Iron County register., 1905-06-15
CHAPTER vIII.-coNr1suEp.

had taken the wrong road somewhere
south Of Chantilly and, instead of re-
joining their squadron, had stumbled
on the pickets. There was more o. less
soldier recrimination, but, quickly as
possible, the wounded officer was borne
in blanket to neighboring farm
house. and trooper galloped to
Gainesville for surgeon. Ladue spent
sleepless and miserable night, was ex-
onerated by his division commander
and Stuart when the matter was in
vestigated next day, but was SO utter
ly broken up over the affair that per-
mission was given him to go back
again and remain with Chiffon until
he could be moved.
Ladue, nearly mad with misery, was
hopefully awaiting the coming Of an
ambulance on the third day when his
patient suddenly took turn for the
worse. The division surgeon said it
would be serious matter to take him
that long ride back to Warrenton and
suggested Ladue's going over to the
home of Judge Armistead at Hopewell
and arranging to have the lad moved
thither. This was on the eighth of
March, and up to noon they had no
sign of soldiers coming from the east
or north.
So Paul had gone, never counting on
Chilton's taking the bit in his teeth.
And when late at night he returned
to Thornton, weak and weary, he was
aghast to learn that with only his body
servant and a trooper nurse, Chiffon
had started southwark in the wagon
that evening by the Sudley road, bent
on escaping from the heralded advance
OF the union blue. Despite fatigue and
failing strength, Ladue followed,
caught them at the Henry house, and
was within that historic wreck, con-
sulting the owner as to the best roads
to follow while the farm wagon, with
its solitary escort was toiling up the
slope from the crossing of the pike,
when all on sudden there came a
cloud of blue-jacketed, yellow-trimmed
troopers sweeping across the field from
the southeast, and Mr.. Henry had bare
ly time to hide his visitor under the
flooring in the garret when they were
dismounting by the dozen and jovially
sWarming all over the premises.
Another moment, too, and they had
surrounded the wagon with its help
less load. Then Averell himself had
ridden up to investigate, and one of
his first orders was that the Henry
house and grounds were to be pro-
tected against all possibility of pillage
and vandalism.
So it had happened that for two days
Paul Ladue lay concealed within the
Henry house-once when the guard
was changed hearing voices he recog-
nized as those of men he we'll knew in
his western home
And again the word was passed from
the sentries at the front: Here comes
the general" and while the guard
sprang to their stacked arms, Paul
Ladue, crouching sadly in, the little
garret, crept to the westward side and
peered through crevice at the coming
cavalcade.
All in the uniform of their rank, in
frock coats, belts and sashes, gaunt-
let's and forage caps, with regulation
horse equipments-th general and his
Nlittle staff made gallant show as they
breasted the slope. There were only
five in all, with three orderlies and no
escort, but in three of the five Ladue
saw the faces of men whom he had
looked up to, honored and esteemed,
while the face of the fourth was that
Of the faithful and devoted friend whom
he had loved as David loved Jonathan.
Ladue threw himself upon the floor,
SO sick at heart that 1t was relief
to sob like homesick child.
And so Henry found him, when in
his stocking feet, a little later, he
climbed the ladder to the loft with
wonderous news. DR.. Chiffon and his
daughter were coming g-were even then
on their way from Warrenton.
Much of the early morning of the
following day he spent with Rosalie
by the side Of the wounded boy. Now
that DR.. Chiffon had gone on in search
Of the commanding general, hopeful of
permission to take his crippled soldier
home, the vital question arose, What
was to become Of Paul? He had no
excuse for parole. He had not been
grievously wounded. He was there
Of his own volition, undiscovered, with
In the hostile lines, and, though wear
ing his new and natty uniform and in
no sense spy, still, the lot of southern
prisoner in northern hands was prob
lem yet unsolved. Then Rosalie Chill
ton, the daring, quick-witted girl,
planned the escape SO successfully ef-
iected
Little luggage had she brought with
her on that hurried journey, but, soon
as 1t was dusk, she doffed the gown
and skirt she wore-even the crinoline,
at period of our natioE life regarded
as indispensable to the wardrobe of the
gentlewoman-then donned soft
wrapper, and ten minutes later Paul
Iadue, shorn Of his new uniform, was
attfring himself aloft Id the travelling
dress Of Virginia belle. He we'll,
nigh ruined the whole plan-and crino-
line-by putting his foot through the
fiimsy cage as he searched the stairway,
but from the floor below came ominous
'Hush-sh-sh!" in Rosalie's tragic tones,
and she shook him almost savagely
while giving some finishing touches to
his toilet. How dare you be so care
less with my best hoop-skirt, sir?
Don't you know that's almost the very
last one In virginia?" Then, duly in
formed as to the paths in the garden
and the exits through the fence, with
her shawl over his head and prayer
on her trembling lips she sent him
Frvkh INar ~fG "a 4.