The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-05
not help adding, got away from the house as
Y 1.os -

not help adding, got away from the house as
unseen as I had entered it!
She treasured me on this point by inform
ing me that her uncle and aunt, with whom she
lived as their adopted daughter, had retired an
hour ago. That Mary her own maid, whom
she could trust implicitly, would let us know if
anyone was disturbed while / was there, and
would finally see me safe ont again; and then
we having seated ourselves on the sola-she
told her story.
1t was long one, but may be summoned
up be follows:
Her uncle and aunt were both rabid seces-
sionists-as in fact were almost all the resi-
dents in the city, and that house was sort of
headquarters for all rebel sympathizers. 1t was
there that those who managed to get through
our lines unsupported brought letters from the
ConfedeTacy, aud it was from there that pack
ages of quinine and other medicines, gun-caps
and other articles of small bulk but of price
less value to the rebel soldiers were made up
and sent through our lines in charge of small
farmers and others who were always passing IN
and out. With these operations was tolerably
familiar, having made number of seizures OF
just such articles while in transit. But l
learned from what the young lady told me
that, in spite of cur precautions, the rebels were
fully informed In regard to the number and
disposition of our forces in and about the city,
and that well-aTranged plan for making an
attack on our defenses had been matured, and
while this was taking place concerted effort
would be made by certain residents TO burn the
city over our heads.
"a 1t is this attack upon the city wish to pre-
vent if possible the young lady concluded.
do not hesitate to tell you that / have aided
my friends in the Confederacy as much as l
could. AT first did so because l sympathiZed
with them. Afterward, when this plan was
spoken Of, still assisted my uncle and aunt in
the part they took in 1t, though, from the first,
/ was determined to prevent the attack if pos
sible.'
1T took me long time to note down the par
ticulars Of the scheme, and when | had finally
done so and rose to go, a church clock near at
hand tolled the hour of l a. m. The young
lady started at the sound, and, fastening to the
door, whispered softly for Mary. That young
woman, however, had sunk down on the hall
carpet and was sound asleep When she was
fairly awake again and ready TO pilot me out l
turned to the young lady and said:
You have shown great courage tonight,
and have done us a great service. Let me, be-
fore l 60, ask you one question, perfectly
natural one, think; it is this: Why did you, a
Southern girl, take this great risk to tell me
what you haye?
"She drew her hand away somehow I had
got hold of it,, and said In a low voice:
- You must not ask me that, sir, please +
I can't tell you mOw. Perhaps-before long-l
hope before long-you may know. / am
Southern girl, as you say. All-yes all love
are in the South-aou. But one, the dearest,
has not always been here. Hell began to
suspect something and couldn't help grinning
q little)-' You SMILE she continued, blushing
prettily. You must not ask me to say more
goodnight Heaveusl What's that?' shesud-
denly added, some one in the lower hall!'
There was, without doubt for the tramp of
heavy feet was heard and a loud rap on the
front door. As the young lady aud | gazed
blankly at each other Mary hastily entered and
whispered excitedly:
." Lawd sabe US, Massa Cap'n, de patrool IS at
de doah Dey's bangin' away TO wake I'D ole
Massa; an heah yoa is, an dah's Miss Jooly an
heah lis An'-an'-oh, do hide youse'f, Cap'n
Then she ran to a sort of wardrobe at one side
of the room. Heah,' she whispered, you
scrouge in dab! de keys inside-you hold de
doah fas' shet; dey won't look in dab TO any
body # dey do search up heah!
g did as / was told, and held the door ready
to close. Then Mary said to her Mistress: : PHI
pull of some Of my cloze Miss Jooly-turn de
light down, please-an' make 'em b'leeve Ise
jes' done got up. Now, den, and she ran into
the hall IN her bare feet
BY this time the uncle and aunt had been
fully aroused, aud we could hear the voice Of
the former angrily demanding the cause of this
sudden uproar.
=" It's the patrol, SIR Il recognized the voice
Of one of my Sergeants.) We were going our
rounds; saw the gate open, then the front door
ajar. Orders are, sir, from the Provest-Mar-
shall THAT was mel to look out for the safety Of
all private houses. Thought it strange to see
house open this time O. night; came TO see if
anything was the matter, sirl
The door open, you say?' exclaimed the
uncle. How's that2 Where's Mary2 Oh,
there you re'-as Mary, half-dressed, came
part way down stairs What's the meaning Of
this, you jade?'
az Bless US, Massa,' answered Mary in ter
rifed voice. 1 mus a-done gone forgot dat
doah. Pears t. me, too dat 1 did fas'en 'em
bout lebben clock. I'll go ask Miss Jooly I;
and she retreased up the stairs.
"About III roared the cid man; what the
devil were you doing down here at that hour
Fll'-then he checked himself, and turning to
the sergeantsaid, I thank you for your watch
fulness. 1t was all a piece of carelessness on
the part Of the servants, no doubt. I'll settle
that with them IN the morning ! bid you
good-nightl' The Sergeant as he moved away,
offered, in the handsomest manner, to search
the house to see if some stranger was not Turk
ing on the premises; but, much to my relief,
the offer was rejected. As the patrol went
| down the steps the Uncle banged-to the door,
locked and bolted it, and then Selling the lamp
which he had brought from his room, assembled
| the stairs and tapped at the room door.