The Opelousas courier., 1886-04-17
SENORITA LOPEZ.
THE HANDsoMEsT FEDERAL SPY.

When the Senorita Maria Lopez made
her appearance in Atlanta during the
siege she created a decided sensation
among the gallant officers who were fight
ing all day and dancing all night. The
s%enorita was pretty. Her flashing eyes
seemed to look right through a man, and
her manner of futtering a fan was too
eloquent for anything. Just where the
Senorita Lopez came from no one knew.
She said that her father, a New Orleans
refugee, was in Richmond, and that in
returning from a visit to friends in Char
lestoA she had received instructions to
await his arrival here. Of course this ex-
PLANTATION was satisfactory, and if there
had been any doubt the young lady's
glittering diamonds, bright eyes, and ar
dent Confederate principles would have
won the day.
We were not entirely given over to
sackcloth and ashes during the siege.
Balls and receptions took place almost
every night, ard there were various anna
teur entertainments. In all the festivi-
ties of the time the charming Spanish
s%enorita bore her part. She was the &C
knowledged belle of the siege, and her
almost reckless daring completely fas-
cinated the officers, fiom the general
down. One thing about Maria Lopez
delighted us. Federal shells had no ter
rors for her, and when other ladies
shrieked and ran off uneeremoniously
from their visitors to plunge into a bomb
proof, this brilliant and fearless creature
would simply clap her hands and make
som scornful remark about the wretched
aim of the Yankee gunners. After our
Notifications around the city had been
nearly completed, the senorita rode out
every day with some of her military adj
mirers to view the works. This was
rather perilous. Stray bullets and shells
were always whining by, and it was a
common thing to see a general or a colo
mel dodge behind a tree. But it was
soon noticed that the senorita never even
ducked her proud little head. She would
sit her horse like a statue, and laugh in
derision when her escorts proved them
selves unable to stand the racket.
"Oh, I would give anything to be a
soldierl" she said one day, after looking
through Colonel Blanks field glass.
II would glory in the opportunity of
showing men how to fight and die for q
great cause"
Perhaps this was too intense, too bonn
bastic, but in those days everything
that we wrote and spoke was in this fer
vid strain. So the senorita's talk pro-
voked no comment, except a tribute Of
admiration.
One day our heroine passed me at a
gallop ON her way back from the breast
works. Something white futtered down
from her riding habit. Ipicked it up,
but the lady was out Of sight, riding like
the wind. Thoughtlessly ] allowed the
paper to com open. What I saw troub-
led me not a little. / saw traced out in
detail the plan of fully half of our forts
and trenches. The paper also contained
the location Of certain Government build
ings, and an estimate Of our forces.
There was but mi thing to do.
hated to get a pretty woman into trouble,
but | had to do my duty. In an hours
time the paper was in the hands Of the
provost-marshaL The next day ] was
brought face TO face with Maria Lopez.
The hearing was in private, and 9 circle
of colonies and Majors sat around the &C.
cused, frowning at me as If had been
guilty Of some criminal act. When I re-
lated the circumstances attending the
finding of the paper, the little spaniard
looked at the officers with q merry smile.
III think said she, THAT you dom
care to hear from me. Twill say, how
ever, that ! never saw the paper, and
therefore could not have dropped it,
The young man perhaps found it, but b
could not have seen me drop II" Sht
smiled sweetly on the proyost-marshaf
ssAhemsp said that individual. ssThert
must be some mistake here. We do no
doubt your fidelity, sir, but we had bet
ter hear MO more Of this
/ was duEnbfounded and abashed
knowing very little about the ways g
the world, Hastily retired, thanking N.
stars that / had saved my head. In
day Of two the senorita Lopez disap
peared. Her lovers did not have time Y
mourn her loss, because slocanls corp
crossed the Chattahoochee, and our force
had to get out III 8 hurry. But I wa
destined to see the senorita again.
Many IF ns failed % follow Hood'
arrDy south. We were whirIed about j
such 4 vortex Of confusion that we Wer
glad TO escape with o,ir lives. ANON
other hotsam and jetsana / was throw
Monr,I ~ Nsa cval 9smas stranded /