Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-02-14
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE TIP"

childlike belief that every well-man-
nered man was gentleman until
proved otherwise, and it was not long
before McKinnon knew all about them
and all about Jack. 1t had been Rosa
lies growing belief that her aunt must
have had help, and that Squire Benton
or his son was the helper; but at the
last her father amazed her with the adj
mission that he had given his personal
note to McKinnon for money to be
sent to Jack, and for other needs. Lit
tie by little her intuitive aversion to
the man had given way before his ap-
parently unobtrusive courtesies. He
had never limited at such a thing as a
quarrel with the Bentons, father or
son. He never referred to them ex
cept guardedly until Ladue's recapture
and Jacks narrow escape. Then he
had told her aunt, to whom he had
been kindness and helpfulness itself,
that the plan was known to the secret
service, that Benton and Ladue had
been still in covert correspondence;
that Ladue wished to make it appear
that he was striving to rejoin his regi-
ment, while in point of fact he planned
to be again captured and confined
where he could escape the dangers of
the battlefield. and the expedition to
| capture him and Jack was guided by
| information furnished by Benton him
| self-Benton, who had been under
cloud and hoped by the capture of con-
| federate officers to win his way back
RI ind
| fused to believe at first; had even had
fierce verbal ARRAY with the major,
who brought the Virginian, Jennings,
| to prove a truth that, as McKinnon
put it, he never thought could reach
her ears or it should never have es-
capped these lips" An eloquent man
was Mckinnon. and music was in his
voice and mischief in his soul Benton
had planned, he said. to capture Jack,
and Jennings there stood ready to
swear to it. Then, before she had time
| to recover herself, she had been ush-
| cred into that coy parlor, and had
come face to face with the man who
filled her thoughts. 1t all looked like
design on his part, and in her wrath
and doubt and bitter trouble, she had
hurled her accusation and fed But,
long before Ladues visit to Charlottes-
vile, she had begun to suspect both
McKinnon and Jennings. After his
coming she had known no moment of
peace, yet how could she write or tell
him whom she had so outraged? OF
what use was it? He would forget it
and her-in course of time
Does this look like it?" asked Ben
ton.
They were standing by the open
doorway. She had brought down to
him the beautiful sash he had left with
her when he rode away, for this very
night he must return to Gordonsville
and join his chief for the mornings
march. Meantime he had been wind
ing it about her, the silken folds cling
ing to the dainty white dimity, and
now, having thrown the tasseled ends
over his arm, had seized her soft hands
) and was looking down fondly, wonder
ingly, in that almost unrealizing, un.
believing bliss of newly requited love.
Does this look like it-that for two
years should have been making every
; EFFORT to reach you, only to be stormel
! at as If had sinned past pardon il
; having clasped you-here?" and rails
ing her little hands he held them firml,
upon his breast, the creamy whit.
. upon the dusky blue. Then, one hand
! being quite big enough for that pur
pose. he stole his right arm round he,
} and drew her closer The sound O
slow. measured footballs and sof
. voices could be family heard along tn,
D shaded street. Some of her coteri,
{ were surely coming to scout the ap
J. proaches if not actually to seek tn,
v presence of their erstwhile queen. No
: that they would interrupt for worlds
/ They only wished to see And through
d the summerlike stiffness of the night
!, affair down at the railway station, tn
h suffering hiss of steam told that tn
: iron horse was waiting impatient TO
the start. at may be weeks before