The Globe-republican., 1890-05-21
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE.
Why Miss Julia Didn't Want the
City Attacked.

ebellion that l am about to relate has
the merit of being true, and-as natu-
raj sequence, perhaps-will be brief.
To substantiate this latter statement, l
will at once begin my story.
After fighting through the fierce bat
tie summers of 1861 and 1862, our reg
iment was ordered into winter quar-
tiers near pleasant city in the South.
Soon after we had settled down for a
good resting spell, our senior Captain
received orders to report with his COM
mand at headquarters for provost mar
shal's" duty.
In a city of the size of the one where
our Captain was provo" his duties
were multifarious. He issued all passes
to civilians to 60 out of the city, regis
tered all permits to trade granted by the
General commanding. regulated the
hours of opening and closing AZ places
of public resort, administered the oath
of allegiance, or took the parole of
applicants He held police court
every morning, opened a general intel
ligence office in the afternoon, in the
evening received report of the officers
Of his guard, and later in the night gave
secret audience to his paid spies and
volunteer informers.
During the dav his mind was mostly
taken up in dealing with applicants for
passes The greatest number who asked
for them were colored people, and as it
was very seldom that they were found
abusing this privilege by carrying be-
yond the lines any thing ''contraband
of war they were allowed to go and
come freely.
Among those who called on the Cap
tain quite often for a pass was young,
sprightly mulatto girl, servant in
very high-toned family living in the
fashionable part of the city. Mary, as
the young girl was named, always pre-
faced her request for pass to 60 and
see her friends in the outskirts of the
city, just outside the provo guard. by
the offering of a bouquet OF the flowers
that were to be seen in every garden
plot, or, as the season grew later. by
bringing one of the superb magnolias
for which the city was famous.
The other staff officers used rather to
envy the provo those creamy-white.
deliciously -fragrant blossoms, surround
ed by glossy, dark-green leaves, and
they chaffed him about Mary's decided
preference for himself; but he took their
jokes-as he did the flowers-with good
natured Indifference.
One day, however, as Mary handed
him her customary offering he was seen
to gaze at it more intently than usual,
and then to drop it into his desk, which
he locked, and then to appear somewhat
confused. The next morning he was as
cool as ever, and handed Mary the pass
she asked for with smile and pleasant:
Eyes, certainly"
Some Of the younger staff officers,
noticing the captains curious care for
the flowers, agreed that he-the quiet,
staid provo-had IAN affair" on foot;
and they would have tried to find out al
about it, but during the next few days
there was complete change in the dis
position of the forces guarding the city:
and in the hurry and hustle of CARRYING
orders here and there and in placing
some heavy re-enforcements that unex-
pectedly arrived, the episode of the
magnolia was forgotten. And still, be-
tween the reception of that flower and
the movements of troops, there was an
intimate connection. which many years
afterward the captain explained as fol-
lows:
When Mary handed me the flower that
day looked up to thank her as usual.
and was surprised to see her frown
slightly and point slyly toward the bios
som. Then l looked at it more closely
and saw that there were some characters
scratched with pin, l judged-on
one of the smooth green leaves. Pre-
tending to admire the flower managed
TO make out the words: Tonight
eleven o'clock-walk up Blank street.
Say yes to Mary if you can come" On
the impulse of the moment tossed the
flower into my desk, wrote Mary the
pass she asked for and as l gave it to
her said: Yes, certainly"
When / was alone that evening took
out the flower and re-read the message.
Mary, knew. could not read or write.
so it wasn't from her. The writing. and |
in fact the whole device was too delicate |
to be mans, so l was puzzled. l was |
not vain enough to think that l had made |
what would now be called mash" of |
any fair one, SO l concluded that the |
sender really meant business" with
the provost marshal.
Being little lame from a wound in
the ankle, l always carried a stout cane,
and with that and my pet pocket re-
volver did not hesitate to keep the ap-
pointment.
1t was quite dark that night as l ,
walked up Blank street and very quiet.
met no one for several blocks. and was
wondering how far should have to 60
when came to where the front gate of
the yard to a handsome residence was
partly open, and Mary stood in its
shadow. recognized her in a moment
as she did me and pressing her finger
to her lips motioned me to follow her.
We quietly mounted the steps to the
front porch. Mary pushed open the
front door. which was not latched, and l
followed into the hall.
Once inside it was so dark could see
nothing; but Mary grasped my arm and
hurried me up a fight of thickly-