Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-02-04

do with the despatch bag? If l sent it on
with the ordinary mails, it might not reach
its destination il due time. 1t might con-
tain dispatches of Importance sufficient to
decide the fate Of nations. England had
Just broken off diplomatic relations with
Russia, and war was deemed imminent.
had very little time to consider; for the
mail steamer was about starting, and would
be off in less than five minutes.
I had made a promise to a man now
it. So leaving my own duties to my assist.
ant, Ned, fastened aboard the mail steam
er and set off for Paris.
On arriving there, went direct to the
English embassy, and reported TO one of the
attaches in attendance that had come from
England with dispatches.
Hand them over, old fellow" said he.
"Excuse me-" replied, remem bering The
instructions left me by the defunct Quec1's
messenger. Il can only deliver them to
Lord Cowley himself"
''By Jove! now that's good" returned the
young swell. By-the-by, you don't wear
uniform; may ask if you are Queens
messenger
"That's none Of your business" l retort-
ed. ''Be good enough TO say to Lord Cow
ley wish to see him; don't intend to de.
liver my dispatches to any one but his lord
ship"
AS spoke handsome man entered the
room, aud asked whether the Queeu's mess
euger had vet arrived from London, as they
had received an important note from the
Turkish minister
Yes" replied the attache, this gentleman
has brought the dispatches but SAYS he will
deliver them TO 10 one except tle ambasSa-
dor himself.
81 am the Secretary of Legation" said
the gentleman who had just entered
"Pease to deliver the despatch bag to me-"
II cannot do it, SIR | replied, ''but if
you will give me a moments private con
versation will make you acquainted with
my reasons tor refusing them
ooh, certainly" said the Secretary, "step
inside here
l was conducted into one of the ante
chambers, where told him of what had ia
ken place.
"How very dreadful! You are right in
not delivering the dispatches but as the poor
fellow directed you His lordship will be
here ia few moments, and yon can fulfill
your promise. | should not think of asking
you to act otherwise"
The Secretary left me, and soon after re-
turned with the minister. | had ofea seen
Lord Cowley before, and at once handed
him the despatch bag, which he eagerly
opened, at the same time desiring me TO be
seated.
A large package first made its appear
ance, and then after it numerous small ca
ses, which, one by one, Lord Cowlcy put
aside.
Then, breaking open a sealed despatch,
and seeming to have forgotten that there
was stranger present, he emphatically ut
tered one word;
"War!"
The secretary, by a look, directed his at
,eution to where | sat. which seemed slight
ly TO discompose him.
"You will not mention what you have
heard" said the minister, addressing him
self to me, "and you will await my orders"
was about promising to keep his coun.
sci, and explain my position to his lordship,
when the secretary said
"Your lorlship, this gentleman is not one
of o. regular messengers"
"Oh, indeed Never mind. Plense wait
here for few minutes, SIR | wish TO have
some private conversation with you. Come
this way, Mr.. Secretary
So saying, the two left the room toge,h-
er.
As Lord Cowley had negligenily left the
package and case upon the table, thought
it would be eXcusabic my taking leep at
them. l had already observed that the cases
were sucl as London jewellers use and, as
it turned out, my observation was pretty ac-
curate. They, in fact, contained articles of
English jewelry, and the names of several
fashionable London dealers-such as Hunt
& Roskell, +. Il l.. Emanuel, Howell 4
James--with their respective trade marks.
were upon them. They we're addressed 10
several English gentlemen residing in Paris,
who, as l afterwards discovered, were either
attaches to her Britannia Majesty's embas.
sy, or their friends.
$780," though. l, ".his is the way Queens
messengers-gentleman all, and most OF
them officers of the army--are employed !;
carrying bjouterie for pack of foreign Of
hce Snobs J.
"However, it's great thing for me" was
my additional reflection thus getting a
peep behind the scenes"
A few minutes afterwards his Excellency
returned acd handed me q note that had ev-
identity Just been written, saying as he did
so:
"Of course You return to London. This
letter is an acknowledgement of the service
Cor yNh,,h v;ll cocaivo
proper remuneration. have also to thank
you myself for the prompt and intel isent
manner in which you have carried out the
deceased officers wishes p
| thanked the ambassador for his coure
sy, and the next train found me flying back
to London.
On arriving there | reported myself FIRST
at the General Post.otlice, as | believed it
to be my duty | certainly felt rather nnx-
ious about what had done, until told by
my superiors that l had acted in most
iustiable manner, and that j: should not be
forgotten by those in authority.
next went to Whitehall to deliver my
supposed note to the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs, and was immediately ushered into
that august presence.
After reading Lord Cowley's letter, he
turned to me and said, good d-humoredly:
81 hope anything you may have noticed
while at the legation in Paris will not be
mentioned by you.'
Certainly not, sir,'' l replied emphati-
cally.
"How would you like to be employed as
a Queens messcnger?' p he asked.
NY heart leaped clear up into my mouth.
Queens messenger, indeed (! ], only letter
sorter, in charge of a railroad train. ! was
too embarrassed to make reply.
Observing my hesitation, the secretary
continued:
take time to consider. Should you de.
sire the appointment, and we 6nd that you