Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-07-22

ded, as mans footsteps sounded in the
hall
She opened an inner door, and I en-
tered sort of large closet or store room
1t had no window, but was lighted by a
kind of fancy lattice-work at the top of
the partition that divided it from the sit
ting-room. Besides the door through
which entered, it had two others.
softly tried them both, and found them
fastened. The place was sort of ante
room, now used as store closet 1t had
shelves in it, and trunks and packing
cases, broken articles of furniture, linen
laid up in lavender, and ladies' dresses
hung on pegs. 1t was lighted by a
glimmer of gas from the sitting room.
"My darling Fanny!' said voice :;
and | heard kisses-kisses as natural
as if the man had been a Southerner,
and not a bleod-thirsty Yank, whom
l was bound to hate, to injure, and de-
spise.
"Why, what's the matter, love?'' |
heard him say to her. "Have you had
chill? You are trembling all over.
lou look-I don't know how you look
: What is it, nay sweet Fan?"
"Nothing. What could it be?'' she
answered; but knew, from the trem-
bic in her voice, that she was unused to
deceiving her colonel. 1 think, too, that
he probably perceived that something
lay concealed under her "nothing," for
he did not press her to say more He
sat down, and I think he drew her to-
ward him.
ssThis is comfortable, he said stThis
is home. This is better than campaign
ing. I have had worrying day.
Claypole'' q judged that was his pred
ecessor) ''has left everything in disorder
in his department., and that business of
Fanny's has annoyed me beyond meas
ure' 1t lays me open to suspicion, and l
have had local politicians at me about it
all day. How Fanny could have been
so indiscreet, so unmindful of what was
due to my position! She seems to have
been forever doing something that how :
cred, to say the least of it, upon the
verge of treason. l hope, my Fanny,
you have had nothing to do with her
proceedings -..
s.No, no, indeed!" cried his wife, We
hemently, with an accent of sincerity.
81 have always been so very careful,
because Here she came to a sud-
den pause. 1 suppose the recollection
that she had Major Dangerfield, of the
Confederate service, hidden in her store
closet, broke unpleasantly upon her.
She added, in lower tone, and with
a different accent, 81 would not COM
promise you for the world"
81 wish Fanny had the same consid-
Grafton. General - told me he was
very sorry to have to send her through
the lines, but that it had been absolutely
necessary. A little more and she
would have got herself into the Old
Capitol Prison. The Union politicians
of this place have keen scent for dis
affection. 1t seems a policeman has
been detailed for some time past to
watch this house, and they had a string
of charges as long as my arm against
her. Dear! dear! if women only would
stick fast to women's work, and leave
rebellion and politics alone!''
81 don't think Fanny meant any
harm,' said the wife, timidly. "She
used to send things to the prisoners,
but then that was allowed. She used to
get lots of letters; but I don't know
that she did anything worse.''
s'That is, she did not tell you all she
did," said the Colonel. &C Well, so far,
l am obliged to her, for, if half hear is
true, she was stepped in petty treason.
Most of it was petty nonsense-no good
to the cause she wanted to serve. Her
imprudence has made my own position
here very delicate one. L have written
to the commanders of all the prisons
not to forward to her any letters that
may pass through their hands, and if
any do arrive, you had better burn them
without reading them unless you know
the handwriting.
Here came loud ring at the front
door. The Colonel and his wife moved
instantly apart, and man came into
the room.
Good-evening, Colonel. Good-even-
ing, madam I called to tell you,
Colonel, that there's dangerous char
acter at large in Baltimore-a rebel
agent on secret service-and the Pro-
vost- Marshal has given strict orders to
secure him. If they catch him, they will
hang him sure. He has been travelling
as spy all through our Northern cities,
and is now on his way back to the South
with important papers and informa-
ton. 1t was thought he might have
come here to inquire about Miss Fanny
Has any such person been here, Mrs.
Lewis?''
"No, sir,'' said the inexperienced
equivocator, with tremble in her Tone
I" Have you had no stranger here this
EVENING"" persisted the visitor.
The answer was inaudible.
Gone word with you aside, Colonel"
he said, as he rose to go, drawing
Colonel Lewis outside the parlor door
into the passage. 81 don't want to be
disagreeable to Mrs. Lewis, but (this
between ourselves) the policeman on
this beat says he saw man answering
the description come in this evening at
your front door. tell you because you
would not like a domiciliary visit from
the Provost Marshal"
"Thank you, thank you. But am
sure you are mistaken. Mrs. Lewis is
lady of unspotted loyalty. If there be
any thing wrong, it is the servants who
are concerned.''
"Colonel Lewis,' said the visitor, in
stage whisper, 81 don't like to de-
stroy your confidence in Mrs. Lewis,
h,,% %Lo o~os xr,,, !;1rLkoA ~, 1yo,.r rlo,.