Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-10-03
A Deieeiiye's Experience.

III was Just beiure the war, sait
our friend, the dcie tive, that .
queer trick Was played me by q
young follow accused Of forgery,
"llow WAS it-let me hear il,
"Well, | have no objection, bat
don't interrupt mo with questions.
4 The reporter promised silence,
aud the handsome, splendid looking
man elevated his feet TO tho table
aud thus proceeded;
"fhe Chief called me into the of,
Zee one morning aud told mo that
cheek for $1,000 had been drawn
by the confidential clerk Of a we'll
known commercial house, aud had
been eashed at the bank where their
funds werc deposited. IL was u
forgery, aud the clerk had lcl as
soon the money Was Obtained. His
name was llcnry Harding, his pa,
rents lived in one OF the interior
parishes, aud II was supposed ho
had gone there before setting out
elsewhere, | could only learn that
ho WIS young aud OF rather cilcmi.
nate appearance, This was all the
description | could ascertain. The
affair had not been blown abroad,
and the Chief directed me To work
up the case. You know that s.
aud ! always work together. |
called him and wo had consulta.
ton. He prosecuted researches
here, while | went TO the country.
This arranged, WAS soon on my
way, ! had found out where the
family OF young Harding lived, aud
hoped TO reach tho house before
night, but in this | was disappoint.
cd, Long before dusk, dark clouds
began to form along tho verge of
the oiizon and climb rapidly to tho
zenith. The thunder and lightning
came ut intervals, and | was soon
assured that one OF those semi
tropic storms, which are so frequent
in the summer, would Gro long
burst upon me in its fury. | has
tened forward, therefore, looking ca
gcrly around for some place Of shell
ter. ] had proceeded but little
distance when | saw just before mo
a woodman's hut. ! got into this
as soon rs possible. ! had hardly
got comfortably sheltered before II
gentleman and lady dashed up to
the door and dismountcd. Like
myself they were seeking shelter
from the storm. The man was
middle aged, and exhibited in his .
person the strong athletic frame, the
open brow, and genial pleasant face
Of the Southern planter; but there
was in his countcnancc now touch 7
of sadness, seemingly exquisite
sense Of sorrow, strangely out Of
keeping with what tho man should
have been. His companion was n
young girl Of exquisite beauty,
with dark, soulful eyes, and hair
black as night. She looked, indeed,
a daugtcr Of the tropics, and tho
tall splendid form was regal in its
maj sty. She was such n woman
as u man could wish to live for, and,
if need be, die for. They were both
in travelling costume, and from their
judged they were
father and daughter, just setting out
on n journey, and cndoavoring to
reach the river in time for an up
going steamer. Shortly after their
arrival u negro boy drove up in II
cart containing trunks. On one of
these was the name Of "Mrs. Hard
ing, La" You may readily con-
Doive that my eyes were wide open,
now, and my ears too. Here was
that must nee Is OBJ,
serve. l walked out of the hut and
went around to where the negro
was standing. 'Boy, where's your
young mastcr?" ascd tho ques-
ion abruptly, looking the negro in
he eye. .. ....
"Golly, massa, dis chile dunno; ;
iaint seen him for mos n year" {
My resolution was taken on the in I
tant. would follow these people. {
was satisfied they were in search
If Henry. He could not come to
hem, and they were going to him,
The whole matter was rs clear as
lay. | did follow them to the riv-
II, where the daughter embarked
N board an upward bound boat,
md tho father returned homo. |
ook passage on the Same steamer G
would not lose sight of the girl. c
was satisfied she was going to her !
'rother. insinuatcd myself into
Ter presence and at last got into {,
onversation. | was onc-half in :
owe with her already; before we Il
cached St. Louis | was wholly so. I
learned that she was going to New S
york, for some object she did not s
eveal. l thought | knew what II
ho object was; but it had become v
f secondary Importance now, for y
was deeply, Enthusiastically in love.
lad her brother stood before me, ,
nd she had asked me to forbcar, it .
, doubtful if | would have arrested t
i'm. | could not exist ont of her U
resence. She had become the one o
bicct necessary to my happiness a
Il last we reached New York. u
ouId contain myself no longer l c
ought an opportunity and told her II
f my love-told my name, oceapa- u
on, and present Object revealed
| only asked to share
or affections. She seemed greatly
yitated, aud asked that would
ave her gnlil the next day. This Il
as the forenoon of Monday n
tuesday, afternoon ! called for my Ct
nswer. The servant who answer ;
4 my summons Informed mc that ot
&c Young lady had left the evening p
revious Oh a steamer for the Nest r'
1dies; but she had irft note. f