Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-20

against just such an intrusion, and
have no excuse for being here except
that a pretty colored girl brought mel
Suppose ! am found here! Suppose"
But just then my thoughts were in
terrupted by feeling some one-thank
Heaven, 1t was Mary!-take my hand
and lead me forward. Soon door was
pushed opened and found myself in a
sort of library or Sitting-room lit by
single lamp. On a sofa opposite me sat
a young lady, who, as the door closed
behind me, started up, and advancing to
where ! stood, exclaimed, exci*edly, but
still in low voice:
pardon me, sir, do not know what
you must think Of this strange meeting;
but, indeed, could not speak in any
other way with any of you at head.
quarters, and yet felt must tell you
what know! Mary told me you were
kind, and she knew you would never let
it be known how or when you learned
what shall tell you, or of this meeting.
You will not, will you?"
/ fastened to tell the young lady that
whatever was the nature or the result
of what she wished to disclose, she
would never be known in the affair,
provided could not help adding-I
left the house as unseen as had entered
it,
She treasured me on this point by in
forming 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
any one was disturbed while was in
the house, and would finally see me safe
out again. And then, we having seated
ourselves on the sofa, she told her story.
1t was long one but 1t may be
summed up as follows:
Her uncle and aunt were secessionists
as, in fact, were almost all the resi-
dents of the city-and their house was
sort of headquarters for all sympa-
thizers 1t was from there that most OF
the mail was exchanged, and from there
packages of quinine, gun caps and other
supplies of great value but small bulk
were made up and sent through our
lines in charge of small farmers and
others who were always passing in and
out.
With such operations l was tolerably
familiar, having seiz,.d many such ar
ticles while in transit; but now
learned that in spite of all our precau
tions the rebels were we'll informed II
regard to our numbers and the DISPOSE
ton of our forces in and about the city
and that well-arranged attack on ouI
defenses had been matured, and while
this was taking place concentrated
effort would be made by certain resi-
dents to burn the city over our headsl
at ic this attack upon the the-th'
the defenses of the city wish to pre-
vent, if possible" the young lady con
cluded. 81 do not hesitate to say tina
up to this time have aided my friend
in the Confederacy as much as l could
but in this plan to attack-you-all-
hereto burn the city, can not sympa
thize. want to prevent it If possible.
1t took me long time to note dow
the particulars of the plot, and when
rose to 60 church clock near at han,
tolled the hour of one a. IN. The youn
lady started at the sound and Fastening
to the door outside of which Mary wa
supposed to be on watch, found he
asleep on the carpet
When she was fairly awake again an
ready to pilot me out, l turned to he
mistress and said:
"You have shown great courage tc
night and have done us great service
Let me, therefore, before | 60, ask yov
one question. Why have you, South
ern girs taken this great risk to tell m
of this AFFAIR.""
She drew her hand away somehow,
had got hold of it), and said in a To-
voice:
"You must not ask me that pleas,
can not tell you now Perhaps b,
fore long-I hope before long-you ma
know. lam Southern Girl, as you sa.
+ All-yes, ALL love are In the Sout
now. But one the dearest-has not a
ways been here, He" / began I
suspect something and could not hel
grinning little. "You SMILE" she col
, tinued, blushing prettily. You must nj
+ ask mo to say more. Good nigh
Heavens! What's that?" she suddenl
/; added, some one in the lower hall?"
| There was without doubt, for tn
) tramp of heavy feet was heard and I'll
: sound of rough voice. AS the youn
+; lady and l gazed blankly at each othe
: Mary hastily entered and whispere,
7 excitedly:
"Lawd sabe us!-de patrool's at Z
g doah! Dey's banging away to wake =,
do ole massa; and heah you is, cap
l and dahs Miss Jooly an heah / is--al
n -an'-oh do hide you'self, cap'n~
$ Then she ran to sort of wardrobe
: one side Of the room. "Heah," 81
whispered, you scrooge in dahl {
i keys inside. You ho' de doah ia
> shut; dey won't look in dab fo' anybod
eff dey do come up heah."
: Knowing that it would never do to
J found where was by any one, steppt
. into the wardrobe lit was a tigl
Il squeeze to get IND and held the do
!, ready to close. Then Mary said to h
" mistress:
"We'n make b'lieve we's jest got u
" I'll pull off some my cloze-turn {
Il light down, please-now denp Al
. making some hasty change in her toll
she ran into the hall in her bare feet
BY this time the uncle and aunt hi
!. been fully aroused, and we could he,
n the voice of the former angrily d
=, mandiug the cause of the disturbance.
a "lt's the patrol, SIR q recognize
o the voice of one of my sergeants). v
: were going the rounds-saw your ga
q open and the front door ajar. Orde
y are, sir, from the provo marshal, 9TH
a.. 4 n ~ r a