The Portland daily press., 1867-01-03


Wild such cold as hab got,
All! would it blow it? Do!
But see, the rays OF clubbing david
Are gleabidg cd the dew:
hear the berry bugle hord,
By baden faiI-AT-oHIEUi
vicissitndes of a Million.
At the time of our story, there was an auc-
ton store near the Bourse, Paris, france
The Viseount Robert N. de p was
twantv-five wears of age, had an income of 25,-
600 Iiyres. wit GOOD looks, an illustrious name
and could have made very brilliant mar
rage. He ought to have been the happiest
man in the world. He had only one regret.
He had nothing to do. He was unhappy at
his happiness He needed little bitter in his
cup of perpetual sweets, but Heaven refused
to grant it to him. He resolved to fly to oth-
er lands, there to seek the fatigues, the suffer-
ings and the novelties he lacked.
So five years ago, he entered by chance an
auction room, just as they were putting up
capital portable writing desk.
He was about to travel, and it was just what
he needed; so he bought it for three hundred
francs.
1t probably cost more than ten times that
sum. In the interior were compartments for
everything, and plate bore the name OF Lord
N, one of the richest peers OF England.
He was enchanted with his purchase and car
ried it home in triumph. Some days alter ne
set out for Spain. AS he went from MAUI"
to Cadiz he was stopped by thieves, VINO com
pletely robbed him. The only thing he miss
ed was his desk He prayed them 10 return
Il. They refused but their CHIEF, Don Jose
Maria nromised TO send it after him to Cadiz,
on recent of a ransom. Robert promised two
hundred reals and gave the address of the ho-
tel where he meant TO stop when at Cadiz
He sent the money and gat the desk.
In America, in the wildso Mexico, his desk
was carried otfby the Mexicans. He thought
it lost. Four months aiterward he found it in
shop in Vera Cruz, and paid five hundred
francs for it. a-t
In 1862, having returned to France he
thought OF going to Baden. He passed the
summer there, and went to Paris, visiting Co
logne and Aix-la-Chapelle on the way.
Arrived at the frontier, which separates
France from Belgium, he fell into the hands
OF the custom house officers. Some days be-
fore, some skillful fellows had defrauded the
customs to considerable amount /; conse
quently the officers were on their guard
The search was long and the Viscount be.
came furious.
"What do you fear?" he asked ansrily.
"Oh, sir, objects of great value can be con-
cealed In small space"
Shave [ the air of smusgler? ?" he asked
"No; but there are ambassadors who SNUG
Gle without scruple."
l. ne SEARCH was conIlnued, anu the v IS
connt was astonished to see the officers open
drawers in his desk, OF the existence of which
he was ignorant At last, full of impatience,
he wished 10 reclaim it.
Now that you have seen ALL" said he "let
US not prolong this unpleasant investigation"
What do you sayP
81 say that you have seen all, and know
that have nothing contraband." aa
Your GOODNESS, sir, makes me pity you.
Have you nothing to bring forth? Ii you do
so, you win be freed by paying the dues; if
not and find anything, there will be both
confscation and a fine"
but you have seen ALL
perhaps"
"What do you mean by perhaps?"
ut is well made. Any one but myself
might have been deceived
but swear to you that you have seen ALL"
why deceive me? l am going to prove
the contrary
eff you find anything else, will swear I
know nothing OF it,"
"A poor excuse. warn you that do not
believe you.''
LET us finish this bad joke as quick as pos
sible."
"We will, and so much the worse for YOU"
And with nail, the officer pressed against
what was apparently little ornament, which !
few back, disclosing drawer in which was a
paper parcel.
The officer took it out, looked at it, aud put
back. 4I
"Thot is not contraband," said he with
bow, "and with so much money was wrong
to accuse you.'
But the Viscount was supplied with aston
ish ent.
Bank notes But did not put them
there"
"You are very fortunate, sir, if you can for
get million SO readily"
In fact there was million of pounds sterl-
ing.
The Viscount took the notes, counted them.
replaced them, and determ med 10 find the
owner. Arrived at London, he sought out
LORD n, whose name was engraved in.
5 ide. The nobleman affirmed that the money
was not his. He had given this desk to a for
mer valet of his, whose address he gave the
ViscOunt ~, ynf
This valet was now wealthy shopkeeper
IN Pail Mall. He told the Viscount that he
knew naught oil the money but while in Italy
had sold the desk to Count Luigi Settimanni,
who was immensely rich, and in whose SER
vice he then was. |
The Viscount set out for Italy, and went to |
havenna, where Count Settmanni lived. He |
recognized the desk, but avowed that he had |
never placed any money in it. He sent the
Viscount, however, to the Signora Laura R.,
former prima donna of the San Carlo, at
whose house, in his gay days, he had forgotten |
his desk.
The Signora Laura recognized the desk, and
related that she had given it to the Russian |
Prince, Alexis b, in exchange for pearl |
collar.
The Viscount set out for St. Petersburg.
He was very happy. He now had Something
TO do,-to lind the true owner of the hidden |
money. lie placed it at interest, in orderthat !
1t might not run the risk of being lost.
FRINGE p knew the desk, but decIar-
ed that he had never concealed a bank.note
In it. He told the Viscount shat in LEAVING
Italy he had gone to Paris, and had given the
desk to danseuse Of the opera, Louise p.
ney. !
robert returned to Paris |
There he learned that after life of caliap. |
try and luxury, Louise P had died In mis-
cry, and that her furniture was sold bv her
creditors: 1t was at that sale that he had /
bought the desk.
What 10 do new? He could only think |
That the maker of the desk had placed the |
money there, or that 1t was there deposited by
the Spanish robbers who stole it.
Inc maker IN London wrote that he knew
nothing OF 1t, and the Viscount learned that
the Spanish robbers had all been hung.
=, AZ. .neerhaps it had been deposited there by
the Mexicans. He went to Mexico, from
whence he returned two months ago.
d6 uloCUFcIeu lldt OUG Oh Those INTO whose |
hands it had fallon was trapper who carri-
ed on a considerable trade in skins with the
Americans. This was sufficient. He must |
have been the man who had concealed the |
bank notes.
The Viscount continued his search, and at |
last one day found at Vera Cruz very pretty |
young girl OF seventeen, the daughter of the |
Mexican by French woman who had come |
to Vera Cruz as millner.
In answer to his questions, she told him that
she knew nothing of her father, but that he |
was killed by Texan ranger.
she was excessively pretty, and like a SEN
siole fellow, he married her, and having at
last something 10 do, returned to France with |
her to enjoy the fortune of viii III a singular
chance had brought him into possession.
COMMEMORATIVE Imperial party at the |
theatre at Compeigne is thus described AT |
nine o'clock the Emperor enters the box, CIV |
ing his arm to the Empress, and followed by |