The times., 1897-06-06
THE ATLANTA SPY.
Nobody Knows whether Man or
Woman.

WCfudus
In the spring OF 1864 Atlanta was full OF
Johnston's officers and soldiers. An un-
easy feeling prevailed IN every circle.
and it was feared that the FederaIs might
any day make forced march or a raid
and surprise the city.
Still the people faced the situation cour-
ageously. They had passed through so
many dangers that they were not easily
frightened The suIlen boom Of Sherrnan's
big guns could then be heard forty miles
away, but Atlanta maintained her usual
serenity outwardiy and gave no sign Of
her secret misgivings.
Tie tbeatcr was then on it's last legs,
but occasional performances were literally
patronized. One of the star attractions
in a stroliing company at that time was
a pretty, black-eyed young woman. about
twenty years old, who carried the town by
storm.
The girl was wonder. She was equally
at home in tragedy and comedy She
could sing and dance. and when she took
d male part in play she was bowling
success.
n Dt'lti diA-IOtliu dIDSt Hdf- never
tied Atlanta, and that was the general
verdict
When she told her story it excited sym
pathy She was a creole of Louisiana, and
her family had been murdered by a raiding
party OF Buffers troops. She had taken
refuge in the Confederacy, and, having EO
relations or friends, she had decided to
use her rare dramatic gifts and earn herOwn
living The story made the pretty actress
very popular, and she was pa tronized in
social way by leading citizens Young Off
GERS took her out driving. and generais and
colonels showed her over the Qualifications.
which werethen nearlyfinished ThecreOIe's
curiosity about such matters charmed the
military men, and it afforded them the
greatest possible pleasure 10 answer her
questions AMI explain every doubtful poiiIt.
Several weeks rolled by, and when her
company disbanded the actress remainedin
Atlnata She established herself at popu-
lar clearinghouse and told her friends that
she needed rest before going on the Rich
rnOnd stage. She received great deal of
attention and was practically the belle OF
the army The lines were closing around
the city, but the creole chaTmer still lin
gered- The officersOf Johnston 5 army were
at her feet. They sent her costly presents,
ana every fine day they might have been
seen riding with her along the lines tf
breastwOrks.
Suddenly the actress disappeared. The
military men We're nearly crazy because
they could not trace her, but the ladies Of
the city did not seem 20 regret her de
parture fact. they limited thatshe wasno
better han she shOuldbe The month OF June
sIippedby aldthere were no tidings frou,tle
ulissingstar. Thencame JuIyand withitthe
beginning of the siege.
At such a critical time people soon for
got the ia vOrite Of the fcotIights. and at
the end of forty days sheIling people were
thinking of far more important matters.
The siege was over at last, and the Fed
erals marched in.
One fine morning a Western corps com
mander with his staff rode through ths
city and took look at the Notifications.
At his side was a small. dark-faced. black
faced young man, who acted as his guide
and pointed out various things OF interest
A prominent Atlanta man met this young
ster face TO face, and his surprise caused
him to stand almost paFaIyzed in his
tracks He was the pretty actress who
had turned the heads OF so many OF the
officers The strangers eyes met those
OF the i tlanta man and snapped vicioGsIy-
Then mocking smile spread over his
piquant face, and his glance was plainly
one OF recognition. The Georgian spoke
Euardedly to several of Sherman : officers
atOut the mysterious young man, but they
gave very little satisfaction. Finally it
was learned that he was famous person
ator of male and female characters on
the French stage in New York city But
was he man or a woman? Nobody could
answer this question: but he or she, as
tie case might be, was one OF the most
successful spies who had ever served the
Union cause. The mystery of this PERSONS
sex remained unsoIved- Chicago Chronicle