Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-01
A COurier's Story.

my early days I regularly followed the pro-
fesson of a courier, as | do now OCCASION
ally when any of my old patrons require such
services, which is rather infrequent, the taste
OF the travelling public having degenerated
into hasty journeys by express trains, with
the consequent loss of all enjoyment of the
different phases of scenery through which
the travellers are passing. In the course of
my many years experience have been wit
ness to many strange occurrences, have as
sisted in many secret and adventurous
undertaking, and have been subject to many
perils. From among such varied experiences
give the following strange story, suppress
sing for obvious reasons the real names of
those interested
Many years ago was engaged as courier
to his excellency the Honorable Frederick
Eslington, ambassador. extraordinary of his
Britannia Majesty King George, on a spe.
cial secret mission to one of the great CONT
mental powers. Having finished his duties
and successfully attained the object of his
mission, we started on our homeward jour
ney in the summer of 1S-. The period
was one long to be remembered, from the
political excitement which existed through
out all Europe, almost every government
having unsheathed the sword. We had
travelled considerable part of the first
stage OF our return journey when his excel
lency, who was feeling the fatigue of the in
cessant travelling in the heavy, rumbling
carriage, said he would stop at the next
town we arrived at and take rest and re-
freshment, both of which he was much in
need Of besides having important state doc
uments to transcribe. In due course we ar
rived at the small town of s., on the con-
fines of Germany, where we put up. We
staid day and half there and | was
then instructed to have the carriage and
horse in readiness TO continue our Journey.
His excelency meanwhile had completed
his writings. to which he had assidnouslv
applied himself; and told me. as it was a
fine afternoon, he would take a short walk,
aud on his return resume his Journey at
once, and must therefore make ali neces.
sary preparations. He accordingly left the
hotel. But he was never seen afterward.
nor was ANYTHING known of his fate.
waited for howard of an bour anxiouslv.
and then made close search for him. which
continued for several davs. but not a trace
could discover of nv master. A villager,
however, living outside the town brou9ht
to me at the hotel a pair of oyeralls. which
be stated he had found in a neiphboring
L
ing to his excellency, ana at once repaired
Win ohe Viiiager 70 the copse and closely
s;an nf anr n, a,,, otJS' '"' io"n' "o ''"'' vi
eE;nd;nG !, nss,sS, .. o..L L
az onoa ra,rrnaJ -, " o'So aS ';.s III I;a ~
ceIIancv,s trsuaI;na o.. ,nh;nL Tn LnnhoI no a
his fan;i,, Tha p,;S;sh oo,a.a,o,,t ~ o,o, W
;ns,;tntaj ;,i;.;o '.,S" IN ~: az ouoe
iencv's fam;Ir ana iaraa ' ra.oards u ",o 80 90
fered bv hoib and adyart;ssmant. ,y;daIv
for anv ;nformst;nn resneot;ngo
the missing amba:sador hui bnt tbey faile5
one and ali 10 cain anv in nformat;on Of or
the siiabtast o1a,n 70 H. s,,a A r,.;r o ~
amonnt of srsn;o;or .ttaohaJ - ma I've IL
vas onin - an, outaUn a.'a0ea auS - " me cas ~
mysef Of If and ass;stsd | ,bs =; Uv f
and bar ,n;s.;no hnobsnd,. fa,n;I'' os ~
as Law in nv mower, Well remember The
agon;es of g., np;,T pG" aa ,an m ,ee oa,'ood 'ao .o
t5e ambassadnr,s aH ;fa o9 f",,H'' Ha s'' ~ ~
d;strsss;n@ oaiarn;,r Nam;s.ar;ai ;5os,;r ~ sm
tion was made axnert1 vs. ennloveJ aSd
evarv endeavor nd 70 naoatrata ;ha dart ar
veil Of mvstsrv ] snrround;pa w e. tbe sysnt s % hnt
ali affor;s ,srs nnsnooaassni o. of Jis b;s
maisstv,s amhassadors had oourIa,aIn anJ
mvsterionslv d;sannoarsJ ,,;thon, Iaay;n
Claw 10 I;gb, mn ,bs a,sf,l ohso,r;ty uhi,t
enveloned the tragic occnrrenca "'''
CHAPTER II.
Several years had elapsed since the dis
tressing event, and the memory, the painful
memory, of it was beginning to fade from
my mind, when happened to be in Ant.
werp on short tour through Belgium with
patrons. And while listlessly strolling by
myself on the quay one summers even
ing, watching the passengers DISSEMINATING
from the newly-arrived steamer, was ac,
costed by mean, baggard-looking little
man of beggarly appearance. who spoke to
me in Flemish.
"Are YOU not Herr Roeckel. the courier 2"
said he.
"Yes," replied /. "What do YOU want
with me? Who are YOU 2"
al suppose YOU have quite forgotten me?"
said he.
| stared at him keenly. The mans fea-
lures were somewhat familiar to me vet
was confused in INV remembrance Of how
and where had seen him. II do not know
Won" said |.
"Yes. Won do. and very we'll" ren,ied he
"My name is Ludwig Kuhl. and have fire..
ouentlv driven von the f;rst STAGE ont of
Vienna did 40 when Won were Courier 10
his exoellencv the Honorable Eslington in
the summer of the wear is"
The courier is remembered even when
the patron is forgotten. for tits 10 us that
landlords and their servants look for their
gratuities.
| stared at him, and then recognized the
haggard looks. "True," said |; ~ remem-
ber you now we'll. How goes il with Won ?
What do YOU here in Antwerp? The old
trade, ell I"
"Ah, no |" he replied with deeply drawn
sigh. ats a long story, and can't tell it
to YOU here in all this noise and hustle.
Let us 90 to a quiet cabaret"
agreed; and in our short walk / re-
volved in my mind all those circumstances,
so dark and impenetrable in their profound
mystery, which had happened years before.
Aud remembered how our position, Lud.
wig Kuhl, had assisted me in the unavailing
search for his excellency. Soon we reached
a little cabdret-their name is legion in Ant-
Of ha haa