Year: 1872

( thoughtful forehead, whom / took
for an italian or Frenchman his
name has since taken its place upon
the roll Of immortality, pinned there
by the most fearful crime ever com
mitted the other q beautiful woman
of twenty, in fact, but much youn-
ger in appearance. I found this
young lady exceedingly charming.
as she was not only lovely in per-
son but lively in mind.


Of that little assembly in the sup
Per-rOOm two only survive, l and
another.


While we were In command at
Baltimore, and, after Col. Fish got
into his difficulty with Baker, so that
l had, for time, immediate control
of the provost marshal's office, re-
ceiVed a card, at the Eutaw house,
from lady waiting to see me in
the parlOr. On repairing to that
reception room, [ found my fair
friend of the wine supper in Wash
ingtOn. So far as her beauty went
she remained the same, but her
wardrobe evinced straitened circum-
stances, if not poverty. She gave
me long account of her troubles,
and wound up by offering to go to
Richmond in the employ of the gov
crnment, and return with all the
information she could gather up
for the use Of the war department
in Washington. 1 at once engaged
her, but did not send so suspicious
an agent into the enemy's country
until after 1 had given her a fair
trial in Baltimore. She proved the
most adroit, cunning, self-possessed
detective that l ever saw or read of
She afterward made two successful
trips to Richmond, returning with
valuable information, although Mr..
Stanton had no question but that
she carried to the confederates as
much as she brought away.


left the army, and saw and
heard no more of my pretty little
detective until the day 1 met her in
the ladies gallery so elegantly got
ten up and surrounded, that is if
she was really the same. All doubt
on this subject was removed by a
note l received the next day, invit-
ing me to an interview at the fair
woman's lodgings. I found her sur
rounded with elegant upholstery,
and yet more fascinating in the deli
cate morning robe that so adorned
beautiful woman by the concealed
effort to adorn. A tall, square built,
iron gray man of intensely respect
able appearance was introduced as
her husband, and as long as he re-
mained no allusion whatever was
made to the past, other than the
few words of introduction as an old
and valued friend. Soon as he left,
however, she turned and said !:
"How kind Of you not to recognize
me yesterday! My poor heart was
in my mouth when I saw you ap-
proach. But you have such tact
you have such kind heart; I was
relieved in a moment when l saw
that you stared as if only attracted
by my charms"


Why, wouldn't your husband
put up with the part you are, sup
pose, concealing from him ?"


"My husband !'-and she gave a
silvery little laugh" my husband,
that fellow! Why, he isn't my hus-
band. We only make believe. But
if the Hon -- you saw me with
yesterday were to suspect for mo-
ment, I would be ruined.


"COme, now, this is interesting
tell me all about it. What little
game are you up to? Believe me. I
won't betray you"


"That s clever; you never have,
and l don't add to the risk by tell
ing you. Well, / am no longer a
detective, a spy; l am lobby
agent. 1t is my business to persuade
honorable members to vote for our
bill"


"What is your bill? ?"


"The one am employed to wor-
ry through


Well, does it require a sham
husband, a handsome carriage and
all this sort of thing to ses up lob
by agent 2"


Certainly. Without husband
I would not be respectable with
out a carriage, and all this evidence
of wealth, l would not be attrac-
tive. 1t pays, however. L could
retire now on a hundred thousand.
But l am horribly ambitious; want
a million-OnIy think of it, 1 must
have a million. / have sold myself
for money and want a good price.


"And do none of the honorable
representatives know who you are


"Why, you goose! I thought
you knew better than that. Why,
the ring always reaches into the
House and Senate, and some of OuI
| directors are the most respectable
men in Congress. There is one, the
most benevolent, pious, philanthro.
pic individual in the world. He is
50 intensely pious that he never
speaks to me nevertheless he pays
me heavily. There is another, {
most respectable gentleman, who
bows to me profoundly, in the gal
lery and on the avenue, and pre-
sents me to his family with a lofty
air, who would look at me with in
tense astonishment if 1 were t.
thank him for my clothes, carriages
and servants. Yet he contributes.
Why, this is so damnable I car
scarcely credit"


"Yes. it is very wicked, and Z,
rather you would't believe it. Blu
after the schooling you gave me il
deceiving, you ought not to won
der"


| "You mean that for 4 hit. Yo-
} forget that that service was in be
= half of your beloved country, an
/ this"