The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-08-29

Bloom over all the face of things:
Thus day in radiant splcndor thrlvcs,
When night lies soft on sleeping lives;
And the round earth forever seems
Two worlds like two inimitable dreams.
-Gsorge Edgar Montgomery.
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
An In cldent OF NApOleon's Threatened
lnvaniOn OF England.
About the beginning of this century,
while the Revolutionary Wars we're rag
ing. communication in cipher was natur-
ally very prevalent; and ingenuity was
taxed to the utmost on one hand to in
vent, and on the other to detect, the
medium used in secret correspondence.
As a rule, the dcciphercr had beaten the
cipher; and no known method was secure
of detection. If conventional signs mere
lY were used, the recurrence of the differ
cnt symbols gave a key easily followed
out. Some ingenious spirits correspond
ell by reference to the pages and lines
particular editions of particular books
Others by an agrccd-on vocabulary. But
these last methods, although they might
preserve the secret, disclosed what was
often quite as dangerous. that there was a
secret. am about to tell you of a plan
which for II long time was not only unde-
tected, but unsupported.
II was at that time when the first Ma :
polcon had assembled his fleets and tran
sports at Brest, with the ostensib.e, and
as is generally believed the real, view of
making descent on England. The
greatest precautions were observed by
the English Government in regard to
correspondence with France, and an
amount of espionage was practiced at the
post-otficc which left Sir James Graham's
subsequent performances in that line far
behind. The national excitement was
intense, and the political department was
administered with all iron sway.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, as
all the world then knew, high in the Ad-
miralty; and as it was from him that
heard this anecdote, its veracity may he
depended on.
The dispatches to and from the Ad-
miralty were the subject of the greatest
vigilance and the most stringent regula-
tions. The clerks were not permitted to
send or receive letters which were not
first submitted to the chief clerk, and it
was believed that letters addressed even
to their private residences were frequent
ly opened at the post office.
At the time speak of, the chief clerk
was all elderly man of the name of Park
era wizcned, wiry, dapper individual,
so imbucl with the official tlncturc of
Whitehall that it had become second na-
turc to him. He was genial and kindly
soul, keen and energetic IN the affairs of
his Office, and in all others mere child.
He had engaged as private secretary
Il young fellow by the name of Beaumont,
who was one of the most promising SUBJ
ordinates in the establishment. He was
modest, unassuming man, very good
looking, with a countcnance and an air
suggestive of depression and melancholy.
He was evidently Of good education, and
probably well-born also, for his manners
were easy, and indicated good breeding.
HI was native Of Jersey, and had been
introduced to the notice of the Admiral
ty authorities by some influential men,
Der OF Parliament. He was much liked
in the office, and dicharged, his duties to
perfection.
One morning Parker presented himself
before my uncle with visage pale with
woe, and trembling with excitement
"Why, what is the matter, Parker? Has
Bonaparte Gomez"
"He may have, for aught know" said
Parker. Things are all wrong, Sir
Gcorgcv'
"What are wrong?"
''The letters are wrong. There is spv
among us. l have known it for long !;
now am quite sure: but can not find
him OUT
Parker went on to explain that he had
for some time suspected that some one in
the office communicated their private in
formation and dispatches outside. He
had rcdoublcd his precautions; but more
than ever confirmed in his suspicious.
was entirely baffled in his endeayors to
detect the culprit.
"But, Parker" said my uncle, show do
you Come to be so sure that your secrets
have transpircd?"
"By the funds, Sir George. They an
swer to the news as surely as the bell
down stairs does to the bell-rope. l find
them going up and down as if they were
sitting in The Office" said Parker, person.
flying the Stock, Exchange for the moment.
"Have all the letters to the clerks been
examined strictly2"
Eyes, l read them all myself"
Find nothing in them?''
"Mighty little. Some are from home.
some from friends, and most of them
from swccthearts," said Parker, twisting
his lace into q grim smile, land rum
things they say in them.''
"And the young mems letters. Are
they rum, too?''
"They are more careful like, az thew
know am to see them; but, Lord save
you, sir, they are all stuff; not ha'porth
of harm in them"
"This matter must be seen to-" said nv
uncle; II have had my own misgivinps on
the same subject. Bring me all the letters
which come to, and are sent by, the clerks
tor the next week. There is no reason
why you should have all the rum things
to youTself."
So my uncle had the letters for week,
and found them very much as Parker had
described them. The suspicious symptoms
increased; the Stock Exchange responded
more sensitivcly than ever; but not the
slightest ground tor suspccting any one
transpircd. My uncle was bcw1ldered,
ana Parker was rapidly verging to 1nsan.
ity.
ut is certainly not the clerks" said my
uncle. ''Therc is no treason there" said
ne, pushing back the letters OF the day,
Wy the way, how does young Beaumont
get ou2 She seems nice creature, that
sister Of his, to judge by her letters. -
HE is the best hand in the Office. q
long sight; and his sister Is very sweet
ladylike creature. They are orphans,
poor things, aud he supports her out OF
his salary. She called at the Office two
months Ego, and I gave him leave to sec
her for q few minutes in nv room. Rnt