening intently for sounds, 81;
II mails, something from without and pa.
ing little heed to what was said will
in. Then, he could not be mistake,
"a there came a low tap, tap on the pan
- Rosalie quickly, silently drew tt
shade aside enough to enable HI
" to give one answering tap, and a mi
.s ment later she stole quietly out OF IL
" room, while the doctor was still tall
~ half an hour later, there were drol
2, of water On her ripping hair.
- BY this time between the Chiltor
W. father and son, it had been determin'
that every influence should at once
=. brought to bear at Richmond to bril-
about Benton's exchange-Fred himst
" agreeing to write urgent letters
friends in front of Washington. A
&c ready quite a number of officers a.
y. men had been returned from Libt
'le the first small boat-load having go
" to the capital and been welcomed
,lh the president himself before t
winters snow were swept entire
81 from the Virginia mountains. "Jr
one thing / fear" said the doctor, 9Th
the same influence that logged y
~ here and led to the order for your 1
u livery there, may pursue you at Ric
mond."
"And will you tell me what that
w, and why it should be so bitter?" ask
=. Benton.
The doctor glanced uncertainty
80 the thinned face, flushing family ev
20 through the pallor of this long confiI
ment, then turned to Rosalie. Quiz
ly she again left her chair, hurried
the window and threw open the curts
iat as though to look forth into the mis-
where all was apparently dark as E
bus.
1T is a family-jah, sub. | hart
understand it myself. But I'm bound
say(that Maj. Lounsberry has fohfeit
III any claim he may have had upon
friendship. Now | must look to Il