In a moment I was perfectly calm. With the exception of slightly
expectorating twice in the face of the minion, I did not betray my
agitation. Haughtily, yet firmly, I replied:--
"I am."
"You looked as if you might be," the brute replied, as he turned on
his heel to leave the apartment.
In an instant I threw myself before him. "You shall not leave here
thus," I shrieked, grappling him with an energy which no one,
seeing my frail figure, would have believed. "I know the
reputation of your hireling crew. I read your dreadful purpose in
your eye. Tell me not that your designs are not sinister. You
came here to insult me,--to kiss me, perhaps. You sha'n't,--you
naughty man. Go away!"
The blush of conscious degradation rose to the cheek of the Lincoln
hireling as he turned his face away from mine.
In an instant I drew my pistol from my belt, which, in anticipation
of some such outrage, I always carried, and shot him.
CHAPTER V.
"Thy forte was less to act than speak,
Maryland!
Thy politics were changed each week,
Maryland!
With Northern Vandals thou wast meek,
With sympathizers thou wouldst shriek,
I know thee--O, 'twas like thy cheek!
Maryland! my Maryland!"
After committing the act described in the preceding chapter, which
every English reader will pardon, I went up stairs, put on a clean
pair of stockings, and, placing a rose in my lustrous black hair,
proceeded at once to the camp of Generals Price and Mosby to put
them in possession of information which would lead to the
destruction of a portion of the Federal Army.
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