Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-03-27

' celleDcy meanwhile ndu COulplSt-
ell his writings, to which be had
assiduously applied himself; and
| told me, as it was fine afternoon,
he would take walk, and on his
return resume his journey at once,
and / Must therefore make all
necessary preparations. He ae-
cordingly left the hotel. But he
was never seen afterward, nor was
anything known of his fate.
/ waited for upward of an hour
anxiously. and then made close
search for him, which l continued
for several days, but not a trace
could l discover of my master. A
villager, however, living outside
the town, brought to me at the
hotel pair of overalls, which he
stated he had found in neighbor-
ing copse, and closely examined
the spot, but found no trace or
! sign of any struggle.
Finding it useless to prosecute
the search, | OF once returned to
London with His Excellency's
travelling gear, which | handed to
his family. The British Govern
ment at once instituted inquiries,
as also did His Excellency's fami-
ly, and large rewards were offered
by both, and advertisements wide
~ disseminated for any informa-
ton respecting the missing Am
bassador; but they failed one and
all to gain any information OF or
the slightest clue to his fate. A
certain amount of suspicion at
tached to me, but it was only mo-
mentary, and l at once cleared
myself Of it, and assisted the dis
tracted wife and her missing hus-
bands family, as much as lay in
my power. Well l remember the
agonies of anxiety and suspense
caused to the Ambassadors wife
and family by the distressing ca
Iamity. Magisterial investigation
was made, experts were employ
ed, and every endeavor made TO
penetrate the dark veil of mystery
surrounding the event; but all eff
forts were unsuccessful. One of
His Majesty's Ambassadors had
completely and mysteriously disap-
peared, without leaving clue to
light up the awful obscurity which
enveloped the tragic occurrence.
| Several years had elapsed since
the distressing event and the MEM
DRY, the painful memory was be-
ginning to fade from my mind
when | happened to be in Antwerp
on a short tour through Belgium
with patrons. And while listless-
ly strolling by myself on the quay
one summers evening, watching
the passengers disembarking from
the newly.arrived steamer, was
accosted by a mean, haggard look
ing little man of beggarly appear
ance, who spoke to me in Fiem-
ish.
"Are you not Herr Roockel the
courier ?" said he.
"Yes," replied /. "What do
you want with me? Who are
your
II suppose you have quite for
gotten me ?" said he. 500
1 stared at him keenly. The
mans features were somewhat
familiar to me, yet / was confused
in my remembrance of how and
where / had seen him. Il do not
know YOU" said /.
ayes you do, and very WE'LL"
replied he. "My name is Ludwig
Kuhl, and have frequently driv-
en- you the first stage out of Wen
ma. did so when you were cou-
rier to His Excellency the Honor
able Eslington, in the summer Of
the year 49,"
THE courier is remembered
even when the patrol Is forgotten,
for 1t Is to us that landlords aud
servants look for their gratuities.)
/ stared at him and then recog-
nized the haggard looks. True"
said /; II remember you now
we'll. How goes 1t with you?
What do you here in Antwerp?
The old trade, eh %
"Ah, mol" he replied with a
deeply drawn sigh. Ills long
story, and / can't tell it to you
here in all this noise and hustle.
Let US go to quiet co6dret. +.
/ agreed; and in our short walk
1 revolved in my mind all those
circumstances, so dark and i'm
penetrable in their profound mys-
terry, which had happened long
years before. And | remembered
how our position, Ludwig Kuhl,
had assisted me in the unavailing
search for His Excellency. Soon
we reached little cd6dret-their
name is legion in Antwerp-in
one of the back streets near the
cathedral; and with glass of his
favorite Boonjekamp in front OF
him, he seated himself, and told
II Il r. Al