Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-11
CHAPTER TX.
ESCAPE POSSIBLE.

6SSAHE ROSSlBLE.
1t is by no means a far cry from
Manassas to Charlottes Vile as one
| takes the swift flight in the cose.,
parlor car of to-day, but it was a
d1nerent thing in 81, humping. bang
| ing, behind some wheezy old wood
burner, in ram-shackle open platform
| car; yet it was almost heavenly. after
two days tossing and tumbling over
the ruts of the Virginia roadways.
1t was soft spring morning that
! saw the genial doctors little partv
entrained at the Rappahannock.
Scores of sympathetic fellows in con-
1ederate gray surrounded the car to
which Lieut. Chiffon was borne and
INTO which Fred Benton, his arm in a
sing and his head stifi in bandages.
was carefully guided. For reasons not
then made known to his Yankee pa
tent, the doctor persisted in treating
his case as far more serious thu CON
ditions seemed to warrant. Constant
ly ne strove to impress upon Benton
the necessity of living still and speak,
ing as little as possible Rosalie. too.
was forever holding up a tapering
hnger in warning and pursuing her soft
rosy lips in very significant "bush"
when he ventured TO ask questions or
show disposition 70 stir. Otherwise
she had but little TO say to him. and
our wounded Badger boy had enioyed
the doubtful bliss of Watching her
hour after hour during the long wait
at the Junction, hanging about her
SUFFERING brother. or with softly flush
ing cheek, talking in low. eager tone
10 Paul Ladue, whose melancholy ewes
fairly frightened. 1t had been settled
that he should leave them at Gordon
vile and return to the front. but AT the
happahannock his own colonel boarded
the train and, noticing at once how i'll
and worn he looked talked with him
kindly, sympathetically. awhile. and
then went off to see their division gen.
eral, soon TO be so famous as a corps
commander. In ten minutes they were
both there, the one tall. martial. and
with his long. flowing beard looking
more like hero of Norseland or war
rior of Aiminius than a soldier of the
cavalier south. Even then. before the
wrinkles and crows feet had dug deep
about the outer corners of Longstreet's
eyes, queer little lines would play about
them and his bearded lips when hui.
morous fancy struck him, and kindly
humor seemed never to be far from
that genial face until the bitter dav
that cost him Picketts grand and de-
voted division in Hancock's front at
Gettysburg.
L looked to see you in uniform. Miss
Chiffon" said he, land | have vet To
learn by what authority you have dis
carded the gray. And this, I believe
Is the young gentleman you were per-
sonating?" whereat he shook hands
very kindly with the shrinking subal-
tern and thought how very near alike
they were in stature. Colonel Moore
tells me you are far too i'll to resume
duty just yet, Mr.. Ladue. so | am
going TO take the responsibility of bid
ding you go back to Charlottesville for
week of Miss Chiton's care. All.
doctor, I'm glad to see you" And then
two very distinguished Virginians were
shaking hands; but all Fred Benton
could see of it was the bac%s of SUBJ
ordinate officers clustered about him.
They went presently and spoke with
young Chiffon living on his mattress
along the tops of the seats. then CANA
straight to the lonely officer-the only
one In blue. reclining toward the rear
end of the long vehicle, the object of
much silent curiosity but no intrusion
whatsoever, and to the prisoner Long
street spoke as couretously as to the
princess holding her little court in mid
car, bidding him be of good cheer.
DIR. Chiffon has told us, sir, of your
protecting him from indignity at Cen
treville, and of all the kindness YOU
cid him that night, resulting in your
capture. We cannot afford" and here
the blue-gray eyes twinkled and the
half-h1dden lips twitched whimsically.
to let so good a soldier get right back
to business. Neither can we send so
chfvalric foe to Libby-at least so
long as he is wounded as you are.
Therefore, DIR. Chiffon, you will see to
his having hospital accommodations.
and now, we must have a suitable
guard" And here the tall general
Strengthened up, studied earnestly the
circle of soldier faces about him until
the twlnkling eyes rested on the very
sweet and rosy features of the one +,
damsel present. Then briefly and in
official tone, he finished Miss Chill
ton, appoint you, until further orders.
custodian of Lieut.. and Aide-de-Camp
Benton, OF the federal army" /
Verify, as Benton wrote at the time,
these We're the halcyon days of the war,
before ever 1t had become the grim
and deadly earnest they were to know
SO bitterly and so very soon. The car
was cleared OF all save passengers, the
train was started before he could find
words with which to thank the courtly
southern general. and the doctor bend.
Ing over him. was saying. you must