The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-02


husband dared to tell the hdppy totte.
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 cay all is fair in love and war,
and know that both sides employed
hundreds of spies. had no compunc-
tion in turning off to your plantation to
obtain what Miss Hartman was prepar-
ing for us. When, however, 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
informationf'
II presume not. Such was the reply
made to the upbraidings of my better
nature. shut my eyes and kept at it
until the time came when could stand
it no longer.
"When was thatf''
"After your brother stood alone in
front of the men who were thirsting for
my life and held them at bay, and you
came forth and made me take your
horse and use him in my flight. I felt
as galloped off in the moonlight that
I was a 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 rick Of her
life and my own. True, I was in the
uniform of the Union army, and there
fore 1t might be claimed technically
that was not spy, but that made my
meanness the more atrocious. I was
taking advantage of the trust placed in
me by your brother Unable to provide
me with an escort, he did everything in
his power to save me from danger and
annoyance.
"Well, to cut my story short, I turned
of 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. I
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, I reached our lines, and
the incident was closed, 80 far as was
concerned"
"What became of Miss Hartman 2"
asked the wife after 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, have
no hesitation in telling you her secret.
She was paid generous sum for her
services, and 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..
81 do"
"Whyf''
"Because she consented to become Q
Ihypocrite. And what can be more des-
Ipicable than such person3"
Nothing, and for time I was one.
"No, neverl Or" added the wife,
with a twinkle of her fine eyes, "if you
were, you repented in time, and then,
too, hypocrisy is sometimes pardonable
in man, but never in woman, for
his motive may be commendable, while
hers cannot be-
"Spoken like woman, and like the
truest, best wife either north Or south
LOT the late Mason and Dixon's line"
THE END.