Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-26
SAVING A SPY.
A STRANGE ROMANCE OF THE DAYS OF
CIVIL WAR.
How a Confederate Colonel Gave His Life for q
Prsone-A Mystery That His CON-
radss Have Never
Solved.

the summer OF Oh.
The village was situated on a small river
in Florida leading to the gulf, and it was
supposed to be a place of some strategic
importance.
For four years q small force of Federals
had been endeavoring at odd times to cap
ture Cottonboio, and a small force of Con-
federates had succeeded IN keeping them
back.
A hot July sun was blazing down on
~Cottonboro, and the streets were deserted. |
Here and there in some shady nook might
have been seen q few soldiers playing cards
and telling stories, but there wa no other
sign of life.
Colonel Melton was pacing the sidewalk
at his headquarters. He was the can
mander of the post, but he had little 10 do. |
There was no fighting in prospect, and it
was not necessary to keep the men under
very strict discipline.
The commander surveyed the situation. |
He felt the deadening influence Of the
sultry summer heat and gssped for breath.
II must take q nap" he said, There is
nothing to be lone here"
Just then he saw a cloud Of dust in the
distance, a mile or so away.
81 will wait" he remarked, there may
be trouble in that quarter"
The commander was right In q very
few minutes a number Of cavalrymen rode
in with captured spy.
"Shall we hang him or try him." asked
the leader Of the party.
Colonel Melton was about to give an of
hand reply, when his eyes fell upon the
face OF the prisoner. He saw a youth Gov
cred with dust and bearing tho marks of
travel and exposure.
Leave him to me-" said the Colonel,
quickly. 81 will question him privately"
When the prisoner was alone with the
"Clara, l penetrated your disguise at a
glance. How is it that you are her,?'
The prisoner gave a captious nod, such
as only q woman could give.
John Melton" she said, 81 am sorry to
look upon your hated face again"
But you are in trouble" answered the
commander, gravely, land must see you
ont of it"
81 scorn your help!' cried the disguised
spy. lyon deserted me after ] had been q
faithful wife for years, and you left me 10
face the world and earn my own living.
My talents found employment down this
way as o spy, and went into the business
with u full knowledge Of the const Quences,
You may tell your men to take me out and
shoot me-"
81 cannot do that" replied the conf
mander, NOR can | allow you to be tried.
II you are held for trial, you will he
searched by a crowd Of rude soldiers. My
wife must rot be subjected to such indig-
~niti-s.n
"Your wife ~ sneercd the spy. What
did you care for her when you ran away
from her?"
The colonel shivered, and then he looked
straight into the woman's eyes.
II had my reasons" he said, 'and ]
have never regretted my action. l wish
you were dead, but l do not propose to
have o hand in heaping disgrace upon
you"
The woman's eyes fell, but in a moment
she recovered herself. |
Then, John Melton" she said. Il am
sarU."
"YOu are" answered the commander Of
the post: mot a hair Of your head will be
harmed"
He spoke with an air of authority, and
the woman looked at him with a newly
kindled interest in her eyes.
"John," she said softly.
"None Of that, u responded the colonel.
when / left You it was for good and all.
| must get you out Of this scrape, but You
must never cross my path again"
"But what are you going to do?" she
asked.
Leave it to me-" said the colonel.
Then he called in q couple of soldiers
and told them to bind the spy's hands.
Leave his feet unbound" said the col
onel; Il am going TO make the fellow take
a walk with me-"
"How is that, colonel?' inquired Cap
tain Dallas.
"A secret of state" whispered the col
onel; lit is the only way To get it. l viii
walk with him to where he has buried his
papers"
his hands are tied, it is safe"
In the course of o few moments the com.
mander Of the post started of 10 the woods
with his prisoner.
The cnnnle will come blck by him
SELF" said q c0mrade to q soldier with a
wink.
All the soldiers smiled as they watched
them.
1.-The cunule wants to do q little shoot
ing himself" they said. well, 1t is all
right"
Colonel Melton escorted HE prisoner
through the woods for q mile or 30. At last
he paused.
"Clars, do you know where You are
now?"
Eyes" she answered. 81 could now
make my way back to the lines if left
free"
The colonel cut the spy's bonds.
Good by, Clara" he said.
"But your" asked the spy. "What
will become OF your
BE of at opce!" shouted the colonel.
81 must return, aud you must not lose q
moment"
The frightened woman sped away
through the forest.
The commander of the post quietly fol-
lowed her trail for an hour or two. When
he was satisfied that she had reached d
place Of safety he retraced his steps.
He was almost in sight of C~ottonboro
when he drew q pistol and placed it
against his head.
The discovery Of Colonel Melton's dead
body excited the garrison Of Cottopboro to
a high pitch Of wrath, but there va moth
ing to be done.
"Thatd-dspy" said u Of the officers.
HE got loose in some way and murdered
the best soldier in Florida"
This was the general verdict. 1t WA
thought that the spy had taken advantage
Of the colonel, and had assasinated him.
"Nor did the spy ever find out the true
explanation. She knew the magnanimity
of her husband, bat never the secret Of bis
death.
Perhaps the commander of the post did