The Republican journal., 1872-08-15

happened to be upon the entrance to tn
Senate Chamber, where the multitude 0
marble steps seemed to run out and tloy
down, when my fair friend came by, ac
companied by her congressional escort
late OF the gallery, and almost brushe
me with her dress as she passed, the tw
descended. | saw neat private carriage
drawn by a handsome pair of bays an
driven by a coachman in livery. roll up.
Nv friend OF the aw-makinn powe
helped the lady in with bow the doc
| swung to with 4 bang, and the fair on
drove away, while the Solon came up tn
steps, humming a tune and swapping hi
law w-maline fingers, as il especially please,
with himself. Having a speaking ac
quaintancc, | begged pardon for m,
curiosity. and asked Solon the name o
his friend.
Mrs. -- of New York. was tn
| quiet response.
The whole of these surroundings wer
apparently so lifelong and respectable.
and so entirely different from those that
believed formerly hedged in the lady, ,ha
| was in doubt But no; the longer
| thought upon the matter, the more fel
satisfied of he identity. And the remem
| branco WAS singular. While detained il
| Washington, during the war. awaiting
orders | was invited by brother office
| to a wine supper. The people giving tn,
entertainment We're strangers, but taking
my friends word for it that | would bs
welcome, | went with him. The hous,
was plain unpretending affair. but of
fered Il display of upholstery rather nn
common about Washington. and learned
that the house and furniture belonged tc
"sccesh' family that had left the city be
fore the battle of Bull Run, putting theil
property into the hands Of friends. The
friends assembled on this occasion were
questionable. The parlors were in blaze
OF light, and under the glass globes We're
some very pretty women, and a number
of Young men in and ont of uniform. The
bare necks and arms of the women indi
Gated = party; but my friend told me thai
this was the sort of thing hat went or
every night We had a rich table gar.
nished with choice wines, and the bright
flow of talk the last-named generally
brings out was particularly struck
with two of the 9uestS-one a slender
youth with large, dark eyes and 4 broad
thoughtful forehead whom | took for an
Italian or Frcnchman-his name has since
taken It's place upon the roll OF immortal
itv pinned there by the most fearful crime
ever commited-the other, a beautiful
woman of twenty, in fact, but much
Younger in appearance | found this
young lady exceedingly charming as she
was not only lovely in person, but lively
in mind
We broke up at a late hour of the night
and being ordered away few days after,
the Wine supper and merry people there
assembled soon passed from my mind in
the hurried, eventful life of the camp.
They were destined to return Could the
future have been anticipated, death would
have set ut our board that night, and
phantom visions Of dreadful events dim
med the gllttering lights, and settled in
horrible gloom on the countenances OF
the assembled guests.
To one, Death would have said Il will
claim YOU at Chancelor9vil to an
other: I'VE will meet at night, and Will
save You from the gallows.'
Of that little assembly in the supper
room. two only survive. and another.
While we were in command at Baltl-
more. and after Col. Fish GOT into his diff
Guilty with Baker, so that | had tor time,
immediate control of the provost mtr-
shal's Office. | received a card at the Eu-
taw House, from a lady waiting to see
me in the parlor. 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 stratened cir
cnmstances, if not poverty. She gave
me Il long account Of her troubles, and
wound up by offering to 90 to Richmond
in the employ of the Government, and re-
turn with all the information she could
gather up for the use of the War Depart
ment, in Washington. | at once engaged
her, but did not send 50 suspicious an
agent into the enemy's country until after
| had given her a fair trial in Baltimore
She proved the m ost adroit, cunning. self
possessed detective that | ever saw on
read 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 contcderates as much rs she brought
away.
left the army, and saw and heard no
more of my pretty little detective until the
day met her in the ladies' gallery so ele-
gantly gotten up and surrounded. That
is, if she We're really the same. All doubt
on this subject was removed by a note |
received the next day inviting me to an
interview at the fair woman's lodgings. |
found her surrounded with elegant uphol-
Stery, and yet more fascinating in the del
icate morning robe that so adorns 4 beau
tiful woman by the concealed effort to
adorn. A tall, square-built, iron gray
man of an intensely respectable appear
ance was introduced as her husband, and
as lone as he remained no allusiOn what
ever was made to the past, other than the
few words of Introduction rs an old and
valued friend Soon as he left. however
she turned and said
GLOW kind of you not to recognize me
yesterday My poor heart was in my
mouth when saw you approach. But you
have such tact-you have such y kind
heart | was relieved in q moment when
| saw that you stared as if only attracted
by my charms"
''Why, wouldn't your husband put up
with the part you are, suppose, conceal
INC from him ?"
My husband m-and she gave a sill
very, little laugh -"my husband, that fell
low. Why he isn't my husband. We only
make believe. But if the Hon. - you
saw me with yesterday, were to suspect
for a moment, 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's clever; you never have, and |
don't add to the risk by telling you. Well,
| am no longer u detective, spy; am u
lobby agent. 1t is my business to persuade
honorable members to vote for our bill"
"What is your bill ?"
''The one | am employed to worry
through
"Well, does it require sham husband,
II handsome carriage, and all this sort of
thing to set up a lobby agent ?"
"Certainly. Without husband | would
not be respectable; without carriage and
all this evidence of wealth l could not be
attractive. 1t pays, however | could re-
tire now on a hundred thousand. But am
horribly ambitious; want millon-on-
ly think OF it | must have million.
have sold myself for money and ! want a
good price"
''And do none of the honorable repre-
sentatives know who you are ?"
"Why, you goose ! thought you knew