The Irish standard., 1899-10-14
"Brinr a light"

Running back to the hall, he returned
with a candle. Holding it up, it showed
a face of marble.
Leading my prisoner to the living
room, 1 told the sentry to watch her
every moment till my return, then
made for the generals tent.
"General!" 1 called.
"Well?"
'NIiss Beach, caught her stealing
through the hall. She went to the
kitchen and was evidently about to
burn paper, when I stopped her."
'Where is she now?"
"At the house under guard"
He got up and went with me to the
house. We found Miss Beach seated in
chair, her head resting on her arms
on a table, the sentry watching her.
l 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.
"lIavc you searched her, lieutenant? ?"
"No, 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
a 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.
''lIold the light here"
I took the candle from the sentry
and held it over the generals shoulder
His face suddenly became white as a
cloth.
FURNISHES defenscs, with every di.
vision, brigade, battery, laid down in
red ink OH tissue paper!"
1 looked at Miss Beach to note the
effect Of the discovery, expecting her to
drop in faint. What was my surprise
to see instead relieved expression, as
though she had escaped q great danger!
The general was standing with the
paper in his hands, I holding the light
the sentry back, the girl facing us all
For few moments there was complete
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
Tense known in war;
lie turned and left the room, motion
ing me to follow him. Leaving Miss
Beach in charge of the sentry, went
with him to his tent. 1t was some time
before he could gather his faculties t.
| speak.
"The commanding general is right,
he said, at last; "they are going te
crush Burnside.'
"Why so, general?"
"Straws show which way the WING
blows. Why should they wish plans O.
the works at Knoxville, if they are moi
intending to attack them?"
but Miss Dcach?" said. more inter
csted in her than in the military situa
| ton.
"Had we not caught her in the act she
would have been in Bragg's camp befor.
tomorrow morning.
What shall / do with hcr?'
"Contine her in one of the rooms O,
the top floor, and let her have no com
munication with anyone
When 1 went back to the house
found the girl walking to and fro in TIL
hall, while tears were silently flowino
l conducted her upstairs. feeling that
had fallen from the high degree of al
officer of the army to the mental posi-
ton OF common .ailer. Opening TIL,
door, stood beside it, and, taking of
my cap, waited for her to pass in. A:
she did so she extended her hand to me
looking at me gratefully through hc1
tear-dimmed eyes. AS took her hane
1 said: Good night. I would like t.
wish you pleasant resi-. but knov,
it would only be mockcry to do So"
| She passed in without reply.
closed the door. went downstairs. threw
myself OH the sofa, and. after tossin.
till the gray of dawn, fell asleep,