The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-20
A Detectives Experienced Touch OF
:. Romance.

A Detectfye's Experience-AT Touch Oh
! :. Romance.
] From the New Orleans Picayune.
"It was Just before the war;" said the
detective. "that queer trick was played me
by young fellow accused of forgery" !,
"a How was it? Let me hear the story"
aWell. have no objection; but don't
iuterru pt me with questions"
The reporter promised silence, ana the
detective elevated his feet to the table anu
thus proceeded: ann
G The Chief called me into the office one
,,o,-ning. and told me that check Tor % ,ooo
had been drawn by the confidential CLERK
If q welf-known commercial house, and mad
beer eashed at the bank where their funds
were deposited. It was forgery, and the
clerk had left as soon as the money was
attained. His name was Henry Harding;
His parents lived in one Of the interior pa
r;shes. and it was supposed he had gone
tbnre before setting out elsewhere. could
onlv learn that he was young and of rather
effeminate appearance. This was all the
description | could ascertain. The AFFAIR
had not been blown abroad, and the Cnle1
directed me to work up the case. lou
know that Sand l always work toge-
Their. I called him, and we had o consul
tation. He prosecuted researches mere
while went to the country. Ihls arrangeu,
| was soon on my way. l had iounu ou'
where the family of young Harding nVea'
and hoped to reach the house before nIgnt'
but in this / was disappointed. Long
before dusk dark clouds began to form
along the verge of the horizon and climb
RAPIDLY to the zenith, The thunder and
lightning came at intervals, and was soon
assured that one of those semi-tropic storms
which are 30 frequent In the summer would
ere long burst upon me in its fury.
fastened forward, therefore, looking eager
ly around for some place OF shelter. | hao
proceeded but little distance when saw
lust before me Woodlands hut. lgot into
This az soon as possible. had hardly got
comfortably sheltered before gentleman
and LADY, dashed up to the door and dis
mounted, Like myself, they were seeking
shelter from the storm. The man was mid
dle-aged, and exhibited in his person the
strong athletic frame, the open brow, anu
genial, pleasant face of the southern plant
er but there was in his countenance now
touch of sadness, o seemingly exquisite
sense ofsorrow, strangely out of keeping with
what the man should have been. His COM
panion was young girl of exquisite beauty,
with dark, soulful eyes, and hair black
as night. She looked, indeed, daughter
of the tropics, and the tall, splendid form
was regal in it's majesty. She was such a
woman as q man could wish to live for and,
if need be, die for. They were both IN
travelling costume, and from their CONVEX
sation l judged they were father and
daughter, just setting out on journey,
and endeavoring to reach the river IN time
for nm up-going steamer. Shortly after
their arrival o negro boy drove up in
cart containing trunks. On one OF these
was the name of Mrs. Harding, La"
You may readily conceive that my eyes
were wide open now, and my ears too.
Here was something that must needs OBJ
serve. I walked out Of the hut and went
around to where the negro was standing;
Boy, where's your young master :! l
asked the question abruptly, LOOKING
the negro in the eye. Golly, massa'
dis chile dunno; hain't seen him Tor
mos year. My resolution was taken
| on the instant. l would follow THESE
people. I was satisfied that they were
| in search of Henry. He could not come 70
them, and they were going to him. me
whole matter was as clear as day. dld
follow them to the river, whore the daugh-
ter embarked on an upward bound boat,
and the father returned home, Itook pas
sage on the same steamer. ] would not lose
sight of the girl. I was satisfied she was
going to her brother. I insinuated myself
| into her presence, and at last got into con-
yersation. was one-half in love with her
| already; before we reached st. Louis was
wholly SO. I learned that she was going to
New York for some object she did not re-
veal. I thought ] knew what the object
was; but it had become Of secondary
importance now, for / was deeply, unmis-
takably in love. Had her brother stood
before me, and she had asked me to forbear,
it il doubtful if would have arrested his1.
I could not exist out of her presence. She
had become the one object necessary to my
happiness. At last We reached New York.
! I could contain myself no longer. I sought
! an opportunity and told her Of my love
told my name, occupation, and present OBJ
iect Il revealed everything; l only asked
to share her affections. She seemed greatly
aeitated, and asked that / would leave her
until next day. This was the forenoon of
Monday. Tuesday afternoon called for
my answer. The servant who answered
my summons informed me that the young
lady had left the evening previous on q
steamer for the West Indies; but she had
left note. tore open the letter eagerly.
1t contained these words:
"'Sir,-For your preference | am much
obliged but the laws forbid gentlemen
marrying each other. By the time this
reaches you / will be on board the West
| India steamer.
] "sVery respectfully.
60 HENRY HARDING
at took no more to show that a trick had
been played me. You may believe I have
seldom told that love story"
A NICE BIT OF GossR-A LADY's NOTE
/ ppo,. d .Toc AE-Tha cnncourge of Oeonie