Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-11-29


an old colonial house near the village
of Port Tobacco Mr.. Stewart went
to See her, and gave her her Instruc-
tons. This was in the latter part of
October, and Mr.. Stewart told Miss
Floyd that IN December messenger
would be sent 10 her from Canada,
and hls pass word would be "Have
you any land to sell:' To this she
was to reply, Il have" SO in De
Der stranger made his appear
ance at "Rose IIill," saving that he
was Canadian, and that his name
was Williams. Soon after he turned
to Miss Floyd with the words, ''Have
you any land TO sell?" Then she
knew this was the messenger, so she
replied, Il have" Mr.. Williams then
said. "Hou are Miss Floyd, and | have
something in this cane for YOU" 1t
was a large poiceman's cane with a
whistle at the top, and Mr.. Williams
told how. IN the stage. AS he came
along, Federal officer who was trav
cling with hiuu had taken the cane in
his hand, blowing ON the whistle.
Locking the doors of the room so as
to be unseen by the servants, a piece
of long wire was given Mr.. Williams
by Mrs. Floyd, at his request, and
with this he took off the ferule at he
bottom of the cane, producing the
papers that were to be sent on to
Richmond. The weather was then
very cold and the Potomac was froz.
en- over. Miss Floyd had been in
structed that she was to 20 to the
crossing W where Mr.. GrymeS agent
lived, and on no account trust her
precious papers with any other per
SON. This was distance of 10 miles
from "Rose Hill" SO she concealed
her documents In her hair. which. as
was then the fashion. WAS covered
with curly net, and mounting her
horse rode the 10 miles on bitter
cold evening, finding. when she ar
rived, to her great relief, that the
man was 10 cross the river that very
night. She delivered the papers into
his hand and rode home, nearly froz-
EN-. MIR. Williams remained at Rose
Hill" 10 wait for the answer from
Richmond, and two weeks passed
away before it came. In the mean
time another messenger arrived from
Montreal, bringing more documents.
These were written on white silk with
invisible INK, and could only be read
toy holding them to the fire. The
gentleman who brought them had
them sewed in the back of his vest.
He was an Engishman, a Captain
Rldout, who was on the staff of the
Governor General of Canada, and
having lost his voice in that severe
/ Northern climate was on his wav
South for his health. The visits of
these strangers at the quiet house OF
the widow and her daughter natural
ly attracted the attention Of the Fed
eral officers in the neigh 5Orhood. and
soon the ladies of "Rose Hill" re-
ceived notice that they were coming
to search the house. Miss Floyd then
took the documents Captain Ridont
had brought and concealed them in
IA large pair of brass andirons. a
lire Was made, and when the soldiers
came they sal down and warmed
themselves before the innOcent-look
ing andirons, little Suspecting what
was concealed in them. MIR. Williams
had told Miss Floyd that Mr.. Stewart
| (
waS any delay in the work, and di.
rect the letter to '.Niss Mary Came
ron" She was TO word her infOrma
tion in such way that the letter
would appear as simply a girlish eff
fusion, and he would reply in tn,
same strain. So during the two week.
of anxious waiting short epistl,
went to Miss Mary Cameron" Mon
treal, Canada, from her cousin, Miss
Floyd, in Maryland:
"Dear Colt is impossible for IN,
to procure Cousin Johns photograph
or the seed for yOur sick canary, a
the fairy lake, on which you so gail,
rowed your bonnie boat last summer
is frozen very deep in ice"
This letter was opened in Washing
! Pom o,,I a,,,aorlu., ,,arfoctlv bor,rIa,