Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-20
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE.
Why Miss Julia Didn't Want the
City Attacked.

The little incident in the war OF the |
rebellion that am about to relate has
the merit OF being true, and-as natu-
raj sequence, perhaps will be brief. |
To substantiate this latter statement, |
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
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 go out of the city, regis
tered all permits to trade granted by the
General commanding, regulated the
hours of opening and closing all places
OF public resort, administered tho 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 greatestnumber who asked
for them were colored people, and as it
was very seldom that they were found
busting this privilege by carrying be-
yond the lines any thing 'contraband
of war;" they were allowed TO 60 and
come freely
Among those who called on the Cap
tain quite often for pass was young,
sprightly mulatto girl, servant in a
very heightened family living in the
fashionable part of the city. Mary, as
the young girl was named, always pre-
faced her request for pass to go and
see her friends in the outskirts of the
city, just outside the provo guard, by
the offering Of 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 howers-with good
natured Indifference.
One day, however, as Mary handed
him her customary Offering he was seen
to gaze at it moro 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 hottie quiet,
staid provo-had IAN affair." on foot;
and they would have tried 10 find out all
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
sfterward the captain explained as fol
lows:
When Mary handed me the flower thai
day looked up to thank her as usual
and was surprised to see her frowr
slightly and point slyly toward the bios
som. Then looked at it more closely
and saw that there were some characters
scratched with pin, l judged-or
one of the smooth green leaves. Pre-
tending TO admire the flower managed
to make out the words: "To-night-
eleven o'clock-walk up Blank street
Say yes to Mary IL you can come" Or
the impulse of the moment tossed thu
flower into my desk, wrote Mary tn,
pass she asked for and as l gave it t,
Der said: Eyes, certainly"
When was alone that evening tool
Cat the flower and re.read the message
Mary, knew, could not read or write
so it wasn't from her! The writing, ant
in fact the whole device was too delicat,
to be mans, SO l was puzzled. wa
not vain enough to think that had mad,
what would now be called ''mash" o
any fair one, so l concluded that tn,
sender really meant business" will
the provost marshal
Being little lame from wound il
the ankle, l always carried q 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
walked up Blank street. and very quiet
met no one for several blocks, ami " a
wondering how far should have to g,
when | came to where the front gate o
the yard to handsome residence wa
partly open, and Mary stood in it
shadow. recognized her in moment
as she did me and pressing her tinge
to her lips motioned me to follow her
We quietly mounted the steps to TIN
front porch. Mary pushed open tn,
front door. which was not latched, and
followed into the hall.
Once inside it was so dark l could Sc,
nothing; but Mary grasped my arm anC
hurried me up fight of thickly
carpeted stairs Reaching the landing
in the upper hall, she whispered
"Wsit,p and heard her glide awsy