Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-25
A WAR HEROINE

| good evening. I was just telling these gen i tlemen how you once put me under arref for not having my pistols in working order. A WAR HEROINE En the Southern Army-She Turne, Out to Re Man. From the Atlanta Constitution.] When the Senorita Maria Lopez made he I appearance in Atlanta during the siege, sh | lant young officers who were fighting all da, ! and dancing all night. The senorita wa pretty. She had that dark Spanish beaut, which has a certain lurid deviltry about it | Her flashing eyes seemed to look righ ! through a man, and her manner of f1utterins a fan was too eloquent for anything. Just where Senorita,Lopez came from nc one knew. She said that her father, New Orleans refugee, was in Richmond, and that in returning from visit to friends 1T Charleston, she had received instructions te await his arrival here. Of course this ex planation was satisfactory, and, if there hac been any doubts, the young lady's glitterine diamonds, bright eyes and ardent Confeder ate principles would have won the day. We were not entirely given over to sack. cloth and ashes during the siege. Balls and re. captions took place almost every night, and there were were various amateur entertain ments. In all the festivities of the time the charming senorita bore her part. She was the acknowledged belle of the siege, and her almost reckless daring completely fascinated the officers, from the generals down. One thing about Maria Lopez delighted us Federal shells had terrors for her, and when other ladies shrieked and ran off uu- to ,,1,7 into @ bomb proof, this brilliant and fearless creature would simply clap her hands and make some scornful remark about the wretched aim of the Yankee gunners. After our Notifications around the city had been nearly completed, tine 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 whiz- zing by, and it was a common thing to general or a colonel dodge behind tree. But it was soon noticed that the senorita never even tucked her proud little head She would sit her horse like a statue, and laugh in derision when her escorts proved themselves unable to stand the racket. "Oh, would give anything to be sol dier!" she said one day, after looking through Col Blanks field glass. 'EI would glory in the opportunity of showing men now to fight and die for great cause!"
 Perhaps this was too intense, too bo1nbas- tic, but in those days everything that we wrote and spoke was in this fervid strain. So the senorita's talk provoked no com ment, except tribute of admiration.
 One day our heroine passed me at gallop on her way back from the breastworks. Something white fluttered down from her riding habit. I picked it up, but the lady was out of sight, riding like the wind Thoughtlessly I allowed the paper to come open What saw troubled me not 8 little. I saw, traced out in detail, the plan of fully half of our forts and trenches. The paper also contained the location of certain govern inent buildings, and an estimate of our forces.
 There was but one thing to do. I hated to get 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 circle of colonels and majors sat around the accused, drowning at me as if l had been guilty of some criminal act. When I related the circumstances attending the finding of the paper, the little Spaniard look ed at the officers with merry smile.
 q think" said she, ''that you don't care to hear from me. I will say, however, that never the paper, and therefore could not have dropped it. The young man perhaps found it, but he could not have seen me drop it. She smiled sweetly on the provost marshal
 ''Ahem!'' said the individual. ''There must be some mistake here. We do not doubt your fidelity, sir, but we had better hear no more of this.'
 I was dumbfounded and sbashed. Know ing very little about the ways of the world. I hastily retired, thanking my stars that I had saved my head.
 In a day or two the Senorita Lopez disap- peared. Her lovers did not have time to mourn her loss, because Slocum's corps crossed the Chattahoochee, and our forces had to get out in hurry. But l was destined to see the senorita again.
 Many of us failed to follow Hoods army south. We were whirled about in such a vortex of confusion that we were glad to es- cape with our lives. Among other fotsam and jetsam I was thrown beyond the Federal lines. Stranded in Nashville, at that time a a vast military camp, felt badly enough. could not go South, and I could not get a pass to go North.
 One night went to the theatre. During one of the scenes there was buzz, and peo- pie stood up to look at man in the dress circle just above my head. Finally I rose, as somebody 5aid
 ''He is the most successful guerrilla and spy on the Union side"
 I stood up until my face was on a level with the railing of the dress circle.
 It was a wonder that I didn't faint
 Looking calmly, nockingly into my eyes was the handsomest man l ever saw. He was dressed in glittering uniform, and wore dia- nonds. That clear cut, dark face, those burning eyes, the slight scar under the left ear-there could be no mistake.
 I seized my overcoat and rushed out of the door, just in time to hear the alleged Senor- ia Lopez say, in voice like a bugle:
 Arrest that man.
 wave of darkness came over me. An officer caught me by the arm. I felt that If tho Sannrita not only but an enemy, I had no mercy to hope for. There was sudden tumult wild cry of fire, and then crowd surged down the stair way. When picked myself up the officer who had arrested me lay the sidewalk with fractured skull. I limped quietly away, and took the outgoing train for Louis vile. I had no passport and trusted to luck.
 ''Passes, gentlement" shouted sleepy lieutenant, as he passed through the car. l kept my head bowed down, with my hat over my eyes.
 ''See sshere, show your pass," said the officer.
 gruff man behind me spoke up and said:
 ''You don't want to see it twice. He show ed it to you minute ago"
 ''Beg pardon" said the soldier, slightly confused. He went on, and I was safe at last.
 I have never seen the senorita since, and have no desire ever to meet her, or rather him, again. The cold-blooded devil would have had me shot as spy, beyond doubt,