The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-03
/ coURIER's STORY =

when any one OK NV oiu Dat'ouo " 49, -
friends require such services, Wh, ,t... ~
rather iDfrequent. the taste OF tne tias 49,,
ling public having degeneraIed !n.o aas.,
Journeys by express trains, WIN .nS sonss
ouent loss OF enjoyment OF TUE n' tsnra,'
phases OF scenery through WElcn ~ ~, a,nnn
.ra.rs, exnerience I shaye been witness 90
s,s.r,r strange occurrences, have assisted IN
1870 secret and adventurous .nnderta-
E;,,o and have been subject to many perlls.
Ecnno among such varied experiences give
the following strange story, suppresstng
far obvious reasons the real names OF thcse
Interested:
Many years ago I was engaged as courier
fo his ExcelIency the Hon. Frederick
Ellington, ambassador extraordinary OF ms
Britannia Majesty King George, on spe-
cal secret mission to once OF the great con-
,fnen,al Powers. Having finished his gu.
ties. and successfully attained the object or
his mission, we started on our home"ara
.inurnev in the Summer Of IS. Inc Pc
rios was one TO be long remembered, from
the political excitement which existed
throughout all Europe, almost every Gov
eminent having unsheathed the sword.
We had travelled considerable part OF
the first stage Of our return Journey, When
his icxcellency, who was feeling the Ia
firnes or the incessant travelling IN tue
heays. rumbling carriage, said he should
stop at the next town we arrived ae, ana
take rest aud refresbment, both OF WINCH
he was much in need OF, besides nagiDS ln-
portant State documents to transcrlbe. 10
due course we arrived at the small town OF
s., on the confines OF Germany "Iele
,va mt mn. We stayed day and hall
r Yhny, inStrDnfp1
Tho carriage and horses in readiness to con-
Time orr tourney. His Excellency mean
while had completed bis writings, to when
he bad assiduously applied himself, ana
told me. as it was fine afternoon, be would
take a short walk, and on bis return resume
his tourney at once, and must therefore
mske all necessary preparations. he ac-
oordincIy left the hotel. But be was never
sren asterward, nor was anything known
waited for upward of an hour anxious
". and then made q close search Tor hlm,
which continued for several days, but
no, a trace could I discover Of my master"
A yi,lacer, however, living outside the
town. brought TO me at the hotel pair OF
oycralls. which he stated be had found IN
a nejebboring copse. / recognized the
garment as belonging to his Excellency,
and at once repaired with the vlllager 10
the copse, and closely examined the spot,
but found no trace or sign OF any struggle.
Finding it useless TO prosecute the search,
] q. once returned to London with biz Ex-
cellcncy's travelling gear, Which nanaea
to his family. The British Government at
once Instituted inquiries, as also dld MS
EXceIlency's family, and large rewards
were offered by both. and advertisements
,%oI gnr Infnrm1fiOn
resprctinc the missing ambassador; but
1Gcy failed one and all to gain any infor-
NATION of, or the slightest ciew TO. his tate.
4 certain amount OF suspicion attached TO
nc. but it was only momcntsrv, and l at
orcc cleared myself of it, and assisted the
distracted wife and her missing husband,s
family as much as lay i'll my power. wen
/ remember the agonieS Of anxiety aud suS-
Dense caused to the ambassadors vile ana
family by the distressing calamity. Magls-
tcTial investigation was made, experts were
endowed. and every endeavor made to pene-
trate the dark veil Of mystery surrounding
the event; but all etfolts were unsuccessful.
One Of his Maicsty's ambassadors had COM
plctely and mysteriously disappeared With
out leaving clew to light up the awful OBJ
scurity which enveloped the tragic occur
renee. s@
rrf"*
Several years had elapsed since the dis
tressing event, and the memory, the pain
sul memory, of it was beginning to fade
from nv mind, when happened to be in
Antwerp on short tour through Belgium
with patrons. And while lis,lessly stroll
ing by myself on the quay one summers
evening, watching the passengers. disem:
barking from the newly-arsived steamer, i
YVES accosted by mean, haggard-iooklng
little nan Of beggarv appearance, who
spoke to me in Flemish.
"Areyounot Herr Rocckel the courier!'
said he.
Yes" replied l. "What do you want
with me-? Who are your"
~ suppose you have quite forgotten
Iie:" said be.
stared ut him keenly. The mans fea-
lures were somewhat familiar to me, yet l
was confused in my remembrance OF how
ana where had seen him. 81 do not know
YOU" said |.
YES. you do, and very WELL" replied he.
.lIy name is Ludwig Kuhl, and have fire.
ouently driven you the first stage out OF
Vienna. did so when you were courier 10
his Excclency the Honorable EslinSton, III
the summer Of the year 1S-."
THE courier is remembered even Wnen
the patron is forgotten, for it is to us that
landlords and servants look for their gratus-
ties.)
stared at him, and then recognized the
hagpard looks. .'True." said l. /" re-
member you well. How goes 1t Win you
What Go you here in Antwerp Inc o!o
trade, eh? 49,
"Ah, mol" he replied, with deeply
drawn sigh. It's a long story, ana 4 cah,e
tell il to YOU here in all this noise ana Dus-
tie. Let us go to quiet cabaret"
| agreed, aud in our short walk re-
Vowed in my mind all those circumstances,
so dark and impenetrable in their profound
mystery. which had happened years before.
And remembered how our Position, Lud-
VITO Kuhl. had assisted me in the unayall-
inc search for bis EXcellency. Soon we
resehed Little cabdret-their name is le-
RON in Anfwerp--in one Of the back streets
Near the Cathedral; and with 4 glass OF his
fayorite Bnoujekamp in front OF him, be
seasei himself, and told me the following
sequel to the mysterious disappearance:
.sYou must remember me, FRIEND" be
began, "when was in a better condition
than YOU now see me-" and he scanned his
wretched garments, Struggling his should
ers with an impatient air.
/ nodded acquiesceuce.
:. WE'LL" said he, t'you must also know.
in YOUR long experience OF travel, that all
classes of society on the Continent, and par
ticuiarly in Vienna, have their secret club.
The positions had theirs; but 1t was sub.
iect to the rule Of the Chief Secret Society.
In E1y younger days, friend, was induced,
by an unlucky moment, to enroll myself as
fuE % ba he ~