The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-05-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
SURRENDER.


The fever that followed the serious
wounds received by Maj. Lounsberry
was in itself sufficient to end the earth
~ career of even a stronger man. Two
days after Benton found him that fever
was gone, but so was the last atom Of
his strength. Those two days he tossed
in delirium, watched by one unhappy,
but devoted girl and that faithful old
nanny, and visited at such intervals
as her own falling strength would per-
nit by his heartbroken mother Word
OF his peril reached Charlottesville
soon after the sharp fight at Smokers
Gap Early'S retreating force had
striven to bring him along, but, be-
tween the torment caused him by the
jolting Of the ambulance and the per-
sistent attacks of unicn cavalry, they
had had to leave him by the way. Mrs.
Lounsberry and the venerable rector
of their church started within six hours
of the receipt of the news, by which
time all Charlottesville had heard of 1t,
and almost the first to come to the
stricken mother was the girl her son
had wronged. A strange meeting was
that, and stranger still was one but
half an hour later when Rosalie Chill
ton appeared, and two Virginia girls
who had not exchanged a word since
Che first days of the war, and neither
OF whom had been a visitor at the
Lounsberrys' for many moon, buried
their differences with that sorrow
laden mother, and set their own quar-
rel aside that they might be of service
20 her and to a soldier of the south
in the hour CT such affiiction. More
over It was Dr. Chilton's old carriage,
with DR.. Chiltons old horses and driv-
en- by Black Dan, that the journey TO
the distant front was made. This
was no time to speak OF the cruel
things said by the Lounsberrys of DR..
Chiffon and Rosalie after Benton's es-
cape The grave had closed over the
proud, impetuous head of that now
doubly bereaved household. Ill for
tune had followed the fathers death,
and much of his little estate had been
sold under the hammer. Small com
fort had the handsome prodigal proved
himself at that or any other
time, but much had be promised
as the result OF his approaching
marriage. There had been a mem
orable interview between the mother
and that wronged and trusting girl
when at last Maud Pelhams forebod-
ings were realized. There had in fact
been a violent scene, for Mrs. Louns-
berry had sought to shield her son at
Maud's expense. But that, too, was
ell ignored now. The other engage
ment had been broken summarily two
weeks after Yellow Tavern. for one of
Wade Hampton's staff. sent home
wounded, had told at Charleston how
Floyd Pelham had struck Lounsberry
and why. There had been weeks in
which Maud Pelham would have met
LOunsberry only with scorn and con-
tempt, but that was before his com
rades sent him to Coventry, and never
again after news of his serious wound.
Though all Charlottesville knew that
he had been false to her, she went TO
his mother the instant she heard the
tidings, and with her on the anxious
journey that followed.
II was through Sheridan's lines and
Benton's help they bore him away to
his last resting place when the solemn
struggle was over. II was at Charlottes-
vile again that Maud Pelham and
RosGlie met beside the grave, and
thot later, on her knees, her face buried
ir the lap OF the once imperious queen.
a V5or, humbled, heart-broken girl
Sobbed out in turn her own sad story
and Lounsberry's confession, little
dreaming that It would send still an
other TO her knees, praying not alone
for mercy for the repentant dead, not
alone for the rescue, the safety. OF a
beloved brother. but even for heavens
blessing on an enemy TO Virginia and
the sacred cause.-The soldier she had
20 cruelty wronged
He's past prayin' for, bedad" said
he captain Of the Montgomerys. OF