The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-07
A LUCKY MISTAKE

fred on, two young men from Pennsylv
vanis enlisted in the Union army. These
young men were twins, Tom and I. We
were very much alike In size, feature,
voice and manner-everything indeed,
and the only persons who could always
tell which was Tom and which was ] were
the twins themselves. We did not Join
the same branch of the army, Tom enlist
ing In the cavalry while ! Joined the secret
service.
After the investment of vicksburg, and
when the Union forces were each day dig
cling nearer the city, ] was sent to make
an inspection Of the Confederate fortih-
cations.
Isucceeded In passing the Confederate
lines and entered the city of Vicksburg,
where, dressed in civilians clothes, ! was
reasonably free from suspicion. But 1t
took me q full day before ! secured the
desired knowledge, and started back to-
wards the Union line under cover OF
darkness.
passed the guard safely and was, per-
haps, a third OF the way to camp, when /
heard a sharp "Haltl who goes theref"
accompanied by the click Of cooking
weapons.
Escape was out of the question, and Q
moment lhtcf i Wdb u pIlpouoKs
(which camp do you belong tot"
captured me.
"Neither," I answered, shut I am
staying at Vicksburg."
"How came you 30 far from the lines
tonight"
1T was Just wandering around and
thought I would 60 until I reached tho
outer guard" I answered.
"This 10 very strsnge-if true" said my
questioner, turning to his comrades;
but probably it 10 all q lie." Then to
me. "We will just take you into camp
and sift that yarn Of yours"
The warn sifted so poorly that ] was
convicted a. q spy and sentenced to death.
One day after my conviction some
young ladies of the city visited the prison
where the Yankees were confined, some
to see the strange animals of the North,
who they believed had "horns and hoofs
like an elephant" as n of the young
women expressed It; others to leave flow
ers or fruit for the unhappy prisoners.
The number of the latter class was small.
As q condemned spy I was an object OF
especial hatred or commiseration, accord
ing to the feelings of the fair visitors.
els he really a spyf" asked one young
girl Of gushing class and age.
EYES," answered the guard, she Is Q
genuine Yankee spy"
ooh, isn't 1t awful" said the girl.
show can you tellf He doesn't look like
a spy, and il you hadn't told me I should
say he was real nice"
"You can't tell anything by looks"
replied the guard. "Some of the bright
est and handsomest men In the service are
spies. This 'un looks well enough, but he
is a sneaking spy just the same"
Chow strange. And what do these
dreadful spies dot What did this one
dot"
"He came to look over our fortifca-
tions SO he could tell the Yanks where it
would be easiest TO break through them
and capture the city"
"Oh, DEAR you don't think the Yankees
will capture vicksburg, do your II they
should, they would kill US all. wouldn't
theyf Oh, how ~dreadfully awful II would
be-"
at don't think they will ever take tho
city; 1t is toe well fortified and too
strongly defended"
My attention was soon attracted to
three young ladies who were distributing
handsome little bouquets to some OF the
prisoners whom they appeared to know,
and / was surprised to see the Mortified
stare which followed one young girls first
glance at me. She looked q second time,
searchingly, her face, pale and startled,
then turned away with her companions.
The mex day she came back again
bringing flowers, and I had q chance to
watch her for some moments. She
brought me q small bouquet, and when
handing IL to me accompanied Il by .
glance apparently full Of meaning, and
yet utterly b~ewildering and untranslata-
"surely," I thought, az have never
seen her before. Not q look or question,
or movement Is familiar. And yet she
appears to recognize me-"
The more I thought on the subject the
deeper n binder was my mystiication,
the more surprising the action Of my
beautiful friend.
I watched my charming mystery
builder until she had given me the
bouquet. I gave 1t a close examination.
Hidden among the leaves Of one Of the
flowers was q very small note, the paper
being almost as delicate as the tissues OF
flower leaves. The note said:
DEAR Tom: I was SO startled and ho--
ror-struck to see you yesterday that / al
most betrayed the fact that I recognized
you. Fortunately I did not, and now I
will try and help you. Examine carefully
everything I bring, 1t may have some
thing useful. Agnes is already almost i'll,
and l have not dared to tell her. MABEL.
Evidently the young lady thought I
was somebody else.
A guard came to my cell after she left,
and said:
81 saw You were one Of the favored
ones to-day"
"Ycs," I replied; "who IL the ladyf"
Miss Murfec-Mabel Murfee."
"Her home il in vicksburg, I pre-
sume?"
"No; Judge Murfee, her father, lived
outside, and his plantation was for sew
eral weeks In possession Of the Yankees.
Finally he came here to be in a safe place,
and brought his daughters along"
The next day Miss Murfree came again
and when she reached my cell she handed
me another bouquet.
l waited until was free from observa-
ton, then examined IN. bouquet. In tho