Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-10-04
send her forward with her escort.

THAT your duty as a soldier is par
amount" said 1, respectfully. Il
feel impressed as you do. Like you
also, feel the promptings Of human
ity, and on that account would like
to see the young lady passing our
lines, but cannot overcome the sus-
picion that under her fair exterior she
may be Confederate spy"
That's the way it strikes me- re-
sponded the commandant, but l find
that her papers, after having been
examined and endorsed at Harper's
Ferry, have been re-examinedat Mar
tinsburg. The gentleman who is
with her has the official Union CON-
mission. They both tell the same
story. have examined the carriage,
and find nothing contraband Of war. :"
My opinion is" | added, that this
handsome young woman herself is de
cidedly contraband of war"
''She is decidedly beautiful" re-
sponded the commandant, quickly.
He was quite young, and might per-
haps be excused for saying it. DO
you know" he went on, ''she reminds
ME of lady friend at home-an inno-
cent, charming creature, and one of
the most elegant women | ever saw" !"
Pardon me, commandant, said |,
feeling the gravity of the situation,
''but we must not allow ourselves TO
put beauty against duty"
mo, no." he replied, "by no means
am more inclined than ever to de-
tain them-though if she hasn't seen
an invalid mother for seven months
well, it's hard. Suppose you step out
to the carriage and overhaul its con-
tents more closely"
with pleasure" said.
passed out to the carriage, and
with the help Of the orderly, opened
the close fitting curtains and searched
every part of it. There was nothing
of an Objectionable character to be
found, and l so reported to the COM
mandant.
On re-entering the Office to make
my report saw that the lovely young
lady was talking eagerly, and was ap-
pealing to the sympathies Of the too
impressible officer. She had drawn
her chair to his side, and was looking
in his face with bright tear-drops fall
ing from her beautiful eyes. The
commandant looked as il he believed
every word she said.
The moment | had spoken to him
he drew up to his table, opened his
portfolio, and wrote the much coveted
pass. The young lady, on receiving
it, bounded frcm her seat, and then
as l could plainly see, made strong
effort to restrain her gladness. Con-
trolling her steps, she went to the
door. Her companion followed her
with equally suppressed animation,
bearing the precious document which
she had Immediately passed to him,
and that assured them OF a safe con-
duct beyond the Union lines
Ina moment more we heard the
rattle of the wheels in the hard road
leading out of Winchester, directly
towards the Confederate headquar-
ters. / was sure of it. The horse
though not much to look at, was a
thoroughbred. Once on the street he
flew over the ground like lightning.
They were out of sight even as
looked.
$50 you found nothing contraband
in the venerable Virginia vehicleF'
said the commandant, in a somewhat
hesitating tone, and moving back and
forth uneasily.
"There was nothing contraband in
the carriage then" replied, but
am not as sure about its contents
now."
What do you meanf" he inquired.
Il mean," said /, that il there
were a Union lady among our ac-
ouaintances in Winchester (the Off
GERS wives had been sent away on ac-
count Of the expected fight) it would
have been better to have had the
adv searched. / am almost sure that
papers of Importance are secreted in
her clothing"
The commandant started suddenly
to his feet.
TOO late!" he exclaimed, looked Sc
riously troubled. Il never once
thought of that. 1t is my first expert
ence of the kind, and something tells
me that have been deceived" He
sat silent for some moments. At
length he spoke. Danger will be
probably upon us tonight. l fear l
have sacrificed to the pleasant memo
ries of peace among the absent the
stern duties of war which belong to
the present. Call out the guard"
The whole post was Immediately
put in as complete state OF defense as
our limited resources would allow.
Next morning, long before the break
of day, the shells OF Stonewall Jack
sons Napoleons were 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 hre.
Our horses and cattle, taking fright,
came stampeding through the town,
carrying confusion and uproar along
with them. The smoke of our burn
ing materials of protection rose thick
in the sky, and the streets were soon
so filed that neither men nor horses
could be well distinguished in the