The National tribune., 1898-11-03
CHAPTER TX.

Perhaps some of my readers will pro-
nounce me a stole. entirely devoid OF
feeling. when / tell them that two hours
after l wrapped the unconscious form OF
my late patient in his winding sheet,
enveIopcd myself in my patchwork guilt
and laid me down not far from the corpse
and slept soundly until O'Clock IN the
morning.
Feeling much refreshed / arose, and
after spending a few moments by the
side Of my silent companion, contemplat-
ing the changes which the King Of Terrors
had wrought. | cut lock of hair from his
temple, took the watch and a small pack
age of letters from his pocket, replaced
the blanket revercntly, and bade him
farewell.
After hastily partaking Of slight re-
past, which l could scarcely term break
fast, / commenced immediate prepara-
tons to leave the house. Upon exanail.
ing the basket in which l had found the
tea on my arrival, / found & number OF
articles which assisted re much in as
surnins more perfect disguise. There
was mustard, pefSer, al old Fair OF green
spectacles, and bettie OF red ink.
OF the mustard ] made a strong plaster
about the size of elel!xr, and tied il on
one side Of nav face until il biistercd il
thoroughly | then cut OF the blister and
put on a Isrxe patch Of black court
plaster: with the ink l painted red Ire
around nv eyes and after giving my pale
complexion deep tisse with SONG ochre
which | found in a closet | put on nay
green glasses and my lEish heed, which
came over my face about six inches.
then abe the ffllr the house from
garret to cellar, 10 find all the household
fxinSS which an lriShEoman would be
supposed to carry with her IN such an
emereency-for / expected TO be searched
before / was admitted through the lines.
l packed both my baskets, for l had two
now, and was ready for another start.
But before leaving | thought best TO bury
my pistol and every article III my posses
sion which could III any way induce
suspicion. Taking farewell look at the
beautiful features Of the dead. | left the
house. going directly the nearest road to
the rebel picket-line. felt perfectly safe
in doing so, for the rebel soldiers watch
was a sufficient passport in daylight, and
a message for Mai Mckee would insure
me civility at least.
ANOTHER START.
followed the Richmond road about five
miles before meeting OF seeing anyone.
AT length j saw a sentinel in the distance,
but before he observed me | sat down to
rest and prepare my mind for the coming
interview. While thus waiting To have
my courage reinforced, took from my
basket the black pepper and spTinkled a
little of il on my pocket handkerchief,
which ] applied TO my eyes.
The effect was all could have desired.
for taking a view OF my prepoSSeSSIng
countenance in the small mirror which
always carried with me, ! perceived that
my eyes had a fine, tender expression,
which added very much TO the beauty OF
their red borders. / was reminded OF poor
Leah of old who failed to secure the
affection OF her husband III consequence
OF a similar blemish, and thought myself
safe from the slightest approach to ad-
miration on the part of the chiyalry.
l now resumed my journey, and dis
played a fas-of-truce a piece of a cotton
window curtain which brought from the
house at which / had stopped over night.
As | came nearer, the picketguard sig
nailed to me To advance, which | did as
fast as | could under the circumstances
being encountered with two heavy has
kets packed full Of earthenware, clothing,
quilts. etc.
Upon coming up to the guard, instead Of
being dismaye0 at his formidable appear
ance, ] felt reioiced, for there stood before
me an immense specimen Of a Jolly Eng
lishman, with bland smile on his good
natIiTe1 face provoked, presume, by the
supremely ludicroCS figure presented.
He mildly questioned me with regard tc
my hopes and fears, whence | came and
whittier ] was going, and If had seen any
Yankees. My soTTowful story was soon
told. My peppery handkerchief was freely
applied to my eyes, and the tears ran
down my face without the least effort on
my part.
SYMPATHETIC GUARD
The good-natured guards sympathy
was excited, more especially as / was q
foreigner like himself, and he told me ]
could pass along and go Just wherever /
pleased, so far as he was concerned
adding in "a sad tone: Il wish | was hat
Davis hand the Confederacy might go t.
ell for hall me. Hinglishmen ave no
business ere"
/ mentally exclaimed, Good for you
you are one after my own heart" but
replied To the EngliShman' patriotic
speech after the following manner: Och
indade / wish yeZ was all at home wild
yer families, banin them as have nc
families; an sure it's we poor craythurs oi
winen that's heart-broken intirely. an
fairly kilt wild this unnatural war; and
here my eyes were again carefully wiped
with my handkerchief
After thanking the pickct-guard for his
kindness, l went on my way toward the
rebel camp. had not gone far when tho
guard called me back and advised me not
10 stay in camp over night; for. said he:
One Of our spies has lust come in and
reported that the Yankees have finished
the bridges across the Cbickahominy. anc
intend 10 attack us either today or 10
night; but Jackson and Lee are ready TO
them.
He went or 10 tell me how many masked
batteries they bad prepared, and, said he
There Is one. pointing to a brush hear
by the roadside, that will give them fits
If they come this way"
Feeling somewhat in a hurry I starteC
once more for camp. ] concluded aftel
getting through the lines that | could dis
pense with one OF my baskets SO settin,
one oi them down under a tree / felt n1ucI
more comfortable and was not quite s,
conspicuous an object going into camp
! went directly TO Headquarters and in
CURED for Mai. Mckee. / was told that h,
would not be there before evening. an,
my informant drawled out after me- He ;.
gone To set a trap for the d Yankees
AFTER INFORMATION
] made up my mind at once that mus
find out as much as possible before night
and make my way back before the i'm
pending battle came on. Upon lookin
around the camp ! saw a shanty wher
some negro women were cooking meat
] went and told them that was hungry
and would like 10 have something TO eat
oh, yes, honey, we sc got lots o. rnca
and bread, bat hain't got no salt: bu
reckon We can eat il without" So sayin.
an old aunty broUgh: me piece of boile,
p fresh beef and some bread; but | could
+. not make out what the bread was mad,
of; as near as ! could guess, however i
. was made Of boiled rice and cornme a |