The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-06
A GIRLS APRON.

A GIRLS APRON.
She is . pretty, dark eyed girl, and
this is the story she tells Of the roman
tic meeting and courtship Of her fathe,
and mother. 1t is story Of tho civil
war, and the famous Confederate Spy
who dressed as woman and was
known as Sue Mundy figures in her mar.
rative:
You know, all of mothers folks were
Confederates, while fathers people be-.
longed to the other side.
On account of this little apron the
spy, Sue Mundy, was suspected by the
Union soldiers Of being a man and a
spy. / will tell you about it.
The apron, you will notice, is made
Of alternating stripes Of red and white
and forms, as you see, the flag Of seces.
sion. This stain here is a witness to The
first meeting Of my father and mother.
My mothers father was an officer in
the Confederate army. He was killed
in the beginning Of the war, leaving
grandmother with three children, all
girls. They lived on q farm not far
from Fairfield, KY, and were fairly
well of. At the time mother made this
apron she was about 10 or 18. Her old.
est sister had just come home from
boarding school, bringing friend with
her. The friend in question was none
other than Sue Mundy, who had come
for the express purpose Of spying on the
Yankees, who were encamped short
distance from town. If I remembe,
rightly, the camp was the headquarters
Of General Buell..
Mother says Sue Mundy was one Of
the most effeminate men she ever saw.
He was unusually slender for a man,
and had small, delicately formed hands
and feet, an oval face, large black eyes
and long, ripping, dark brown hair.
He was also the possessor Of a good so.
prano voice.
He came prepared with an extensive
wardrobe and carried off his part of
fashionable and fascinating young lady
to perfection. OF course my mother and
Miss Sue in time made the acquaintance
Of some Of the officers stationed near
our town, one Of whom became very
much infatuated with Miss Sue, and
baskets Of fruit and flowers came al.
most daily bearing bis card
OF course, owing to the troubled
times, there was dearth of parties and
balls. For amusement my aunt and
Miss Sue were in the habit of attending
the dancing class to which my mother
and her younger sister went ono evening
Of each week.
One evening before going to dancing
school mother made this apron and
wore it over her white dress for the
benefit Of the Yankees who were Ger.
tain to DO present About tho middle
Of the evening mother and Miss Sue
went into the smaller room for drink
Of water. A man bearing the bars Of |
sergeant on his arm was just raising
tho dipper to his lips when mother said
mischievously:
nealth TO Jef DAVIS
AS quick as flash came the retort
"Yes, miss, here's a health to your
apron" while the contents of the dip
per were dashed over that offending ar
ticle Of attire.
At this insult to the southern colors
Miss Sue forgot that Drawn did not en-
ter into the make up of the young la
lies Of those days and gave the young
'fficer right handed blow which sent
lin like log to the floor, from which
lie did not rise at once. When he did, it
vas with q graceful how to his late as
ailant and an apology for his rudeness
o mother.
After this the Yankees put their
reads together, and, remembering the
Information which bad gone to the
'Johnnies" concerning their forces,
Hiss Sues aptitude at sketching and
Il top Of it all the knock out of the
Dung officer, they were convinced that
iiss Sue was not what she pretended to
Q. A watch was kept on her move
tents.
By the time Of the next dancing les.
IN plan was made for the escape of
llss Sue from quarters that were be.
inning to be rather warm for her.
Mother and my aunt went as usual to
10 dancing class, and to all inquiries
'ncerning Miss Sue they replied that
10 was at home with headache. In
ality that interesting young person
as booted and spurred and waiting
+ the appointed time to dash by the
ckets and start on his 40 mile ride to
Duisville.
Near the end of the lesson there was
10 sound Of hurried footsteps ON the
airs and in moment Sue Mundy
me hurriedly into the room. For some
ason there were no Yankees present.
few words he told of how he had
led to pass the pickets, had been fired
and had jumped from his horse and
d in the bushes by the roadside and
W the Yankees go by in hot pursuit
his frightened horse, which was
aking straight for the farm from
lich it had been bought a few days
fore. Sue Mundy then waited till
Dir hoof beats grew faint, and then
der cover of the darkness he made
J way to the dancing school. Finding
coast clear, he had come up, know t.
! that all the dancing people were a
lthern sympathizers and would do all o
y could for him. ii
they quickly formed their plans the II
y thing they could have done under Il
circumstances. They had him lie 81
vn under one Of the benches at the b.
end of the room, while two orthree CT
the girls sat directly over him and =