The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-06-18
miscellaneous.
SENORITA MARIA LOPEZ
THE HANDSOME FEDERALspY.

OENOHI a MARIA lOEEZ.
THE HANDSOME EDERALSPY.
When the Senorita Maria Lopez made her
appearance in Atlanta during the siege she
created decided sensation among the gal
liant officers who were fighting all day and
dancing all night. The Senorta was pretty.
Her flashing eyes seemed to look right
through Il man and her manner of flutlering
Il fan was too eloquent tor anything Just
where the Senorita Lopez came from no one
knew. She said that her father, a New Or
leans refugee was in Richmond, and that re-
turning from visit to friends in Charleston
she had received instructions to await his ar
rival here. Of course this explanation was
satisfactory, and if there had been any doubt
the young lady's glittering diamonds bright
eyes, and ardent Confederate principles would
have won the day.
We were not entirely given over to sack
cloth and ashes during the siege. Balls and
receptions took place almost every night and
there were various amateur entertainments.
In all the festivities of the time the charming
Spanish senoIita bore her part. She was the
acknowledged belle of the SIEGE and her al.
most reckless daring completely fascinated
the officers, from the general down. One
thing about Maria Lopez delighted us. Fed
eral shells had no terror for her, and when
other ladies shrieked and ran off unceremo-
nously from their visitors to plunge into
bombproof this brilliant and fearless creature
would simply clap her hands and make some
scornful remark about the wretched aim of
the Yankee guns. After our Notifications
around the city had been nearly completed
the senorita rode out every day with some of
her military admirers to view the works.
This was rather perilous. Stray bullets and
shells were always whizzing by, and it was
common thing to see general or a colonel
dodge behind tree. But it was soon no.
ticed that the senorta never ducked her
proud little head. She would sit on her
horse like II statue, and laugh in derison
when her escorts proved themselves unable
to stand the racket
"Oh, | would give anything to be SOL
dierp' she said one day, after looking through
Colonel Blanks field glass. 81 would glory
in the opportunity of showing men how to
fight and die tor Il great cause"
perhaps this was too intense too bombas-
tic, but in those days everything that we
wrote and spoke was in this fervid strain.
So the senorita's talk provoked no comment,
except tribute of admiration.
One day our heroine passed me at gallop
on her way back from the breastworks.
Something white fiuttered down from her
riding habit. picked it up, but the lady
was out of sight, riding like the wind
Thoughtlessly allowed the paper to come
open. What saw troubled me not little.
saw traced out in the detail the plan of
fully half of our forts and trenches. The
paper also contained the location of certain
Government buildings, and an estimate of
our forces.
There was but one thing to do. l hated
to get pretty woman into trouble, but l
had to do my duty. In an hours time the
paper was in the hands of the provost mar
shall The next day was brought face to
face with Maria Lopez. The hearing was in
private, and circle OF colonies and majors
sat around the accused frowning at me as If
l had been guilty of some criminal act
When l related the circumstances attending
the finding of the paper, the little Spaniard
looked at the officers with a merry smile.
IL think" said she, that you don't care to
hear from me. will say, however, that l
never saw the paper, and therefore could not
have dropped it. The young man perhaps
found it, but he could not have seen lie drop
it," She smiled sweetly on the provost mar
shall
"Aheml I" said that individual. "There
must be some mistake here. We do not
doubt your fidelity, sir, but we had better
hear no more of this" .... .....
was dumbfounded and abashod. knowing
very little about the ways of the world, I
hastily retired, thanking my stars that had
saved my head In day or two the Senori-
ia Lopez disappeared. Her lovers did not
have time to mourn her loss, because Slo-
GUMS corps crossed the Chattahoochee, and
our forces had TO get out in hurry. But /
was destined to see the scnorita again.
Many of us failed to follow Hoods army
south We were whirled about in such
,f.,n.. 4
cape with our lives Among other flotsam
and jetsam was thrown beyond the Federal
lines. Stranded in Nashville, at that time
vast military camp, felt badly enough. /
could not go South, and / could not get a
pass to 60 North. One night went to the
theatre. During one of the scenes there was
buzz, and people stood up to look at man
in the dress circle just above my head FL
naly rose, as somebody said g., 's#a#.l
HE is the most successful guerilla and spy
on the Union sde"' ..t..H ...s g.g
stood up until my face was level with
the railing of the dress circle.
1t was wonder that ! didn't faint!
Looking calmly, mockingly into my eyes
was the handsomest man ever saw. He
was dressed in glittering uniform and wore
diamonds That clear cut, dark face, those
burning eyes, the slight scar under the left
ear there could be no mistake.
seized my overcoat and rushed out of the
door just in time to hear the alleged Senorita
Lopez say in voice like a bugle:1 ra- au
ARREST that man." ig4 - t,r.sg ia,
A wave of darkness came over me. An
officer caught me by the arm. felt that I
was lost, II the senorita was not only
man, but an enemy, l had no mercy to hope
for. .t.attt. F.fI -9' , H1l nt f.,IE E
There was a sudden tumult, wild cry of
fire, and then II crowd surged down the stair
way. When picked myself up the officer
who had arrested me lay on the sidewalk
with q fractured skull | jumped quietly
away, and took the outgoing train for Louis
vile. had no passport aud trusted to luck
Passes gentlemen" shouted sleepy
lieutenant, as he passed through the car. I
kept my head bowed down, with my hat
over my eyes. - ...I.fsq
"See here, show your pass" said the off,
GER
A gruff man behind me spoke up and said :
You don't want to see 1t twice. He
showed 1t to you minute ago"
"Beg pardon" said the soldier slightly con-