The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-02
A HANDSOME FEDERAL SPY

When the Senorita Maria Lopez made
her appearance in Atlanta during the
siege, says Il writer in the Constitution
of that city, she created decided scnsa-
ton among the gallant Young officers
who Were lighting I'LL day and dancing
all night. The scnorita was pretty. She
had that dark Spanish beauty which
has certain lurid deviltry about it.
Her flashing eyes seemed to look right
through a man, aud her manner of llut-
tering n fan was too eloquent for any
thing. just where the scnorita came
from no one knew. She said that her
father, Il New Orleans refugee, was in
Richmond, and that in returning from
a visit To friends in Charleston she had
received instructions To await his arrival
here. OF course this explanation was
satisfactory, and if there had been any
doubts the young lady's glittcring dia-
monds, bright eyes, and ardent Con-
fcdcrate 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, and there We're various
amateur entertainments. I'm all the
festivities of the time the charming
| Spanish scnorita bore her part. She
was the acknowi,:ig, I'D belle of the siege,
and her almost reckless daring complete
" fascinated the officers from the Gen
erals down. One thing about Maria
lopez delighted us. Federal shells had
no terrOrs for her, and when other ladies
| shriekcd and ran oil uncercmoniously
from their visitors to plunge into Il
bomb-proof. this brilliant and fearless
creature would simply clap her hands
and make some Scornful remark about
the wretched aim of the Yankee guEnerS.
| 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 pcrilous. Stray bullets
| and shells were always whizzing by,
and it was n common thing TO see 4
| general or Il colonel dodge behind q
tree But il was soon noticed that the
senorita never even duckcd her proud
little head. She would sit her horse
like n statue, and laugh in derision
when her escorts proved themselves un'
able to stand the racket.
30, would give anything to be q
sOldicr" she said one day after looking
through Col. Blanks iield-glasses. 81
would glory in the opportunities of show
ing men how to fight and die for great
cause"
| Perhaps this was too intense, too bonn
bastic, but in those days everything
that we wrote and spoke was i'm Thu
fcrvd strain. So the senorita's tall
provoked no comment, except a tribute
of admiration.
One day our heroine passed me ut ;
gallop on her way back from the breast
works. Something white iiu!tcrcd down
from her riding habit. Ipickcd il 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 trace,
out in detail the plan of fully half of on
forts and trenches. The paper also con
tanned the location of certain Govern
ment buildings and an estimate OF on
forces.
There was but one thing to do.
hated TO get pretty woman into trouble
hut ] had to do my duty. In an hour
time the paper was in the hands of TIN
Proyost-Marshal. The next day i wa
brought face to face with Maria Lopez
The hearing was in private, and II circl
of colonies and majors sat around TIN
, accused, frowning ut me as If i hat
been guilty of some criminal act. Whcl
| related the circumstances attcndin;
the finding of the paper. the little Span
lard looked at the officers with q merr.
smile.
IL think" said she, "that you don
care to hear from me. ] will say, how
ever, that never saw the paper, ant
therefore could not have dropped il
The young man perhaps found it, bu
he could not have seen me drop it.
She smiled sweetly on the Provost-MaI
shall.
"Ahem" said that individual. ether
must be some mistake here. We do nc
doubt your fidelity, sir, but we had bette
hear no more of this"
!. | was dumfoundcd and abashed
!, Knowing very little about the ways
the world, hastily retired, thanking m
stars that had saved my head. In
l day or two the Senorita Lopez disal
peared. Her lovers did not have time
: mourn her loss, because Slocum's corr
crossed the ChattahOochec and our force
had to get out i'm hurry. But wa
destined To see the scnorita again.
Many of us failed to follow Hood
army south. We were whirled about
. such a vortex of confusion that we wei