Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-06-01

dllQ cups uC4d OlNA " In ihNA NAS
devil Of over stimulation sent him
Iunging across the narrow floor to the
where sat the lonely Virginian-
Come, old chap" he cried, you're all
right. We've been a little free, per-
haps. Soldiers will be soldiers, you
know. You're a gentleman. Join US in
a drink, sir, and a toast. Hey, fellows.
let's have a toast"
Forward" rang the trumpets on the
soft night wind, and the rumble OF
wheels gave way to the elack and clat-
ter of countless hoofs.
Come on, major!" shouted Capt.
Cranston, he who had accosted Benton,
and by this time had readily effected
the needed loan-with unneeded incre-
ment. Come on! Don't bother the
gentleman. We must be off"
But the major was bent IN another
drink and having the gray-haired
stranger share it despite the latter's
plea to be excused.
zone toast-just one!" shouted he of
the demijohn. Here's to Little Mac,
by Jupiter, the best general-the best
gentleman in the whole army! Amt
he, old chap"
And to the surprise Of all, even in
the midst of the boisterous talk and
confusion as the party searched for
discarded sabres and %gauntlets, the
elderly stranger arose, held forth his
glass and ~courteously said: "Give
me a thimbleful, sir. I'll join you in
| that with infinite pleasure"
Bully for you, old boy!" cried the
| major, who had gulped a stiff three
| fingers, whereas the Virginian had
merely slipped at his glass. Now,
| 'scuse me-just two drops more. One
more toast. Here's confusion to the
confederacy-an' everything c'nected
with tan, an"
ooh, come out of this, Mullen!"
growled a comrade, grasping him by
the arm. Come out or Ill-"
"Not till I've had a st'rrup cup with
this gen'leman-not till he drinks my
toasht-I've drunk his. Ready, sir?
Here's confush'n to the ~confederacy
an everybody What! You won't
drink that? You a damned reb1, too?'
and before his friends could interpose
the half crazed fellow had lunged
threateningly forward at the pallid
stranger, who, having set down his
glass untouched, stood facing them.
one hand uplifted in silent protest. 1t
was Benton who sprang between them
and with apparently laughing ease
whirled- the major about, and with his
powerful hands on the burly shoulders
sent him struggling and swearing II
the doorway where the others closet
about and bore him away, n OF thell
number, a young staff captain, running
back to say a word of apology. Their
Fred and the stranger found them
selves for the moment alone.
"You have done me a kindness
subj" said the latter. did catch thu
name Alright? Lieut.. Fred Benton, o
of Wisconsin,"
Benton, yes" was the wary answer
for though the word Badger had beef
spoken, Wisconsin had not. Some
body had talked to this man of him be
fore and now light flashed suddenl
upon the situation.
Are you-pardon me-Dr. ChiltoI
of Charlottesville" asked Benton.
'The same, sub, at your suhvice.
have been to Gen. Mcclellan for pei
mission to take my son, wounded an
paroled, back home, sub. He treate
me like the courteous gentleman be y
SO | drank his health. Now, pardo
me, you have not eaten" and with thu
DR.. Chiffon arose, and followed tn
y whispering Darby and Joan into tn
S lean-to, and when he returned it We
e with an air of mild triumph.
"You shall be suhved, sub, in a vel
few moments, also your orderly" Il
e called it "ohdly'). "You ride on
e Fairfax"
+ mo-" said Benton, Il look to me
It my division somewhere about her
It They come by way of the lower ford
1t as | am told"
d "Then they are retiring from Il
Junction, too?" asked the veteran, g
If eager light in his eye.
Il cannot say" answered Bento
st coldly now, for the sudden questit
a, put him on his guard.
g Pardon me, sub, if l seem owe
ID pleased. l have no reason to rejoie
ID | am too old to serve, even il my pc
e pie had not opposed the ordinance
le secession, and no enemy could be
Is courteous and considerate as Gen. M
Clellan and the officers of your ov
J. division. My son, suh-and any 9th
h Virginia boy would do the same,
r~eckon-went with his state, went wi
,e Jeb Stuart, sub, who is his secol
20 cousin, and it is hard to say which
m the more distressed over his being sh
- my son, because it was a southe
n not a northern bullet that did the bui
ness, or the unhappy fellow who ga
ID the order to fire."
~ "Who was that?" inquired Bentc
= thinking more and more Of the face
- had seen at the window.
"Mr. Ladue, suh-Lieut. Paul Lad'
of the Eleventh Alabama. He was
picket duty that night"
But Benton, with eager eyes, W
rising from his chair, unmindful of t
smoking supper the host was dishi
from the stove. Voices and the ira
ping Of horses feet were heard wit
out. One voice that he knew W
~, rang out clearly over all other SCUM
~ "You look to it, captain, and fl
Benton. The rest of us will ride abe
- after Gen. Mcdowell"
= In no time at all Fred was hurryi