Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-05
A COURIER'S STORY.

bret Harte in Londcn Society.
A COURIER'S STORY.
My name is Carl johann Roeckel. By
birth and nationality I am a Swiss, but
cosmopolitan in every taste and
habit: In my early days regularly fol-
lowed the profession of courier, as do
now occasionally, when any of my old
patrons or their friends require such SER
vices, which is rather infrequent, the
taste Of the travelling public having de-
generated into hasty Journeys by express
trains, with the consequent loss of all
enjoyment OF the different phases of seen
cry through which the tr avelers1 are
passing. In the course of nv many
years experience I have been witness to
many strange occurrences, have assisted
In many secret and adventurous under
taking, and have been subject to many
perils. From among such varied expert
ences 1 give the following strange story,
suppressing for obvious reasons the real
names of those interested.
Many years ago I was engaged as
courier to his Excellency the Honorable
friedrich Eslington, embassador-extra-
ordinary of his Britannia Majesty King
George, on special secret mission to
one Of the great Continental powers.
Having finished his duties and successful
ly attained the object of mis- mission, we
started on our homcward Journey in the
summer of 49,. The period was one
to be long remembered, from the pol1ti-
cal excitement which existed throug hout
all Europe, almost every government
having unsheathed the sword. We had
Travelled considerable part of the first
stage OF our return journey, when his
Excellency, who was feeling the fatigues
OF the incessant travelling in the heavy,
rumbling carriage, said he should stop at
the next town we arrived at, and take
rest and refreshment. both of which he
was much in need of, besides having i'm
portant state documents to transcribe.
La due course we arrived at the small
town of s., on the confines of Ger
many, where we put up. We staid day
and half there; and was then instruct
ed to have the carriage and horses in
readiness to continue our journey. His
Exceilency meanwhile had completed his
writings, to which he had assiduouslv
applied himself; and told me, as it was
fine afternoon, he would take a short
walk, and on his return resume his Jour
ney at once, and l must therefore make
all necessary preparations. He accord
lngly left the hotel. But he was never
seen afterward, nor was anything known
Of his fate.
waited for upward Of an bour anx.
iously, and then made close search for
him, which I continued for several days,
but not trace could 1 discover of NV
master. A villager, however, living out
side the town, brought to me at the hotel
pair OF overalls, which he stated he had
found in a neighhoring copse. I recog-
nized the garment as belonging to his
Excellency, and at once repaired with
the vlllager to the copse, and closely ex-
amined the spot, but found no trace or
sign OF any struggle.
Finding it useless to prosecute the
search, at once returned to London with
his Excellencys travelling gear, which I
handed to his family The British Gov
eminent at once instituted inquiries, as
also did his Excellency's family, and
large rewards were offered by both, and
advertisements widely disseminated for
any information respecting the missing
ambass ador; but they failed one and ali
to gain any information Of or the slight
est clew to his tate. A certain amount of
suspicion attached to me, but 1t was only
momentry, and I at once cleared myself
of it, and assisted the distracted wife and
her missing husbands family as much as
lay IN my power. We'll I remember the
agonies of anxiety and suspense caused
to the ambassadors wife and family bv
the distressing calamity. Magisterial in
vestigation was made, experts were en-
ployed, and every e1tdeavor made to
penetrate the dark veil of mystery sur
rounding the event; but all efforts were
unsuccessful. One of his Maiesty's am
bassadors had myster1ously and COM
pletely disappeared, without leaving a
clew to light up the awful obscurity
which enveloped the tragic occurrence.
Several years had elapsed since the lis
tressing event, and the memory, the pain.
full memory of it was beginning to fade
from my mind, when I happened to be in
Antwerp On short tour through Belgium
with patrons. And while listlessly STROLL
ing by myself on the quay one summers
evening, watching the passengers disem-
bark from the newly arrived steamer I
was aceosted by mean, haggard- Hooking
little man Ct besgarly appearance, who
spoke to me in Flemish.
care you not Herr Roeckel, the couri-
ere" said he.
EYES, replied I. "What do you want
with me? Who are you2"
II suppose you have quite forgotten
me?" said he.
[ stared at him keenly. The mans
features were somewhat familiar to me.
yet was confused in my remembrance
of how and where I had seen him. ~
do not know you," said I.
eyes, you do, and very WE'LL" replied
he. "My name is Ludwig Kuhl, and
have frequently driven you in the first
stage out Of Vienna. did so when YOU
were courier to his Excelleney the Hon
orable Eslington, in the summer OF the
year 18-.''
CThe courier is remembered even when
the patron is forgotten, for it is to us that
landlords and their servants look for their
gratuiies.)
stared at him, and then recognized
the haggard looks. ''True," said I; II
remember you now well. How goes it
with you? What do you here in Ant
werp? At the old trade, eh?"
"Ah, mol" he replied with deeply |