Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-09
Mistaken
For a Spy
By SARAH BAXTER.

When the great European war broke
out L was in Berlin. Being a woman
and not brave, concluded that I had
better remain where | was than try
to get back to America. So l stuck to
my quarters in the capital, though
displayed an American flag at my win
dow and visited the embassy to make
sure my passport was all right.
By e her the lines of traffic over
the Atlantic had become safe, and hear
ing that l could get passage at Rotter-
dam for New York | concluded to ven
ture upon trip home. The only dan
ger in my personality lay in the fact
Of my accent. We Bostonians use the
broad "a like the English, and on this
account | was liable to be taken for an
Englishwoman.
| At the time | started the allies in
the west were engaged in repulsing the
attacks of the Germans in France and
part of Belgium which was still &C.
cupied by the Belgians. Having cross
| ed the Meuse fell in with the Ger
man army in the rear of the line Of
trenches which was being held as a re-
serve. | was conducted to the head
| quarters of the general commanding,
and my passport was examined by an
officer of his staff who spoke English,
but with the usual accent of German.
After a few questions he left me, but
soon returned.
There is fighting on the route you
must take, and it would not be safe to
proceed just now. The general desires
that you join him at dinner, and we
will see that you have a comfortable
place to sleep"
was sorry for the delay, but exer-
cised patience, especially since 1 was
to be well treated. Some British pris-
oners were brought in during the day,
and l went among them, chatting with
them. l noticed that they all supposed
me to be English, several Of them ask
ing from what part of England nail
ed. This troubled me, for there were
German officers and soldiers present,
! and l was quite sure that at least one
of the officers was listening to our con-
versation.
dined with the general and several
members of his staff. There was also
another woman present besides my
self, who spoke English fluently. In
deed, not every one would know
whether she was English or German,
though to me she betrayed her nation
atty in certain words that a German
can never pronounce. For the wv"
she used ''v." For a "g" she used
ssh" But it seemed to me that she
must have learned English while
young, for these peculiarities Of Ger
man pronunciation were very slight
After dinner the men arose and said
that they would smoke outside, giving
us two ladies an opportunity to enjoy
each others society for short time.
They had scarcely left us alone to-
gether when my companions manner
changed completely. She drew her
seat very near me and whispered:
81 am not German. am English.
have very important information of the
German forces which wish to carry
to England. But there are officers be-
tween me and the coast who know me.
and if / proceed l will be arrested for
spy. If you will carry bit of paper
through the lines to General French's
headquarters you will save the lives of
hundreds, thousands, Of our country
men"
This speech frightened me dreadful
ly. arose and attempted to leave the
woman, convinced that she was really
working upon me for some purpose
which did not know. She caught me
by the skirt and held me, looking up
at me with an expression which was
intended for terror, but which be-
lieved was feigned.
"Do not betray me-" she cried in a
smothered voice. at will mean death
to mew
'Let me CO." I retorted 81 am not
English. l am American"
The woman held me, imploring me
not to betray her. l told her that
had no interest in her whatever
was neither German nor English, but
native and a citizen of a neutral
country. She played her part admira-
bly,, and for a moment such was the
agony she assumed that i almost be.
lieved her. But remembered how
she had betrayed herself in her speech
and refused to credit her.
pulled myself away from her and
fed. Outside the general and the 9th
er officers who had retired from the
dinner table were seated on camp
chairs smoking. They arose ms l ap-
peared and turned toward me.
General" l said, 81 wish to proceed
on my journey at once. You have set
this woman upon me to see If l am
what | pretend or a spy. She is not
English, which you know as well as l..
She is German, though she speaks
English better than any German ever
met. But when she tells me she is
not German | know better. / am
an American bearing an American
passport, and / demand to be allowed
to proceed on my journey to Rotter.
dam, where | hope to find passage to
my home in America"
The general broke into laugh in
which the other officers joined The
ban who had examined my passport
said to me:
"Why, If you are an American, do
you use the broad "a like the English?"
Because am Bostonian."
! was not only permitted to proceed
at once, but was furnished with trans
portation and an escort. / reached