Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-07-25
@TRANsIRNT -BI1Ls-oAsH

chamber, to postpone opening tho doors as
long as possible; thon seizing me by the
hand and dragging rather than leading me to
her own chamber. she ordered me to get be>
tween the double mattress on her own bed.
and cover myself in double quick. Aocou.
tired as was, plunged in. aud did not bid
her follow, for very soon in addition to my
own heavy clothing, the upper mattress and
the bedelothes. felt the weight of the body
OF my dear dsliverer, which was by no means
light; besides, It was . warm night, and I
0ame as near being stifed to death ss il is
possible to imagine. Very soon heard o
seft whisper:
"John, you must not stir, or speak. or
breathe as You value your life; and always
remember, ii is only 20 try to save il that 1
take You into my own bed in this way, aud as
you soldiers say, try to cover your retreat"
Gated, and knowing that if caught this would
be the last of mo, as they would shoot me as
spy without any mercy, this sally of hor
Wit was too much for mo, and fell Into an
immoderste ht of laughter which lasted up 10
the hme the Federal officer searching the
house entered her room. candle in hand. AL.
most the first thing he did, as was informed
afterwards, for could see nothing, was to
hold the lighted candle up the chimney.
What astonished me most of all and com.
plotted my round of surprises, was to hear a
faint, hecteo cough Immediately above me.
as if proceeding from some ono in tho last
stage of consumption, accompanied by siyhs
and groans. This was not lost upon the OIL
Ger, who with studied politeness apoloeized
for coming into a lady's sick room nnd dis.
turoing tho slumber of an invalid His duty,
however, he said, required him to spare no
pains IN trying to mako suro the capture of
one OF the most dangerous spies in the whole
rebel service, and whom they had eyery rea.
son to believe they had traced to this house.
which he was seen to- enter. But she pro-
tested in low voice, interrupted by fits of
coughing, IT such a man was in her house no
certainiy y would not be permitted to enter o
lady's chamber.
How do know that" |" replied he and
how do know that he may not be a relative
OF yours, your own husband porhapsH You
Will have to excuse mo, therefore, If l have
to look in your own bed, oven. Whereupon
approaching it upon the sido opposite whero
We both lay, he trembling turned down the
coverlets, and, seeing nothing to excite any
suspicious, loft the room after making further
apologies,
CHS departure seemed to boar healing on
ITS wings to tho suffering invalid, for heard
no moro of that dreadful cough /; and am
sure it brought tho greatest relief in the
world to another real sufferer, who will never
forget to the last day of his life the double
danger to which he had been exposed. that
OF being arrested and shot as o spy, and of
being suffocated to death under such pro-
oious burden. Before morning when the coast
was found to bo clear, was released from
my confinement, and made my escape from
the house nnd tho city, after expressing all
the gratitude in my power to my delivcrer.
Aud you may bo certain that always alter
ward the rebel spy was little moro cautious
how be entOred peoples houses where he had
no moro business than to crafty his curiosity
to sec q handsome face"