Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-03-12
the countenances of the assembled

To one Death would have said: 81 will
claim you at Chancellorsville."
To another; az will come to your relief
in the hospital at Cumberand.r
To another: 1--WE will meet at night, and
will save you from the gallows."
OF that little assembly in the supper
room, only two survive, and another.
II was shortly after the assassination that
friend sent me the photograph of Wilkes
Booth, and l recognized in IL the young
man I had mistaken that night for for
eigner.
While we were in command at Baltimore,
and after Col. Fisk got into his difficulty
with Baker, so that had for time imme-
diate control of the provost marshal office,
received a card, at the White House, from
lady waiting to see me in the public par
lor. On repairing to that reception room
found my fair friend of the wine supper in
Washington. So far as her beauty went
she remained the same, but her wardrobe
| evinced Strengthened circumstances, if not
poverty. She gave me a long account of
her troubles, and wound up by offering TO
go to Richmond, in the employ of the gov
| ernment, and return with all the in1orma-
tion she could gather up for the use Of the
War Department at Washington. lat once
engaged her, but did not send so suspicious
| an agent into the enemy's country until
after I had given her a fair trial in Balti-
more. She proved the most adroit, self
possessed, cunning detective | ever saw or
heard Of. She afterwards made two sue
cessful trips to Richmond, returning with
valuable information; although Mr.. Stan
ton had no question but that she carried to
the Confederates as much as she brought
away.
l left the army, and saw and heard no
more of my pretty little detective until the
day 1 saw her in the ladies' gallery, so ele-
gantly gotten up and surrounded. That is,
if it were really the same.
All doubt on this subject was removed
the next day hy a note | received inviting
me to an interview at the fair woman's
lodgings. | found her framed in by ee-
CANT upholstery, and yet more fascinating
in the delicate morning robe that so adorns
beautiful woman by the concealed efforts
to adorn. a tall, square-built, iron-gray
man, of an intensely respectable look, was
introduced as her husband, and so long as
he was present no allusion whatever was
made to the past, other than the few words
of introduction as an old and valuable
friend. Soon as he left however, she turn
ed and said:
"How kind of you not to recognize me
yesterday. Mypoor heart was in my mouth
when ! saw you approach. But you have
naI "a L nd I
was relieved in minute, when l saw you
stared at me as if only attrscted by my
charms
"Why, wouldn't your husband put up
with the part you are, suppose, concealing
from him.
"My husband" and she gave a silvery
little laugh-"my husband, that fellow =
Why, he isn't my husband. We only make
believe But if the Hon. - you saw with
me yesterday were to suspect for moment,
! would be ruined"
Come, now, this is interesting; tell me
| all about it. What little game you up
to? Believe me, l won't betray you"
"Thats clever; you never have, and
don't add to the risk by telling you. Well,
l am no longer detective-a spy; am a
lobby agent. 1t is my business to per-
suade honorable members to voe for our
BILL"
"What is your bill?'
The one 1 am employed to worry through.
"Well, does it require a sham husband, a
| handsome carriage, and all this sort of
thing, to set up a lobby agent?"
Certainly. Without husband would
/ 10 oil nd
| all this evidence of wealth, / would not be
attractive. 1t pays, however. l could re-
| tire now on a hundred thousand. But /
am horribly ambitious. 1 want a million,
| only thin.> of it, must have a million.
have sold myself for money, and l want
a good price,
"And do none of the honorable Represen-
tatives know who you are?"
"Why, you goose! l thought you knew
better than that. Why, the ring always
reaches into the House and Senate, and
some of our directors are the most respcc-
table and pious men in Congress. There is
one-the most benevolent, pious, phian-
thropic individual in the world. lie is so
intensely pious that he never speaks to me
nevertheless he pays me heavily. Here is
another, most respectable gentleman
who bows to me profoundly, in the gallery
and on the avenue and presents me to his
family with lofty air, who would look al
me with intense astonishmcnt if / were tC
thank him for my clothes, carriages and
servants. Yet he contributes"
"Why, this is so damnable can scarcely
credit it,"
"Yes, it is very wicked, and I'd rather
you wouldn't believe it, But after tht
schooling you gave me in deceiving, yor
ought not TO wonder"
"You mean that for hit-lorgetting tina
service was in behalf of our beloved coun
try, and this"
"Is in behalf of my beloved self"
"But do you mean to say that men il
high position connive at this wickedness2' p
"Look about you; see the enormous for
tunes realized by officials, and you will flint
that mine is not the only carriage rollinl
about Washington that is fraud, and an
but among the host of the wicked. You ar
too much of man of this world Colonel
to be astonshed at finding good deal o
sanctimonious respectability covering ras
cality. 1t is the cheapest cloak to get ant
| the easiest to wear"
"And how do you influence these So
lons?"
"Sometimes one way, sometimes another
but always in being very quiet and exclu
sve. The gano we play for is cautious AM
cunning The men bought cheaply are tn
men not worth buying. My business
among the higher sort, that will not stoo
to common carrion, and carry with then
great moral character that not only cover
themselves, but all the little rogues VIII
vote with them"
"And you often fai?"
"Sometimes; not often. You romembe
the temptation Of st. Anthony
"Of all the devils under the skies,
Devils wicked, devils wise
Devils short, or devils tall,
pretty woman with laughing eyes,
Ia the greatest devil of them all"
"My mission is to capture the Leaders
| The lesser lights are left to coarser meant