Show r A PLAN HOW MRS VIRGINIA VIRCINIA MASON HOOD WINKED THE UNION OFFICERS OFFICER S ofte atit which WT were of orem to the Boath army armay bw between tw two dof dog bides some of the most vai valuable as well as agents of tho the oath south durin during a the war were ladies ros possessing ai as many of them did beat beauty ity 11 nesse ne ee the Instinct instinctive ivo knowledge of human nature that enables tho the sex ex to penetrate the weakest points of mang man armor and is patriotism that made mad them proud to any risk 4 that would benefit their cause many unde undo tk missions so desperate that only their womanhood flared oared them from z short shrift when discovered A case in point occurs to me write writes felix felti G do fontaine Font alne in the N Y ineas vo we had find f illen back from fair fax court houe and gone 0 into cain camp at Nut nutterville erville winter was vai at hant hand and emoke smoke burled lazily upward from elay built chimneys I 1 ezera ery tree had been le leveled cled by the sol soldier dices ax tho the old turnpikes turn pikes were lost in a labyrinth of foot foit worn paths and flold t where only a little while before the wind placed hide and amona the tile j gowing crowing corn were now wi a hard as its the a bed of a bill bullird ird table the head quarter quarters of ileaure lle aure ard were in a farm 1 k uee um unpainted and unpretentious that thal once had been boon the home of famous virginia hospitality but the boys had gone one to the tile war the old folks had retired to more congenial scenes in the interior of the state and all around were w ere signs of ruin the plans of mcclell tri whose army was encamped in our front his fighting strength and the die deposition of ot his forces together with the new phase of public sentiment in the north that was then bomin beginning sting to take shape were at tua time ilm a subjects of grave grive concern to oar car commander and it WAS wit important to obtain more definite information than had been furnished by the regular spies how ilow to get it however and through whom was the au question esdon the problem was olred aimle at breakfast ono one mornin morning b by n member of Buan regards staff 1 1 I GR know w a lady he a said ild in tho the neighboring county of london loudon who possesses even ever fica tion of a successful secret abool agent her name is mrs virginia mason she is y young oung fascinating highly educated a welcome guest in many washington families and acquainted with a large of northern people who spent their winters in the capital before the war way withal she is a a widow her hus baud having boon been kil killer lei at the battle of xau and brave enough to undertake anything that will serve the land she loves 11 beauro a rd instructed the to r ride i de over to london and in incite lie the lady to visit and in a day or tat ano 0 aho she appeared app appe earod arad in the in ster view that followed be lie told her what he required a report from froin mcclel arin army A its c condition ondi tion the di I 1 lion of his forces ind and the penns discussed by the military authorities in washington t n for this purpose she i was to ingratiate herself with aromi mont officers visit new york baltimore the various departments or any other anther points where information could ls be procured she was also to communicate with the representatives of the confederate government in different cities of the north the lady eagerly accepted the proposition asi ion tion and supplied with an abundance of mone started at once on the perilous errand which meant glory it she was successful ind nd prison if she failed she returned after an absence cof ef several weeks crossin crossing the potomac esposite eop elp osite Duin dumfries fries and 3 armed at the of col now senator I 1 wade kampton kAw iM apton thence escorted b on one e echi ef f his hi officers officer q sho she was driven to bead head wa qu harter arterb at it Cent centerville erville lean see her now aishe as she alich alighted ted from the ambulance on the piazza of the little brown farm house a young but matr alv looking lady hanf handsome some too with flowing dark lark eyes that looked as if tey bad fireworks in them fabe was drooped in black and her only baggage was a small hand ichel chel she was wall zo also accompanied by a shaggy sk sla e temer terrier a were armful that made made a soldier who a pretty woman fors tor a Binl hot sundays envious f what w the doors that closed U 0 n i Fr elated to mo afterward by bv crea jordan then and subsequently lf adjust adjutant tut general deadrea p waa aa of course coure delighted to see her ed abild with a w mans volubility she u told ahm M or a in two hour hours than he lie ceal beem i IQ in two months the w to f the interview being ended ondeL ud od for her papers the record colw trip and the dispatches dis he ex expected acted from confederates in the north I why general I 1 didn dian t dare to bring them on my person 11 ahe she replied with a peculiar smile jt was unsafe you know I 1 liht h hive tva been won captured and therefore I 1 h bavo tre told you all I 1 know by word of mouth Beati beaurgard could not conceal his relation Tuxa re tion and the more lie boshonek bos honed it the mora the little wonia seemed 16 6 it IL finally affet leasin teasing him to her hearts content she slid od with etli affected demureness I 1 Gre general hava have ou a pair of scissor or a knife id like like to use it for a minute beauregard handed her the ink eraser cow come her here dot she called to the do dee and taking him in her lap contla uel 1 I told eu ou beneral ze en eral it was not safe te to carry important papers L k 44 S on my parson and I 1 hav have net ano s sot 01 la in tact fact I 1 have been suspected a and 0 arched searched but a womans wit Is some times superior to mans sao seep she ask aid d with co coquettish nonchalance cha lanco AS she turned tle the luttio tile an animal on bis his back and deliberately proceeded to rip blut open aliers are re th the dispa A As alie spoke she held in one hand the bide of her ao el o terrier and with the other smilingly extended a package whee 8 of closely written 0 tissue paper while dancing about the floor was a pretty black and tan happy at his delivery from another dogs clothes the d deception caption 0 was perfect the mission a suc eucce cots was enabled to anticipate McClel lans move trents arents and tho the charming spy not only received a handsome reward but was led to the tile altar sitar after the war as tho the brido of the young officer who sung sting her praises at bre breakfast alfast tabi mrs mason alagon afterward engaged in a number of perilous enterprises visiting the north several times and once running the blockade from charleston Charlo Char leAton Atoa with tho tile late capt lockwood en ors long identified with the new york Charl calou line of steamers etc amore whether she is still alive I 1 do not know |