The Hope pioneer., 1899-11-09
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Running back to the hall, he returned
with candle. Holding tup, it showed
q face of marble.
Leading my prisoner to the living
room, I told the sentry to watch her
every moment till my return. then
made for the generals tent.
"General!'' called.
"Well?" '-'s'53'
Miss Beach, caught her stealing g
through the hall. She went to the
kitchen and was evidently about to
burn paper, when I stopped her"
"Where is she now?"
eat the house under guard"
He got up and went with me to the
house. We found Miss Beach seated in
q chair, her head resting on her arms
on table, the sentry watching her.
Il noticed for the first time that she
kept her right hand tightly closed. She
looked up at the general with wild,
hunted look. In his own face there was
an unexplained dread.
"Have you searched her, ieutenant?''
mo, general"
"Open your hand, Margaret" he said
to her.
By this time she had risen and stood
before us at bay.
"Open your hand," the general re-
peated.
She opened her left hand and tossed
q paper ball on the floor. The general
picked it up and began to open it-no
easy task, since the paper was very
thin and tightly compressed.
"Hold the light here."i
i took the candle from the sentry
and held it over the generals shoulder
His face suddenly became white as a
cloth.
"Burnside's defenses, with every di.
vision, brigade. battery, laid down in
red ink on tissue paper!"
4 I looked at Miss Beach to note the
effect of the discovery, expecting her to
drop in a faint. What was my surprise
to see instead a relieved expression, az
though she had escaped a great danger!
i The general was standing with the
paper in his hands, I holding the light
the sentry back, the girl facing us all
Fora few moments there was complet<
silence. l shall never forget it's break
ing. The general spoke. His tone was
one in which he might have pronounced
his own death-sentence.
'You have committed the gravest of
fense known in war"
He turned. and left the room, motion
ing me to follow him. Leaving Mis-.
Beach in charge of the sentry, I went
with him to his tent. It was some time
before he could gather his faculties, IL
speak.
'"The commanding general is right
he said, at last; ''they are going te
crush burnside 49,
why so, general?"
"Straws show which way the wint
blows. Why should they wish plans o:
the works at Knoxville, if they are no,
intending to attack them?" &
but Miss Beach 2" said, more inter
ested in her than in the military situa
ton. 's
Had we not caught her in the act sh,
would have been in Bragg's camp bcfor,
tomorrow morning."
What shall do with her?"
"Confine her in one of the rooms OF
the top floor, and let her have no com
munication with anyone!"
When went back to tho house !!
found the girl walking to and fro in tn,
hall, while tears were silently flowing
l conducted her upstairs, feeling that
had fallen from the high degree of a,
officer of the army to the mental posi-
ton OF common jailer. Opening tn
door, l stood beside it, and, taking of
my cap, waited for her to pass in. Al
she did so she extended her hand to me
looking at me gratefully through he
tear-dimmed eyes. As I took her han,
l said: Good night. I would like t,
wish you a pleasant rest, but 1 know
it would only be a mockery to do so."
She passed in without a reply.
closed the door, went downstairs, threv
myself on the sofa, and, after tossin,
till the gray of dawn, fell asleep.