The Hickman courier., 1872-10-05

ceiged card, at the Eutaw house
: from a lady waiting to see me il
the parlor. On repairing to tha
reception room, | found my tail
friend Of the vino supper in Wash
, ington. So far as her beauty wen
she remained the same, but hel
wardrobe evinced straitened circum
stances, if not poverty. She gave
me long account of her troubles
and wound up by offering to 90 tC
Richmond in the employ of the gov
crnment. and return with all the
information she could gather up
for the use of the war department
in Washington. | at once engaged
her, but did not send so suspicious
an agent into the enemy's country
until after l had given her Il fair
trial in Baltimore. She proved the
most adroit. cunning, selfpossessed
detective that ! ever saw or read of.
She afterward made two successful
trips to Richmond, returning with
valuable information, although Mr..
Stanton had no question but that
she carried TO the confederates rs
z
left the army, and saw and
4 heard no more Of my pretty little
detective until the day | met her in
the ladies gallery so elegantly got
ten up and surrounded, that is If
she was really the same. All doubt
on this subject was removed by Il
! note received the next dav, invit-
ing me to an interview ut the fair
I woman's lodgings. | feuLd her sur
rounded with elegant upholstery,
and yet more fascinating in the deli
cate morning robe that so adorned
a beautiful woman by the concealed
effort to adorn. \ tall, square built,
iron gray man of intensely respect
able appearance was introduced as
] her husband, and as long rs he re-
mained no allusion whatever was
made to the past, other than the
few words of introduction rs an old
asd valued friend. Soon as he left,
however, she turned and said {:
I" How kind of you not TO recognize
me yesterday! My poor hea~t was
in my mouth when | saw you APP
proach. But you have such tact
4 you have such kind heart | was
relieved in a moment when l saw
that you stared as if only attracted
by my charms"
" Why, wouldn't your husband
put up with the part you are3 | sup
pose, concealing from him ?"
L" Ny husband !"-and she gave a
! silvery little laugh" my husband.
that fellow! Why, he isn'tmy hus-
band. We only make believe. But
if the Hon -- you saw me with
yesterday were to suspect for a mo-
ment, | would be ruined.
"Come, now, this is interesting;
tell me all about it. What little
game are you up to! Believe me,
won't betray you"
"That 5. ckevcr; YOU never have,
and l don't add to the risk by tell
ing you. Well, | am no longer
detective, spy; | am a lobby
agent. 1t is my business to persuade
honorable members to vote for our
BILL"
"What is your billI'
"The one | am employed to wor-
ry through
Well, does it require sham
husband, a handsome carriage and
all this sort of thing to SCI up lob
by agent ?"
Certainly. Without husband
1 would not be respectable; with
out q carriage, and all this evidence
of wealth, | would not be attrac-
tive. 1t pays, however. L could
retire now on n hundred thousand.
But am horribly ambitious Iwant
million-only think of it, must
have million. have sold myself
for money and | want a good price"
:" And do none of the honorable
representatives know who you are? ?
"Why, you goose. | thought
you knew better than that. Why,
the ring always reaches into the
House and Senate, and some of our
directors are the most respectable
men in Congress. There is one, the
most benevolent, pious, philanthro-
pie Individual in the world. He is
50 intensely pious that he never
speaks to me nevertheless he pays
me heavily. There is another. 4
most respectable gentleman, who
bows to nae profoundly, in the gal
lery and on the avenue, and pre-
sents me to his family with a lofty
air, who would look at me with in
tense astonishment if | were to
/ thank him for my clothes, carriages
and servants. Yet he contributes.
Why, this is so damnablc | can
scarcely credit"
Eyes. it is very wicked, and I'd
rather you would't believe it. But
after the schooling you gave me in
deceiving, you ought not to Won
der"
"You mean that for a hit. You
forget that that service was in be-
half of your beloved country, and
this"
"Is in behalf of my beloved self"
But do you mean to say that
mon in high position connive at
this wickedness p
"Look about you see the enor
nous fortunes realized by officials,
and you will find that mine is not
the OHiJ CdIIldSS IOuiuS lDOub
Washington that is fraud, and l
am but among the host of the wick
ed. You are too much a man of the
world, colonel, to be astonished at
finding good deal of sanctimoni-
Gus responsibility covering rascali-
ty. 1t is the cheapest cloak to ge.
and the easiest TO wear"
"And how do you influence these
Solons?"
Sometimes one way, sometimes
another; but always in being very
quiet and exclusive. The men
Bought cheaply are not worth buy
ing. My business is among the
higher sort that will not stoop 10
common carrion. and carry with
4 them great moral character, that
not only covers themselves, but all
the little rogues who vote with
4 them"
And you often fail p
Sometimes; not often. You re-
member the temptation of st. An
thony -
ar oil tho devils under the skies