The Republican journal., 1880-11-25
From Harper's Monthly. |
Close Quarters.

" i'ul tHt lcdNeo me.
Scottish Ballad
am Georgia gentleman, and served
the South during those four crucial years
which one side calls ''our late struggle
for independence, and the other stigma
tizes as 1.-THE rebellion" In a skirmish
before fredericksburg was taken prison
er, and was sent North with a squad of
fellow -mist0rlunates to Point Lookout.
Thence, after a while, number of us
were transferred to Fort Delaware Dur
ING the journey. while the train was run
ming at slack speed, about fifteen miles
from Baltimore, | managed TO Jump off of
It. took the leap literally in the dark,
not knowing where | was going to land,
for il was growing dusk, and the day was
the "a of February. There was snow up-
on the ground, and ! slipped as ! struck
the track, rolling over and over until
brought up in IA snow-drift below Z steep
embankment, and saw the lights ri the
rccedlng engine flashing round curve
III the road. rs soon as | could rally my
wits, gathered myself up, and turned
my face toward Baltimore.
After walking a few miles saw the ha-
" glow that hangs at night over large
had no friends and no acquaintance there
had no money. and felt faint for want of
food but | knew that Baltimore was a
sort OF outwork to the Southern Con
tederacy, and that was likely to find
aid aud sympathy amongst its women
While knew likewise that had better
steer clear Of any men | met, as most of
those who favored the Confederate cause
had gone already into the Southern army.
At Point Lookout had observed sew
eral letters directed by some of our prison
eIsto Miss Fannie Lewis, l14 Keade Street,
Baltimore. IS walked on Kept repeat
ing this address over and over had
no idea Uho Miss Fannie Lewis was. nor,
for that matter, had my friends at Point
Lookout though they We're in the habit
OF addressing her, according to the prison
etiquette. as MY dear Cousin" They
only kncN She was a charitable lady who
sent boxes Of good food and east ot1' cloth
lnG to the prisoners, while tley in return
made rings for her cut OF their coat but
tons, and inlaid them with mother-o of
pearl cut from their shirt studs.
| entered Baltimore toward the east,
and prcsumin- on the universally Of that
tNtNt 4t-N NNNl y az "a llIt EPltI st vi ljSiI-
ion takes its way" ] walked on until
found myself, about half past nine o'clock,
In What seemed fashionable quarter of
The city. Presently reached a church
a Roman Catholic church, | presumed,
from the cross upon the tront-and Oh
served that several ladies who came out
oft had prayer books with Gilt crosses i'll
their hands. knew well enough that
the Roman Catholic population of Balti-
more was southern to Il HoNtlt1i. and al
most to 4 man. followed these ladies,
and contrived to stop them without fright
, ening them. concluded they felt was
gentleman by my address, and were not
influenced 10y the clothes philosophy. |
asked them to tell Inc the way to Reade
Street. They gave me clear but brief di
rcctiOns | raised my hat and walked
oil, striking into shallow whenever !
could, and fearing the glance Of police
man. ! made my way t. Reade Street,
and pulled the bell OF Isl Ii was a
house standing in a garden little back
from the street, and an alley ran along
one side Of tie lot. IN Irish servant
girl answered my summons. That was
good omen. Irish servant girls were all
~ III flliIl/tIS III llICli va
"Can see Miss Fanny Lewis for
moment ?"
"No; Miss tanny's sent on-yone
away. The master is come home. May
be our other Miss Fannie would do for We"
LET me see hpr,' | said.
She opened the door OF a sort of library
or side sitting room, turned up the gas
and left me there. | looked at my torn
clothes, my Drowned hands, my haggard
face. and unshOrn beard and hair for
there was a large mirror over the fire
place. As stood waiting, | wondered
What impression should produce on that
other Miss Fanny when she came
Presently the door opened. \ small
blonde woman entered. . She was about
twenty five, with a very pleasant face.
She looked as frightened as felt myself
to De. Closing the door carefully, she
came up close to me, without a word
"Wbo are YOU z" she said, trembling.
"Madam, | answered, II am Major
Dangertield, of the Confederate service,
| know Miss Fanny Lewis to be lady
very good to our poor fellows at Point
Lookout | know nobody in Baltimore.
| come to ask your advice and protection"
'oh Y she cried II am the wrong
lady YOU expected to see my sister-i in
law You have run Yourself into the
greatest danger. My husband, Colonel
Lewis, has just received a staff appoint
ment here, under the major general COM
mandng in Baltimore. lie does not allow
me to have anything to do with treason
or disatfecti0n, He is a Federal officer
II beg your pardon, madam" | said,
taking my hat Il will 60 away al once"
"No, no, she cried, wildly, running to
the window as the bell rang. It's too
late hear my husband. That's him on
horseback, with his orderly. He has only
been in Baltimore a few hours, and Fan
ny was sent away South before he came.
Coin there quick Y she added, as a mans
footsteps sounded in the hall
She opened an inner door and | enter
ed a sort of large closet or store room. It
had no window, but was lighted by a kind
Of fancy lattice-Work at the top OF the
partition that divided it from the sitting
room. Besides the door through which
entered, it bad two others, | softly tried
them both, and found them fastened. The
place was a sort of anteroom, now used as
trunks and packing cases. broken articles
of furniture, linen laid up in lavender,
and ladies dresses hung on pegs. 1t was
lighted by glimmer of gas from the sit
ting room.
''My darling Fanny. " said voice; and
heard kisses es-kisses as natural as if the
man had been Southerner, and not
blood thirsty Yank, whom | was bound
to hate, to injure, and despise.
"Why, what's the matter. love ?" |
heard him say to her. "Have you had
chill You are trembling all over. You
look-I don't know how you look. What
is it, my sweet Fan ?"
"Nothing What could it be ~ she an
swered but knew, from the tremble in
her voice, that she was unused to deceiving
her colonel. | think, too, that be proba-
bly, perceived that something lay conceal
ed under her "nothing" for he did not