The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-01

BAxUkDAK MORNING - .,s .,.........M MAY I, 1853
I 2 = . HFfN GER b.
.,a ~; is sss1'sea s,s e., :. y, MAJ
wssa q e3es Aesy, sttstnassiy. chrissmas eve
sss ssfs seps sn = J. a..s ss'f
little Sc& too kfsAt asaring instrumsnts In front
Of ne. asaAriAg Gasifshs overhead, and weit
hsapsa xrute By ny stds not forgetting tnree
Volume novsltc assi6t me 10 Willing away The long
Tue 800 nsssas.sas ssvssous were mover very
numeenan ~ There wers rarely any for private pes
pas theg esterrs1 mossly 70 the bnseess o. tue
railway sompAny. That evening feit very low
spirited Ts vent sgAsnst the grain 70 work on
ChrissnAa svc, whom everybody else seemed 70 be
keeping holiday. and enjoying themselves. Cary
add had been engaged about tive years, and Tor
any prospects Of msrrtAge we might DO engaged
zoe twsaty years longer. Ms. Lancaster, Carys
father, Wa tradesman Ina good way Of business.
and ualuxAiiy refused TO lot his daughter marry q
fellow Who wa getsingop seventy pounds year.
He ssv>sAi tinea advised Cary 10 give me up; but.
with fasSiddiux me the house; trusting to time and
distances -yor they lived several miles from New
stoue--tc aid his cause.
knew that Mr.. Lancaster always invited
ss them there dancing
flirting about in her white muslin dress, with the
very ribbon round her waist that bad given her
only auaonth bsfore. Would any thought OF my
miserable seM sysr crcss her mind as she moved
among the gay company Perhaps my detested
rival, Binks, the draper, might DO seen dancing
with her, and pressing her waist with his arm at
that vsry moment. Thought not calmly 10 Do
borne 90 away went on the platform for change
A clear, starlis night, with keen breeze that
whistisd shrill and dry through the telegraph
wlres above my head, and brought TO my ears the
faint sounds, made soft aud sweet by distance. of
~ r,s Hittiau like FIRE
flames among the wagons In the station YARD;
hoarse, uncouth shouts Of men, and Wild shrieks
from distracted locomotives, that seemed tearing
madly up and down, merely 20 Keep tnem h.ss
they had anything particular to do SO into the
Office again, with numbed fingers, gladi Of such
The long dark hours sped slowly; each hour
ehiphed oat BY the valorous little clock In the
corner. Midnight came aud won't one o'clock,
two O'Clock, three O'clock. had grown tired OF
the charming heroine, aud had again become weak
ly Respondent on the subject OF Binks, when was
aroused by the quick tinkie of the electric BELL
private message:
Mr. Korf. Ironville, to Mr.. Darke, 80 High street
Lem,nanxers starts By the mail tonight All CT
rene. Take care Of the black dwarf.
was accustomed 70 queer messages, but this was
the oldest ! had seen. spelled it over twice, 10
see that got Ii down correctly; then copied il out
On one of the printed forms signed il; entered
ut the foot the time had received it-thres forty
rye, and placed ff In an envelope
No. SO High street was the residence OF MT
Breeul. the tailor, and was only Ave minutes walk
from the station. Mr.. Breem generally had apart
ments TO let. and Mr. Dsrke was probably lodger
Having locked the Office door, proceeded at
rapid trot towards Mr.. Breem's concluded that
Mr.. Darke Was Snowman, and that somebody was
sending him dwsrf-perbaps g giant also--but
certainly dwarf 70 put in his caravan There
was light In the second floor OF No. 80. Was
Mr.. Darke waiting, sxpectant of a message? 1t
looked like IL.
gave q loud knock, and stepped back to note
the effect. The light in the second floor was not
moved, but the window WAS opened, head popped
out, aud gr1ff voice demanded,
"Wbo's theref" ......
"Does Mr.. Darke live here?"
"Why do you want to know"
'Ivs got q photographic dispatch for him.
"Ughi All right. Wais a moment"
very grun voice, certainly. Next moment
the door was opened, AZ far as the chain would
admit and great muscular baud was thrust
out. $50 $50. sss
aHand It here" said Mr.. Darke.
Accordingly placed the note il his hand.
swat, d bit, till see whether any answers re-
quired."
In minute or two the window was again
"No answer" and the easement was slammed
down. With the exception Of his voice. | had
no more idea of Mr. Darke when left No SO, than
when went / had mercy seen the outline
of bis head when he looked out Of the window
Whether he was young man or an old man-a
fair man or q dark man, was equally at loss to
know. 8YA 8@4e 54#F
IronviIle is thirty-fiye miles from Newstone.-
The mail train runs the distance in rather under
an hour, aud reaches the latter place at half past
i've. As the clock pointed to half past FIVE, set
of for O stroll mp the platform, determined that
il any dwarf, or giant, other strange monster
arrived by the train it should not depart unseen
by me. half expected to find MIR. Darke waiting
Tor the train; but he was not to be seen True to
its time the train crawled slowly into the station
A.
cd with those y-attired individuals whose
business or pleasure induces them to travel by
night. No dwarf, nor giant, nor other strange
monster. Only one passenger for Newstone, all
the others booked through, as was evident from
their frantic struggles TO find their seats the mo
ment the bell clashed out its warning note.
Aud this one passenger! slim gentleman,
styiishiy dressed. Young, without whiskers, but
with q long fair moustache, which he was fond of
stroking with bis exquisitely gloved thumb and
finger lie alighted jauntily from first class
carriage, and smiled aniably on the porter, who
touched his cap, took up his small black port
nantesu, gave one hurried, anxious glance around,
broke into q smile again, staggered slowly down
the platform. and pushing through the heavy
folding doors, emerged into the street. Some
swell from London come to spend Christmas with
his friends, / said to myself But where can he be
going at this time Of the morning. None of the
inns will be open for above an hour.
Without waiting to consider whether it was any
business of mine, pushed through the folding
across the little square in front of the station, look
lug from side 10 side, as II not knowing which road
to take. Suddenly adark figure gided out from
behind some projection, and advanced toward him
could hear the murinur Of few words. Then
the stranger took the portmanteau from the trave-
lers hand, and they went together at rapid pace
iuto the town. All this saw by the light of tho
station lamps. When the two figures got beyond
their influence, and ssed out ofvew in the denser
darkness beyond, impelled by u vagne feeling of
curiosity, drew my coat closer round me. and set
off after them stealthy pace, taking the darker
side of the square as went. had not far to fol-
low. They passed into High street, and stopped
opposite No. So A moment more and they we're
both inside the house, aud the door shut; ano-
Their moment, and saw the light shining from
Mr.. Darkes room On the second floor front.
Having no expectation Of seeing anything more,
turned back 70 the office, and there bending over
q joval IRE, fell gradually into doze, in which
Mr. Da.ke, the traveller, Cary, u black dwarf, and
pinks the draper, were all mingled in a fantastic
drama, revolving endiessiy iu my weary brain
What had the telegraphic message to do with the
handsome traveller seepily kept asking myself
at intervals of few minutes; bat without trou-
bling myself 70 find an answer. Suddenly, new
light burst upon me. started up, thoroughly
awake, and tearing open the dispatch book, read
over againithe first part OF the message: Lemon
fingers starts BY mail tonight" Well, what had
that to do with the handsome traveller Why, this
don't tho traveller wear pair of tightly fitting le-
colored gloves! aud wasn't tho outside seam
of the drst finger OF the right hand glove burst
open, This had noticed AZ he stroked his nous
tache. Bnt, even supposing the traveller to be the
Lemonhngers OF the message, what about the black
dwarf There was no black DIVERT He WAS alone.
Alonei Yes; but had he not with him black port
maatsan Of which he seemed to take particular
care refnsing to let the porter 20 much as take It
out Of the carrfsge, A theory, ingenfous, but i'm
probable, I remarked to myself, as put ont the
gas and drew M the blind TO admit the struggling
day. sr.
My duty was over at o'clock. The Londcn
train was about to start ss went up the platform
standing near q carriage door, was suddenly
startled by q deep gruf voice exclaiaing to some
one: I'VE shall be on 10 half q minute more" II
would pick that voice from thousand as Mr.
Darks'sI" exclaimed under my breath, as 1
glanced quickly around. The group had dispersed
except two rersons, man and woman, who were
preparing to take their places 10 the train. The