National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-15
A oNE-ARMED DON JUAN.
1hs Career Of Don Miguel Rodex.

rFrom the New York Mereury.l
Near the city Of Malaga, Spain, Miguel RotsE
was born. The boys father was wealthy farmer,
and his mother 70 said 10 have been one Of the
most beautiful women ID GrenAds. Among the
iamiiy heiriooms was an old English muskst,
used By the farm hands to scare away forsgers on
: me crops. Long before young Miguel was COM
petent 70 handle the weapon he used TO regard It
VILE fearful JOY, sud when he was ten years OF
sge ne was frequently permitted TO ere 10 from
rest Finally something went wrong with the
gun; Brown Bsss" grew silent, and bird nor RABBIT
was terrified more. sim the piece possessed At
trscti'ss for the boy, and when he pulled the
Trigger ne was satisfied with q make believe
diseharge. One nns evening In 1915 he was en-
gagged In this dumb-target practice, when his
harasome mother passed along. 81 can shoot
you, msther!" the boy cried; "Stand stiII, till
shoot you, motherl' She stood stilI and smiled at
her vivacious youngster, while he took deliberate
aim and pulled the trigger. There was ire
mendous report. The poor lady was literally rid
gore. The gun barrel few in . thousand pieces,
and the boys left hand and forearm were shat
tered to atoms. 1t was surmlsed that the mus
until Il contained perhaps half dozen charges; and
Dy one OF those inscrutable mysteries which some
times attach to accidents from firearms, IL had
explode fatally at last. The terrible catastrophe
proved 100 much for Senior RodeE. He lost his
bson, ana the BOY vas placed under the care o.
aneholy countenance.
In the spring 1850 he was appointed consul at
Hull, England. He soon became very popular
among the wealthy ship-owners of that place
Ladies especially admired him, he was 30 modest
young wives eyinced Q high Expectation of Ms
merits. Mrs. Routledge was 3 handsome blonde.
With robust form and doing, husband. Mrs
vocal pretensions. Both ladies' were imprud entity
demonstrsttve In their esteem Of the dfstfngue
one-armsd Spaniard. Finally Mrs. Roatledge
began to shock the proprieties by visiting the
young consul at his office. and domestic explo-
sion followed. Her husband and she separated;
and another result was that Senior Miguel Rodez
made haste to resign his post, hurryInx direct to
London-not alone, however-for Mrs. Routledge
accompanied him. A few days after Mrs. Draper
went on visit to her parents In York, and soon
alter the following Iaconic personal" appeared
In the second column Of the London Times:
miguel. Bella is In town. Eleven o'clock to-
the Zoo"
Mrs. Draper's headquarters were at the Tavt-
ledge were living close by at the Charfng Gross
hotel. Bella regularly repaired TO the Geological
Gardens as announced, but each visit resulted in
q promenade concert at Covent Garden theatre,
and there met the Spaniard and Mrs. Routledge.
Some bitter remarks were exchanged between the
infatuated women, and then the trio adjourned to
the outer pfaZzas Of the theatre. There, in spite
OF Don Migueps efforts, the exasperated Draper
LOOK IamlnArftles Win the houtledReg blonde
hair. A policeman promptly interfered, and next
morning the party appeared In Bow. street Police
Court and were each fined forty shIllings and
c:sts. me exconsul promptly paid the fine and
Ar. Draper meantime had followed his wife to
York, and had learned that she had never been
at her parents home. and the miserable man
lost no time in hieing TO London. There his
search was fruitless, and he was the point OF
returning home when the description Of Q woman
dragged from the Thames attracted his notice
One glance at the body was SUFFICIENT, IL was his
erriDg but lovely Bella.
Mrs. Routledge accepted the situation, and be-
came frequenter Of the terpsichoresn extrava-
gances Of the Argyll rooms. Mr.. Draper died
few years after his domestic calamity, and Mr..
Routledge and his little girl came to this city,
where he now holds responsible position in q
business house on William street. Two years
since Mr. s., as we shall row call him, married In
this city young lady. She was . sprituelle-
looking brunette, with lustrous eyes and Queenly
air. Her character was above reproach.
When she accepted his offer she stated, In sub
Of becoming mother to his little girl than for
any affection toward himself Mr. s. talked Of
her frigid pollteness to his confidential friends
These friends made themselves very oficlous as
friends will always persist in doing under such
circumstances. They watched her, dogKed her
steps and Swallowed her by turnA Alas she had
0 secret. II was In the form Of one-armed man
Of fine carriage, olive complexion and handsome
features. Briefly, poor Mrs. SIS connubIaI fe-
licity was again annihilsted by the Spanish
mother. slayer. At the present time he is laid up
with serious attack Of brain fsver and Marien Is
an inmate OF her mothers home.