Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-18
The Puzzle.


sed since the occurrence of the following
out-of- f-the-way ncidents-out-of-the-way,
even in our profession, fertile as it is in
startling experiences and yet the faith
full and unerring tell-tale and monitor,
Ammo Domini 1851, instructs me that a
quarter of century has nearly slipped
by since the first scene in the complicated
play of circumstances opened npon me.
The date l remember well, for the Tow
er-guns had been proclaiming with their
thunder-throats the victory of NavarinO
but a short time before a clerk announc-
ed, william Martin, with a message
from Major Stuart
This William Martin was a rather sor-
ry curiosity in his way. He was now
in the service OF our old client, Major
Stewart and a tall, good-looking fellow
enough, spite of a very decided cast in
bis eyes, which the rascal, when in his
cups-no unusual occurrence-declared
he had caught from his former masters
Edward Thorneycroft, Esq, an enor-
mously rich and exceedingly yellow East
India director, and his son, Mr.. Henry
Thorneycroft, with whom, until lately
transferred to Major Stewards service,
he had lived from infancy-his mother
and father having formed part of the ell
der Thorneycroit's establishment when
be was born. He had a notion in his
| head that be had better blood in his veins
than the world supposed, and was exces-
sively fond of aping the gentleman and
this he did, must say, with the ease and
assurance Of a stage-player. His name
was scarcely out of the clerks lips when
he entered the inner office door very
carefully and importantly, hung his hat
with much precision on brass peg, and
then steadyng himself by the door han
die, surveyed the situation and myself
with staring lack-lustre eyes and infinite
gravity. | saw what was the matter.
You have been in the Sun, Mr., Mar
tin {?
A wink, inexpressible by words, re
piled to me, and could see by the mo-
ton of the fellows lips that speech was
attempted but it came so thick that it
was several minutes before | made out
that he meant to say the British had
been knocking the Turks about like
bricks, and that he had been patriotically |
drinking the healtbs of the said British
or bricks.
Have the goodness, sir, to deliveryour
message, and then instantly leave the Of
Gee
odd Tho-o-o-rney,' was the hiccough-
ed reply, has smoked the-the plot.
Young Thorney's done for. Ma-a-aried
in a false name; tra-ansportation-of
course
'What gibberish is this about old Thor
ney and young Thorney? Do you not
come from Major Stewart ?
'Ye-e-es, that's right; the routes ar
rived for the old trump; wishes to--to
see you
Major Stewart dying Why, you
are a more disgraceful scamp than be-
lieved you to be. Send this fellow away
l added to a clerk who answered my
summons. Ithen fastened off, and was
speedily rafting over the stones towards
Baker Street, Portmau Square, where
Major Stewart resided. AS l left the
office l heard Martin beg the clerk to
lead him to the pump previous to send
ing him of-no doubt for the purpose of
SOLDERING himself somewhat previous TO
re-appearing before the major, whose
motives for hiring or retaining such a
fellow in his modest establishment could
not understand.
You were expected more than an
hour ago. said DR.. Hampton, who was
just leaving the house. The major is
now, l fear, incapable of business
There was no time for explanation,
and l hastily entered the sick chamber.
Major Stewart, though rapidly sinking,
recognized me and in obedience to a
gesture from her master the aged, weep
ing house-keeper left the room. The
majors daughter, Rosamond Stewart,
had been absent with her aunt, her faith
er's maiden sister, on visit, under
stood, to some friends in Scotland, and
had not, concluded, been made ac-
quainted with the majors illness, which
bad only assumed dangerous character
a few days previously. The old soldier
was dying calmly and painlessly-rather {
from exhaustion of strength, general
failure of the powers of life, than from
any especial disease. A slight flush
hinged the mortal pallor of his face as l {
and the eyes emmitted a slight '