The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-31
TRCKED AND TRACKED.
AN ADVENTURES IN PARIS.


dent occurred w my we wu'Vn mas rvs
sibiy prove interesting TO those wnos IKE
myself, are too easily imposed upon; ana
although, BY the rectal, bold myseu open
10 the ridicule Of the mind masculine,
which, by It's own showing, is never aupeo
or deceived by impcstors, yet, IN oiuer 70
warn those Of my own sex VINO are more
readily wrought upon, l WIN narrae, a.
nearly as can. strange a1ventutc WHICH
hssei me during the winter OF 1869.
am the wife OF an English officer, and,
a the time OF whlch I write, was residing
In paris. Late In June my husband bad
received orders TO be in readiness TO SAIL
with bis regiment for c. the following
mon,h: but. as bis absence was not likely
70 he OF long duration, bad decided not
accompany him, and had determined 10
make Paris my headquarters during Tue
time OF our enforced separation.
The preparation for bis departure nad 10
he messed forward with all expedition,
and. a IA so often the case when time IS
Valuable. every possible difficulty seemed
TO crop up TO hinder the progress OF our
the eliminating point at last arrived,
when nv husbands b0dy.servant Tell sud
denly iii and sent in his resignation the
very week they were expected 10 start.
We nj once made inquiries on all sides for
man competent Of filing the vacant post.
In this instance fortune favored US. Jns'
az we we're beginning TO despair OF success,
Frenchman, who spoke very toierap!e
English. aprlied for the situation, and bis
references being satisfactory, we hastily
= engaged him, heartily glad to have brought
an unpleasant affair 10 so fortunate con-
clusion.
Although had many friends residing in
Paris. had no near relations i could ask
10 remain with me during my temporary
exile: my husbands people al, lived In
Ireland, and, with the exception OF few
scattered cousins, my only existing relative
was one brother (some years younger than
myseIi). to whom ! was greatly attached,
but who for years past bad been source
of constant anxiety to me by reason OF bis
wild and reckless manner OF living. My
husband bad assisted him in numerous
difficulties, but his patience bad at last be-
come exhausted; and be bad bad to tell my
brother plainly and decisively that only In
case Of extremity, such as an illness when
should really incspacitate him from work,
or from some such urgent cause, would he
supply him again with pecuniary help.
Several letters passed between them at this
period; then followed an interval OF silence,
time of which I write. This naturally
caused me much uneasiness at times; but
could only hope he had at length felt the
necessity Of putting his shoulder to the
wheel, and was striving to regain the good
pane he had lost by his own foolish con-
duct.
Time passed slowly away. Many OF my
friends had returned TO England for the
winter. and was more than ever alone;
nv husband had now been gone some
months, and, although his letters began to
breathe vague hope OF his return, knew
that some time must yet elapse before we
should meet again. One evening Il re-
member 1t was the 22d OF january, was
sitting By myself, vainly trying to get in.
terested III the book was reading, when a
note was brought me by one OF the servants
OF the hotel, who said the bearer was wait
ing my reply. The letter was neatly fold
ed. and addressed in woman'S hand
writing to "The Lady OF Captain Ralph
Branscombe," and was marked Private"
II was, however, rather a strengthening
document; and breaking the seal in spirit
of curiosity, read the following:
"Madame.-l write this to you on behalf
of your brother, Monsieur Richard VIII
loughby, who lies at this house dying.
Would you see him alive you must come at
once--without hesitation. Madame, the
poor gentleman Is very sick-sick to death
in mind and body; for he lies in fear OF ar
rest, and worse thsn arrest, even in his
dying state. He prays you ask your hus-
band to assist him, as be promised, in this
his last sore strait. No one but Captain
Brsnscombe may accompany you, or know
Of your errand; you must bring with you
A. -. oxniI tich
money will do, but not notes. Your escort
will only be little child, but be knows
every turn OF the way you will have to
traverse. Come on foot-tO drive might
excite suspicion. Monsieur repeats, no
one but Ralph may come with you; he
is too III to write anything more than his
name, which inolOse."
Here followed few directions about the
way we were to take, and an injunction 10
bring the letter to guide myself with.
Then the name "Marie Toisseau." In
closed was scrap OF paper bearing my
brothers signature, which l saw at once
was genuine. :.
I turned cold as finished the perusal OF
this letter, but. commanding my voice as
well as l was able, babe the servant send
the bearer to me at once. / was not left
long in suspense; the door OF the salon
soon re0pened, and little figure appeared
on the threshold. A frsglle-looking
boy, about eleven years OF age, dressed IN
a dark.bue blouse, which hung loosely
about him, and wearing on bis head red
knitted fsherman's cap, which was pulled
down low on his forehead--a boy whose
male face was lighted up with large dark
ewes. their long dropping lashes sweeping
bis delicate cheeks. He shut the door soft
~ behind him, and gave swift, searching
glance around the room; then, as though
abashed by my presence, he stood with
dowpcast eyes, aud his hands loosely folded
before him, awaiting my questioning.
"My boy" l said, addressing him in
French, O. can you conduct me to this gen.
tleman who Is so ill?"
Again his dark eyes wandered about the
room, as though to reassure himself that we
were alone, and then he replied softly in
English, though with foreign accent,
"Surely, madame, will but 1t must be
with all speed, or 1t will be lost Journey"
Telling him 10 wait for me where he was,
left the room, aud FASTENED 10 prepare for
my expedition. My heart sank within me
at the idea OF yenturing out into the night
with no other protector than the little child
waiting below; but Derved myself to per-
form the duty felt had fallen across my
path, and made up my mind to act as be-
came q soldiers wife-iearlessly. / bad
about thirty soyereigns in my possession,
as 1t happened; and making up the sum
required as nearly as l could In French
money. placed 1t carefully in small bag,
which hung on my arm. Dressing my
self In dark bonnet and travelling cloak,
descended quietly to my apartment, with
out giving intimstion OF my departure TO
any one. The child stood precisely as l