The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-05


the one where Capt. T. was TO act his duties as
Provost were multifarioUs. He issued all
passes to civilians to 90 in or out of the city;
registered all permits TO trade; regulated the
hours of opening and closing ali places of pub
lie resort: administered the "Oath of ale
glance" or took the parole" of ali applicants.
He held a Police court every morning. gen
eral intelligence Office in the afternoon: in
the evening received the reports Of his subor-
dinates, and, later in the night, gave secret
audience TO his paid spies and voluntary " in
formers"
The colored people were the most frequent
applicants for passes. They were always want
ing to 20 to see their friends living outside Of
the city limits, and Is il was very seldom that
they were found abusing this privilege by car
rying out articles ''eontrabaBd Of war" they
were allowed TO come and go quite freely.
Among those who called on the Captain
quite often was young. sprightly, and very
pretty mul2tto girl servant iB very high
toned land bitterly rebelious) family living in
the fashionable part Of the city.
At first Nary las the young girl was called)
always brought the Captain pretty bouquet of
the flowers which were TO be seen In every
garden plot: but after a while she never came
with anything but one Of the superb magno-
liss for which the city was famous. The other
staff officers used 10 rather envy the Provost
these creamy white, delicionsly fragrant bios
-
and chaffed him about Mary's decided prefer
ence for him; but ne took their jokes as he
did the flowers, with goOd-natured indifference.
One day, however, as Mary handed him her
customary Offering, he was seen TO gaze at it
more intently than usual, and then TO drop it
into his desk, which he locked, and to appear
somewhat confused. The next moment, how
ever, he was as cool as ever, and handed Mary
the pass she asked for with pleasant . Yes;
certainly" Some Of the younger staff Off
GERS, noticing the Captains curious DISPOSE
tion Of the flower, agreed that the Provost
that quiet. staid peTsonage-had AN affair "
on foot, and they would have tried to find out
al about it, but that during the next few days
there was q complete change in the disposition
OF the forces guarding the city, and in the
hurry and hustle Of carrying orders here and
there, and in placing some heavy reinforce
ments that arrived Unexpectedly, the episode
of the magnolia was forgotten. And STILL be-
tween the reception Of that flower and the
movements Of the troops there was an intimate
connection, which, many years afterward, Capt
+. explained as follows:
When Mary handed me the flower that day
and / looked up to thank her as usual, ] was
surprised 10 see her froKn slightly and slyly
point toward the blossom. Then looked at it
more closely, and saw that there was some char
acters-scraiched with pin ! judged-on one
OF the smooth green leaves. Pretending to
4
words, To-nigbt-II o'clock-walk up -
street. Say yes" to n. if you can come On
the impulse OF the moment tossed the flower
into my desk. wrote Mary the pass she asked
foT, and, as / gave it to her, said Yes; GER
tsinly.'
When ] was alone again that evening took
cut the flower and reread the message. Mary,
] knew, could not read or write, so it wasn't
from her. The writing-and in fact the whole
device-Tas too delicate TO be a mans, 50 / was
puzzled. was not vain enough TO think had
made what would now be called mash oi
any fair one, 50 / concluded that the sender
really meant business with me as Provost
Marshal. Being little lame yet from q wound
IN the ankle, ] always carried stout cane aud
with that and my pet pocket revolver did moi
hesitate TO keep the appointment.
IL was quite dark that night as I walked
up street, and very quiet met no one
for some blocks, and was wondering how far
would have to go, when ! came to where tho
front gate Of the yard 70 a private residence
was partly open, and Mary stood IN its shadow
recognized her IN moment, as she did me
and. pressing her finger 70 her lips, then mo
toned 70 me to ascend the steps Of the front
porch. did 50 very quietly, and Mary fol
lowed quickly.
"Asquickly and silently she pushed open tn,
front door, which was not latched, aud, wheE
We were inside. grasped my arm and hurried
ne up the thickl y-carpeted stairs
IL seemed but moment from the time
entered the gate to where / reached the land
ing in the upper hall, which was very dark
and heard Mary whisper wait and felt he
glide away. 'Thunder' thinks /, this Is
pretty go! Here am ], the PROVOST Marshal
IN somebody's private house more than likel,
I've given those who live here safeguar
against just such an intrusion , and have n
possible excuse for being here except that
pretty cOlOred girl brought mel Suppose som
one not IN the plot finds me here Snppose-bu
just here my suggestions were interrupted b
feeling someone thank goodness, il was Mary
take my hand and quickly lead ne forward. w
advanced few PAGES, door was pushed oper
and ! found myself in a sort Of library OF ST
ing-roOn lit by single lamp, and on a sofa or
posite me sat a young lady who, as the doc
closed behind me, started up, and sd yaneing [
where j stood exclaimed excitedly-but still /
a low voice Pardon me, sir; do not kno-
atGt you must think Of this strange meeting
but indeed-indeed, could not speak in an
other way with any Of you at headquarters
felt 1 must tell you what / know. Mary tol
me you were kind and she kRess you Woul
nerer let jt be known hor or lUhere you learne
what ! shall tell you, or Of this meeting. 70
sCiH not, will youg'
FASTENED 70 assure the young lady tina
whatever was the nature Of what she had
disclose or whatever was the result, she wonl
never be known II the affair, provided, / coul