Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-08

hung on pegs. 1t was lighted by glim
mer of gas from the sitting-room.
"My darling Fanny" said a voice
and I heard kisses-kisses as natural al
if the man had been a Southerner, ant
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 FAM"
Nothing. What could it be :" she
answered but knew, from the tremble
in her voice, that she was unused to de-
ceiving her colonel. | 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 | think he drew her toward him.
This is comfortable he said. This
is home. This is better than campaign
ing. have had worrying day Clay
pole" q judged that was his predecessor
"has left everything in disorder in his
department, and that business of Fanny $
has annoyed me beyond measure. 1t
lays me open to suspicion, and 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 seemed 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"
NO, no, indeed - cried his wife ve-
hemently. with an accent of sincerity.
Il have always been so very careful,
becauso-"H Here she came to a sudden
pause. suppose the recollection that
she had Major Dangerfeld, Of the con-
federa,e service, hidden in her store closet,
broke unpleasantly upon her. She added,
in lower tone. and with different ac-
cent, II would not compromise you for
the world"
~ wish Fanny had the same consider
alton. General S told me he was
very sorry 10 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 disaHec;ion.
1t seems a policeman has been detailed
for some time past to watch this house,
and had string of charges as long as
my arm against her. Dear. dear. if
women only would stick fast to woman's
work, and leave rebellion and politics
alone -
Il don't think Fanny meant any harm,
said the wife, ,imidly. "She used to
send things to the prisoners, but then
that was allowed She used to get lots
of letters; but don't know that she
did anything worse"
That is, she did not tell you all she
did" said the colonel. "Well, so far, |
am obliged to her, for if half hear is
true, she was stepped in petty treason.
Most of it was foolish nonsense-no good
TO the cause she wanted TO serve. Her
has made my own position
here very delicate one. 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 with
out reading them, unless you know the
hand writing"
Here came loud ring at the front
door. The colonel and his wife moved
ins tantly apart, and man came into the
room.
Good evening, colonel. Good-even-
ing, madam. | called to tell you, colonel,
that there's a dangerous character at
large in Baltimore rebel agent on
secret service e-and the provost-marshal
has given strict orders to secure him. If
they catch him, they will hang him
sure. He has been travelling as a spy
all through our Northern cities, and is
now on his way back to the South with
important papers and information. 1t
was thought he might have come here to
inquire about Miss Fanny. Has any
such person been here, Mrs. Lewis =
mo, sir, said the inexperienced equiv
ocator, with tremble in her tone.
"Have you had no stranger here this
evening"" persisted the visitor.
The answer was inaudible.
lone word with you aside, colonel"
he said, as he rose to 60, drawing Colonel
Lewis outside the parlor door into the
passage. IL don't want to be disagree
able to Mrs. Lewis, but this between
ourselves) the policeman on this beat
says he saw a man answering the descrip-
tion come in this evening at your front
door. l tell you because you would not
like a dOmiciliary visit from the provost
marshal"
Thank you, thank you. But l am
sure you are mistaken. Mrs. Lewis is a
lady of unspotted loyalty. If there be
anything wrong, it is the servants who
are concerned
Colonel Lewis" said the visitor, in
strange whisper, II don't like to destroy
your confidence in Mrs. Lewis, but the
gas was lighted in your parlor before the
blinds were down, and the policeman saw
him with Mrs. Lewis standing on the
hearth.rug. l hope you'll find it all as
right as you expect, I'm sure"
The colonel walked to the front door
with his visitor, and came back into the
sitting-room. Iknew that he was think