Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1907-12-23
SENoRITA LOPEZ.

When the Senorlta Maria Lopez
made her appearance in Atlanta, dur
Ing the siege Of General shermaA, she
created decided sensation among the
young officers Of the Confederate ar
my.
Federal shells had no terror for her,
and when other ladies' shFieked and
IAN off unceremoniously from their Wis
itors to plunge into bombproof this
brilliant and fearless creature would
simply clasp her hands and make some
scornful remark about the wretched
aim of the Yankee gunners.
After our Notifications around the
city had been nearly completed the
senorita rode out every day with some
of her military admirers to view the
works This was rather perilous.
Stray bullets and shells were always
whizzing by, and 1t was common
thing to see a general or colonel
dodge behind tree. But it was soon
noticed that the senorita never even
ducked her proud little head.
"Oh, would give anything to be a
soldierw she said one day after look
ing through Colonel Blanks fieldglass.
II would glory in the opportunity of
showing men how to fight aud die for
a great cause"
Perhaps this was too intense, too
bombastlc, but in those days every
thing that we wrote and spoke was
In this fervid strain. So the senorita's
talk provoked no comment except a
tribute OF admiration.
One day our heroine passed me at
gallop on her way back from the
breastworks. Something white fiutter-
ed down from her riding habit. pick
ed It up, but the lady was out of sight,
riding like the wind. Thoughtlessly
| allowed the paper to come open.
What | saw troubled me not a little.
l saw traced out In detail the plan of
| fully half our forts and trenches. The
paper also contained the location of
certain government buildings and an
estimate of our forces
There was but one thing to do
hated to get a pretty woman into trou-
BILE, but | had to do my duty. In an
hours time the paper was In the hands
Of the provost marshal. The next day
was brought face to face with Ma
ria Lopez. The hearing was in pri-
vate, and circle of colonels and ma
jors sat around the accused, frownlng
at me as IL had been guilty of some
criminal act When related the cir-
cumstances attending the finding OF
the paper the little Spanlard looked at
the officers with merry smile
II think" said she, that you don't
care to hear from me. / will say,
however, that / never saw the paper
and therefore could not have dropped
1t. The young man perhaps found 1t,
but he could not have seen me drop
it." She smiled sweetly on the provost
marshal
"Ahemw said that individual There
must be some mistake here. We do
not doubt your fidelity, sir, but we had
better hear no more of this"
was dumfounded and abashed.
Knowing very little about the ways Of
the world, hastily retired, thanking
my stars that l had saved my head.
In a day or two the Senorlta Lopez
disappeared. Her lovers did not have
time to mourn her loss. because Slo-
GUMS corps crossed the Chattahoochee,
and our forces had to be got out in a
hurry. But was destined to see the
senorlta again.
Many of us failed to follow Hoods
army south. We were whlrled about
IN such vortex OF confusion that we
were glad to escape with our lives
Among other flotsam and jetsam was
thrown beyond the Federal lines
Stranded In Nashville, at that time a
vast military camp, felt bad enough.
could not 60 south, and l could not
get a pass to go north. One night
went to the theater. During one OF
the scenes there was buzz, and peo-
pie stood up to look at a man in the
dress circle just above my head. FL
nally | rose as somebody said:
''He is the most successful guerrilla
and spy on the Union side"
] stood up until my face was on a
level with the railing of the dress cir
Gle.
1t was a wonder didn't faint!
Looking calmly, mockingly, into my
eyes was the handsomest man l ever
saw. He was dressed in a glittering
uniform and wore diamonds. That
clear cut, dark face, those burning
eyes, the slight scar under the left ear
there was no mistake
seized my overcoat and rushed out
4
alleged Senorita Lopez say in voice
like buRle:
ARREST that manw
A wave of darkness came over me.
An officer caught me by the arm. |