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

stepped upon or otherwise crushed, there was
no danger of exploding percussion powder'
al dunno nawthin' bout de 'cussin' pow
da',' interrupted Mary, but de old Massa's done
gone locked de doah and took de key to bed
wild him, an heah you is Mas Captain, yet
Here was new complication, and for a mo-
ment we gazed dumbfounded at each other
Then Mary-that precious Mary-had an idea.
Can you elm tree?' she suddenly asked
me.
"sOf course I cam replied; Pm up one
now amt III / couldn't help adding. But
what's that got to do with my getting out2"
"'Tll fix EN- replied Mary. let you out
de glass doah at de end dis hall on to de top de
front po'ch. Den you can let you'sef down de
pillahs to de foah. and slip out de gate, and
dab you IL, in de street.
1.-THE plan was practicable and was at once
carried into effect. With hasty good night
to Miss Julia | CROPPED my way along the hall
stepped out on to the fat roof of the porch, and
lying down on my stomach, allowed myself to
slip over the edge until / could clasp pillar
with nay legs. Then l slid down to the rail
and from there stepped on the floor, glided
softly down the steps, passed through the gate
and almost ramon to the point of a bayonet
!" Haiti ! heard stern voice command, aud
I could dimly see that had been stopped by
one of the patrol, that, as matter of precau-
ton, the Sergeant had left there.
Haiti he repeated, crowding me before
his bayoneta little closer against the gate-post
don't you STIR or I'll pin you right there!
I've been watching ye. What you doing here
and who the devil are YEP and he leaned for
ward curiously. Damned if it amt the Cap
tain! he suddenly added, and his rife came
up to his shoulder with jerk!
90 Yes, it's me, Harrison, said I, recognizing
the man. It's all right; Provost Marshal duty
you know Il could see him grin at that
All you have to do is to stay here until you
are relieved, and then report everything quiet
Mind you, not a word more than that And
walked off, while Harrison resumed his beat
before the house, whistling softly The girl
left behind me-
"As soon as reached my quarters and had
brushed off the thick coat of white that / had
rubbed off the pillar in swarming down it,
hastened to the General with my report. he
sat up in bed while gave him the Details and
then, summoning his Adjutant- General, gave
certain orders to be executed Immediately
These were followed by others during the day,
which kept the staff officers busy and caused
them to forget the episode of the magnolia
blossom, the message conveyed by which being
the means of frustrating the attack which, WE
afterward learned from rebel sources, was tc
take place, but was given up as soon as it wa:
known that we had been reinforced.
Mary did not come for SO many passes after
that. She did call once, however, and finding
me alone she drew from the folds Of her dress
my camel As she handed it to me she re-
marked: You done left him behind in DE-
wardrobe; tie he!!' and vanished.
1.-THE young lady saw after that severa
times. An artillery company that at the time
Of the contemplated attack on the city was sta
toned at an exposed point in the suburbs
Joined our brigade the next year in a town W.
were occupying in another State. The Captain
of the battery-a noble fellow-brought Will
him, on her way North, his bride, who was NJ
other than the Miss Jooly of my nights adj
venturel While laughing over the incident
connected with that interview she said:
80 think, Captain, that when l tell you, a
l can nog, that | was very much in love will
my husband at the time / sent you that mes
sage on the magnolia leaf, and that / knew
from what / had heard, that his little CAM
would be the first assaulted, that you will I'M
derstand why /, though l am Southern
girl" was so anxious to prevent the attacl
upon the city'"i-CAPT F. L. CLARKE Goth n
T., Honolulu, Sandwich Islands.