American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-04-15

l.
| altogether congenial with the buoyancy
and flippancy of her general bearing
and speech. She was intensely earnest
in her appeals to the commandant, and
at times appeared to be tenderly and
coquettishly. beseeching a favor, which
he seemed to hesitate to grant. = .
The officer who accompanied her sat
silent in his chair, idly turning his cap
in his hands, and looking on the road
with such strained expression that it
clearly proved him to be DESTROYS to be
out of headquarters and on a contem-
plated journey. ~ -. -
i A horse and light Virginia carryall,
with seats for two, persons, was stand
ing at the door, guarded by an orderly
| The curtains of the carriage were drawn
closely down and securely fastened. :, ..
The commandment at length rose from
his table, and, giving me an intelligent
glance, we passed together into an adj
joining private room. The moment we
reached it, he broke. the silence.
I "Suppose we hold council of war.
| This is new business tome. Here is
this young woman sent to me from
| Harper's Ferry by the commandant
there, with a request that she be per-
mitted to pass our lines to the front.
She has been placed in charge of this
Union officer, whose papers and answers
seem all right, and her papers are also
straight. She. is DESTROYS of going to
visit her kindred, with medicine and
| clothing for the sick and needy Con-
federates among them. 1 have caused
the carriage to be thoroughly searched,
and find nothing at all suspicious there.
AS an action with jackson may be i'm
pending, my intuitions impel me to de-
tain the young lady till the battle is de-
cided. But my benevolence prompts
me to send her forward with her escort.
What is your opinion prs = szs''''i
s~That your duty as soldier is para
mount said I, respectfully. 'sI feel
impressed as you do. Like you also I
feel the promptings of humanity, and
on that account would like to see the
young lady passing our lines; but I can
not overcome the suspicion that under
her fair exterior she may be, a -Confed-
crate spy.'' y = .-,.<r
"That's the way it strikes me,''. re-
sponded the commandment; +" but L find
that her papers, after having been ex-
amined and endorsed at Harper's Fer
ry, have been re-examined and re-en-
dorsed at Martinsburg. The gentleman
who is with her has the official Union
Commission. They both'tell: the same
story. I have examined the carriage,
and find nothing coAtraband of awar. u
"My opinion is" 1 added, that this
handsome young woman herself is de-
cidedlv contraband of war;
g" She Is decidedly sbeadtifuf,," 5fei
sponded the commandant, quickly. He
was .qsite young. and might perhaps be
excused for saying it. '.Do you know
he went on, $ she reminds me of a lady
friend at home-an innocent, charming
creature, and one of the most elegani
WON en- Fever saw.''s -;.sf sgos y 5s--.s
= s.Pardon me, commandment said I
feeling thegravity of the situation. f'bui
we must not allow ourselves to put
beauty against duty szss---s.sisssie,-st
. "a No, nc, :" he replied, 6 by no means
l am more inclined than ever to detair
them Though, if she hasn't seen an in
valid mother for seven monthsa.weIl
it's hard. Suppose You step out to thu
carriage and overhaul its contents more
closely - : Ss'A.l i'--'''i ';ii 7Ssi 4lSfA
tsWith pleasure, NJ said Ipassei
out to the carriage, and, with the helr
of the orderly, opened the close-fittine
curtains and searched every part of it
There was nothing of an objectionable
character to be found, and SO reported
to the commandant. 49,. De-. .,.-...
On, re-entering the office, to make my
report, saw that the lovely young lady
was talking eagerly, and was appealing
to the sympathies of the too impressi
BILE officer. She had drawn her chail
to his side, and WAS looking in his face
with bright tear-drops falling from hel
beautiful eyes. The commandant looked
as if he believed every word she said.
The moment had spoken to him, he
drew up to his table, opened his port
folio, and wrote the; much-covete6
pass. The young lady, on receivingit
bounded from her seat, and then, as !
could plainly see, made a strong effor
to restrain her gladness. Controlling
her steps, she went quietly to the door
Her companion followed her with equal
ly-suppressed animation, bearing thu
precious document, which she had i'm
mediately passed to him, and that as
sured them of q safe conduct beyono
the Union, lines. 49,. :: -. "a
In a moment more we heard the rat
tie of the wheels in the hard road lead
ing out of Winchester, directly toward
the Confederate headquarters. I wa
sure of it.. The horse, though not mucl
to look at, was a thoroughbred. One
up the street, he flew over the grount
like lightning. They were out of sigh
even as 1 looked. G
$50 you found nothing contrabant
in the venerable Virginia vehicle?" salt
the commandment, in a somewhat hesita
ting tone, and moving back and fortl
uneasily. :. -s...5-
"There was nothing contraband il
the carriage tben," replied, shut
am not SO sure about its contents now.
"What do you meanP" he inquired
ssI mean,'' said /, 6 that if there wer