Maryland free press., 1866-11-08

.s.sIs ,es..4s rsq.ssssoE IN, s.s.


In the fall Of Iss4,:I was detached from feit
duty in 6eperai Lees army, ana entrusted BY
,the'Coafsdersts' GoSsrnment with q asmission /,
one ofshe northern States, requiring great ,se
erecy and despatch but with this my story .ha.
nothing TO do save As an explanation of my
presence At such a time In the enemy's territory.
ffASiHs ressoa 70 reinaih 1 few days in Phiiadel
,ptsia, 1xas surprised and gratifed to find sym.
pathiEersI with oar great struggle even in that
most radical and loyal city. Carefully conceal
ing my position and business there from my old
friends, who 50 gladly threw open their doors
and hearts for traitor so -called to enter, en-
joyedr some pleasant hours in the society Of those
vino were compelled 10 speak with blated breath,
but whose hearts Fiarobbst and eIes kindled at
the recital Of southern wrongs and southern val
Z. re bo'3sqZS q ,5t"'t7hhi '''i''l' Ji'f A'
7Bpoh descending to breakfast one fair October
mofaias, my hostess Mrs. B. (avirginian her
self but married to Northern mani met me,
wreathed in smiles, and holding in her hand a
highly embossed envelope, whose dainty ribbon
knot and beautifully engraved initial letters, al
though entirely different to anything of the kind
had seen for three years, savored TO my mind
strongly Of matrimony. Ny thughts went back
TO the, haicyor days, of the past, before heavy
cares and diesppointments had left their impress
on heart and brain, and the exposure Of camp
sife, added to the fatigue and privations of the
narch, had ploughed long, silvery tracks in my
raven locks-Ythes enly silver, by- the- way, then
in my possession. When I f'sloaked love iuto
eyes that snake again" and the merry marriage
a,ell was ready TO chime for me-; when just such
F'its Of perfumed pasteboard covered my table
and my services were asked by friends, who joy
fally entering the matrimonial bark, bid mo God
speed on a like cruise. The sequel of these
thoughts, which flashed along the wires of mem
ory, issued from my lips in the single word,
"weddingT'a 'aA-" 9.. es.'f 3 r. e'
"You are good guesser, "faid my fair friead.
''Yes, it Is an invitation to the marriage and re-
,ception Of my lovely little pet, Minnie Norton,
whom you met here the other evening and ad-
niired so much. She was born in the Old Do
n,iiion, and cIinps fondly to every recollection
of sur glorious old mother State. For two years
she has devoted herself exclusively to relieving
the necessities of the Confederate prisoners, and
nursing the sick and wounded in the hospitals
here. Listen to what she says in note accom-
panying the invitation card: '<.s ~.
q "Bring your mysterious and agreeable friend,
Mr.. W., with you on the 18th although he will
not tell us the nature Of his mission here, because
he has the absurd idea that woman cannot
keep secret, yet know it is something con-
nccted with the welfare of my beloved South,
the landtof jackson and Lee. His hearty cordial
tones andtdear old accent arc music to my car
will you not ask him to grace my wedding with
his rresence?" .rt'~ ..-..
~ shall be only too happy TO accept" said I;
shat note falls like balm. upon my hesit; none
hut a dear. little Virginia girl could have written
such. l hope the man of her choice is worthy
cf-thc gem he has gained ...
s"Oh, he is a;noble fellow" returned my hos
tess, and the entrance Of breakfast put an end TO
the cOnyersation.-.. -, 80
Tie eveniful day arrived, and, arrayed in the
regulation dress on such occasions--gloss, black,
immaculate chokcr an, irrcproaclmble fitting
kids-a costume in which | was somewl at pug
zled to make my own acquaii tanac, | took my
seat in the carriage beside Mrs. B. and was rap
ily whirled to the scene of cniivenment We
did not attend the ceremony which took place in
church; therefore upon our arrival, the bride of
an hour had already receiysd the congra' uations
of her friends upon her accession To new dig
nifty. Entering the drawiag-room, from which
which the daylight had been carefully excluded,
my Confederate eyes were completely dazzled by
the splendid array of beauty, fashion asd wealth
gathered there, and, some moments, | imagined
that had been transported to fairy land.
was, however, awakened from this trance by
an exclamation Of delight ffem my companion,
and found yseif standing before ap impersoua-
ition of grace and beauty clad in white silk,
ange blossoms illusion, and dozen other airy
potlfngs, with which the fair sex arm themselves
to slay their unsus2ectins victims.
~ Collecting my scattered senses, soon settled
down to f'peare basis" and paying my de-
voirs with tolerable composure to the happy COD
rlc, gave place TO the eager throng hetind me-
Refusing for various reasons, the sntrcatics of
my friend to bs introduced to sundry damsels of
her acquaintance, ,who we're 'pretty and so rich,
retired to acorner, from which observation
hccame nu amused aud interested 'looker on in
visnna2'
Nv eve roved oyer the brilliant scene, ....,..
The h.shing of iew9ls. the 6uiter Of laces,
And odors OF tropical musk; -
Nan aud women, most beautiful faces,
And eyes of tropical dusk. =. ~ =
.mingling with the witchng Llue of tho northern
CLINE, until at last, ike weary bir1, it retnrn-
sd 70 ihe figure Of the bride and rested there
Something in her quiet, .dignifed bearing, and
happy, trustf.l face was refreshing to me, and,
slmost unconsciously, Iscanped her whole per-
.spnsl What struck me particularly. as inward
ly ycemmented on the tasteful elegance of her at
tire (for am something Of a connoisseur in such
Fpatters, was the absence of all jewels. Instead
Of the, bridal pearls, single highly FURNISHED
star caught at her throat the light fall of Lice
that covered neck and shoulders. .My curiosity
for plead guilty to the weakness-was arous-
ed TO fathom the origin of u fancy, for wearing
such an ornament on the most eventful day OF
young womans life, and musing upon it, my
thoughts took another direction, The camp,
the battlefield, the hope Of promotion, and ihe