The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-03

husband dared to tell the happy ecite.
ing consciousness on the part of the half
strangled soldier warned her that it was
prudent to do so.
''By this time,'' said Captain Oak
man, in recalling the incident, II had
begun to feel that was the meanest
man between the Atlantic and the Pa
cific.
''And why?" asked his wife, turning
her eyes reproachfully upon him.
"They say all is fair in love and war,
and know that both sides employed
hundreds Of spies. had no compunc-
ton in turning off to your plantation to
obtain what Miss Hartman was prepar-
ing for us. When, however, I saw how
thoroughly you trusted her and the ad-
vantage she was taking Of your conf
dence, my conscience troubled me-
''But can spy be successful through
employing any other means for gaining
information e
81 presume not. Such was the reply
1 made to the upbraidings of my better
nature. [ shut my eyes and kept at it
until the time came when I could stand
it no longer"
''When was that?'
''After your brother stood alone in
front of the men who We're thirsting for
my life and held them at bay, and you
came forth and made me take your
horse and use him in my fight I felt
as l galloped off in the moonlight that
was despicable wretch without the
first spark of gratitude. Miss Hartman
had betrayed your confidence, but she
could not bring the betrayal to full
fruition without my help, and I was
giving her that help at the risk of her
life and my own. True, I was in the
uniform of the Union army, and there
fore it might be claimed technically
that I was not spy, but that made my
meanness the more atrocious. I was
taking advantage of the trust placedsin
me by your brother. UnableSo, provide
me with an escort, he did everything in
his power to save me from danger and
annoyance.
"Well. to cut my story short, turned
off from the highway and rode straight
to the home CT Mrs. Benware, where
Miss Hartman had left the letter for
me, though she herself was-absent. 1
made sure that the document was the
right one and then threw it into the
fire and waited until it changed to
ashes. Then, with the help of Ackers
and Masters, l reached our lines, and
the incident was closed. so far as I was
concerned "v
"What became of Miss Hartman o.
asked the wife after a moments silence
"She left the south at the close of the
war. Since she has no intention of ever
returning, and the war is over, I have
no hesitation in telling you her secret.
She was paid generous sum for her
services, and I suppose what she did
may be looked upon as legitimate All
the same, however, it is an unpleasant
recollection, and am sure, wife. that
you despise her.
stI do. H..
why p ...
Because she consented to become
hypocrite. And what can be more dos
picable than such a person 2
Nothing, and for time I was one =
mo, neverl Or, added the wife,
with twinkle of her fine eyes, 'tif you
were, you repented in time, and then,
too, hypocrisy is sometimes pardonable
in a man, but never in woman, for
his motive may be commendable. while
hers cannot be.
3 ''Spoken like q woman, and like the
truest, best wife either north or south
OF the late Mason and Dixon's line. :, 81
TEE END