Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-07-09


home. an innocent. charming creature,
and ono of the most elegant women ]
ever saw"
Pardon me. commandant.- said I,
feeling the gravity Of the situation. "but
wcmusi not allow ourselves 10 put beauty
against duty"
"No. no. be replied. "by no means
am moru inclined than ever to detain
thcm-though II she hasn't seen an In
valid mother for seven months well. IL
hard. suppose YOU step ont o. the car
riage and overhaul IT, contents more
closely"
"With pleasure. ! said.
passel out to the carriagc. and. with
the help Of the orderly. opened the close
fitting curtains and searched every part
~ H. There was nothing of nm objcc-
iionablc character % h. found, and ~
reported 10 the commandani.
on rc-cnicring the office to make my
report ! saw that the lovely young lady
was talking eagerly. aud was appealing
io the sympathies ~ the ton impressible
officer. She had drawn her chair 90 his
side. and was looking In his face with
brighttear drops falling from her beauti
ful eyes Tho commandant looked ~
N be- believed every word she said
The moment had spoken % him be
drew up to his table, opened his port
folio. and wrote the much coveted pass
The young lady. on receiving II. bounded
from her scai. and then. ~ could plainly
49,, made a strong effort to restrain her
gladncss. Controlling her steps, she
went quietly to the door. Her companion
'ollowcd her with equally Suppressed ant
nation. learing the precious document,
which sho hal Immediately passed To-
aim. and that assured them ~ a safe
conduct beyond the Union lines.
In moment morn We heard the rattle
u the wheels I'm the hard road leading
,ut ~ Winchester. directly towards the
confederate headquarters. was sure
II 10. Tho horsc. though not much Co
took at. was a thoroughbred. once on
the street be- ncw over the ground like
lightning They were out ~ sight even
A. looked
go yuu found nothing contraband in
the venerable Virginia yehiclei' said the
commandant. In a somewhat hesitating
tone. ani moving hack and forth un-
easily.
There was nothing contrahand in the
carriage then replied. "but am not
~ SURF about IT. contents now
"what 10 you meanT be- inquired
II mean" said I. "that u there wcrc a
Union lady among our acquaintance In
Winchester tho officers wives had been
sent away on account ~ tho expected
fight. Il would have hecn l.ttsr to have
had the Lads herself searched ann AL
most surc that papcrs 81 Importance are
socrctcl in her clothing
Tho commandant started suddenly 30
his feet
TOO latef ho exclaimed. looking
seriously troubled. Il never thought ~
that. IL j. my 6rst experience % the
Kind. and something tells me that have
bccn deceived lie AT silent for some
moments At length be- spoke. Dan
gcr will probably h. upon us tonight. !
fear have sacrificed to the pleasant
memories - peace among the absent the
stern duiic. ~ war which belong to the
present. call out the guarif'
The whole post was Immediately put
In ns complete state u defense a. our
limited resources would allow.
Next morning. long before the break
of DAY. the shells ~ stonewal Jack-on's
Napolcons wcrc bursting In the air over
our heads. the fragments carrying death
and ruin In our ranks. Our magazine,
where our principal defenses were stored.
was ON fire. our horses aud cattle. tax.
ing fright. came stamps'ling through the
town, carrying confusion and uproar
along with them. The smoke % our
burning materials 81 protection rose
thick In the sky. and the streets were
-son 80 fillol that neither men nor horses
could H. well distinguished In the dark
ncss.
II was plain that everything had been
revealed to Jackson. and be- had not loss
a moment - active preparation. Some
spy had revealed to him our condition.
and hs was rapidly advancing toward
a.. Tho young commandant. ~ manly
AMI handsome. paid dearly for his mo-
ment II weakness. for with the rising
sun the sun of his gallant life set. Struck
in the breast by the huge fragment ~ a
she'll. found him gasping for breath IN
the house whero he had been carried.
lie died In my arms.
Half an hour later. on a commanding
hill overlooking tho whole field ~ action.
We could seo through our glass stone
wall jackson sitting Ike an iron statue
ON his iron gray horsc. his slouched hat
drawn or fallen partially over his left
eve, surveying the movements Of his
troops Not far OIL. and waving her
handkerchief In the direction ot the late
Union headquarters. well mounted on a
spirited charger. while lehind her waved
the colors u the victorious forces, was
the Young lady to whom our commandani
had given the fatal pass. IL was the
daring. handsome Spy Of the Nry'ni1
valley. Relle Boyd. True Flag.