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Mary McGillup；a young girl of fragile frame； and long； lustrous black
hair。 I must confess that the question was a peculiar one； and； under the
circumstances； somewhat puzzling。 It was true I had been kindly treated
by the Northerners； and； though prejudiced against them； was to some
extent under obligations to them。 It was true that I knew little or nothing of
American politics； history； or geography。 But when did an English writer
ever weigh such trifles？ Turning to the speaker； I inquired with some
caution the amount of pecuniary compensation offered for the work。
〃Sir！〃 she said； drawing her fragile form to its full height； 〃you insult
me；you insult the South。〃
〃But look ye here； d'ye seethe tinthe bluntthe readythe stiff； you
know。 Don't ye see； we can't do without that； you know！〃
It shall be contingent on the success of the story；〃 she answered
haughtily。 〃In the mean time take this precious gem。〃 And drawing a
diamond ring from her finger； she placed it with a roll of MSS。 in my
hands and vanished。
Although unable to procure more than L1 2s。 6 d。 from an intelligent
pawnbroker to whom I stated the circumstances and with whom I pledged
the ring； my sympathies with the cause of a downtrodden and chivalrous
people were at once enlisted。 I could not help wondering that in rich
England； the home of the oppressed and the free； a young and lovely
woman like the fair author of those pages should be obliged to thus pawn
her jewelsher marriage giftfor the means to procure her bread！ With the
exception of the English aristocracy；who much resemble them；I do not
know of a class of people that I so much admire as the Southern planters。
May I become better acquainted with both！
Since writing the above； the news of Mr。 Lincoln's assassination has
reached me。 It is enough for me to say that I am dissatisfied with the result。
I do not attempt to excuse the assassin。 Yet there will be men who will
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charge this act upon the chivalrous South。 This leads me to repeat a
remark once before made by me in this connection which has become
justly celebrated。 It is this：
〃It is usual； in cases of murder； to look for the criminal among those
who expect to be benefited by the crime。 In the death of Lincoln； his
immediate successor in office alone receives the benefit of his dying。〃
If her Majesty Queen Victoria were assassinated； which Heaven forbid；
the one most benefited by her decease would； of course； be his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales； her immediate successor。 It would be
unnecessary to state that suspicion would at once point to the real culprit；
which would of course be his Royal Highness。 This is logic。
But I have done。 After having thus stated my opinion in favor of the
South； I would merely remark that there is One who judgeth all things；
who weigheth the cause between brother and brother；and awardeth the
perfect retribution； and whose ultimate decision I； as a British subject；
have only anticipated。
G。 A。 S。
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CHAPTER I。
Every reader of Belle Boyd's narrative will remember an allusion to a
〃lovely； fragile…looking girl of nineteen；〃 who rivalled Belle Boyd in
devotion to the Southern cause； and who； like her； earned the enviable
distinction of being a 〃rebel spy。〃
I am that 〃fragile〃 young creature。 Although on friendly terms with the
late Miss Boyd； now Mrs。 Hardinge； candor compels me to state that
nothing but our common politics prevents me from exposing the
ungenerous spirit she has displayed in this allusion。 To be dismissed in a
single paragraph after years of But I anticipate。 To put up with this feeble
and forced acknowledgment of services rendered would be a confession of
a craven spirit； which； thank God； though 〃fragile〃 and only 〃nineteen；〃 I
do not possess。 I may not have the 〃blood of a Howard〃 in my veins； as
some people； whom I shall not disgrace myself by naming； claim to have；
but I have yet to learn that the race of McGillup ever yet brooked slight or
insult。 I shall not say that attention in certain quarters seems to have turned
SOME PEOPLE'S heads； nor that it would have been more delicate if
certain folks had kept quiet on the subject of their courtship； and the
rejection of certain offers； when it is known that their forward conduct was
all that procured them a husband！ Thank heaven； the South has some
daughters who are above such base considerations！ While nothing shall
tempt me to reveal the promises to share equally the fame of certain
enterprises； which were made by one who shall now be nameless； I have
deemed it only just to myself to put my own adventures upon record。 If
they are not equal to those of another individual； it is because； though
〃fragile；〃 my education has taught me to have some consideration for the
truth。 I am done。
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CHAPTER II。
I was born in Missouri。 My dislike for the Northern scum was
inherent。 This was shown； at an early age； in the extreme distaste I
exhibited for Webster's spelling…book；the work of a well…known Eastern
Abolitionist。 I cannot be too grateful for the consideration shown by my
chivalrous father；a gentleman of the old school；who resisted to the last
an attempt to introduce Mitchell's Astronomy and Geography into the
public school of our district。 When I state that this same Mitchell became
afterward a hireling helot in the Yankee Army； every intelligent reader will
appreciate the prophetic discrimination of this true son of the South。
I was eight years old when I struck the first blow for Southern freedom
against the Northern Tyrant。 It is hardly necessary to state that in this
instance the oppressor was a pale； overworked New England
〃schoolmarm。〃 The principle for which