Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-20
be that poor girls companion Without a


me). spraDg into it, telling the driver to
follow the four-wheeler in advance of him.
It's destination proved to be Fenchurch
Street Station. Avoiding observation. /
watched my Partisan acquaintance take
tickets for Ongar. / then took one also,
Following them to the platform, noted
that the young lady assembled the stairs
YEARLY, looking neither right nor left.
Inc man, on the contrary, seemed all ac-
tivlty ne was well dressed now, and had
shaved off his untidy light beard, wearing
black mustache instead-dyed, of course,
They entered carriage. l its neghbor,
and the train started. Beyond Stratford.
Essex begins to get pretty, ana at Ongar ii
Is quite rural. A fly was waiting at the
door of the quiet little station With his
left hand the man carried a small portman
teau his right arm was thrust in the breast
OF his coat. He hurried his companion to
enter the vehicle, which drove away down
long country road.
+" Whose trap is that?' asked the porter.
Mr.. Wllklnson's, sir, of the Crown
Inn"
" Is it going far? ! should like to hire il. .
" 1t won't be back for hours, sir. It's
going to the mad doctors at Danesbridge-
long drag for one hanimal."
This was unexpected intelligence.
What is his name?'
" Dr. Gryce, sir. don't think he makes
much of a do of it, for he doesn't keep no
trap, no orse, no nothing; and his house
is ramshackled old place-good enough
for a mad-house, suppose"
TO fill up the time strolled through the
clean little town until the departure of The
next train. wondering how to gain some in
telligence of the hapless girl, whom it
panied me to see in company with person
had set down as mauvais sujet. Was
he taking her to lunatic asylum? | Won
dereo. Was there anything amiss with
her mind? No. no; impossible She had been
wild with despair that lovely June morn
ing, nothing more. / remembered her eyi.
dent struggle for composure her replies to
my questions. These We're not indications
OF insanity. My previous interest in her
deepened, but returned to town without
having formed course of action, unwit-
ting that Fate was working for me.
The next night l was due at ball given
by Lady Hartbury in Portland Place. Lord
Hartbury had presented my father with the
nying on his estate, and we had seen much
OF the family. 1t consisted of one daughter
and many sons. When the Hartburys came
to town for the season, they remembered
me- inviting me to this ball After nv ex-
cursion into Essex l had little inclination
| Tor gayety; but it was incumbent on me to
go to it.
The night was splendid, and l found the
drawing-rooms full gay scene of flowers
III proiusion, brilliant chandeliers, feath-
ers, furbelows, fans and diamonds ladies.
young, old and middle-aged; the men
rather young. A waltz being in progress,
to charming band, | waited at the door
for its termination. There | was speed
lily spled out by one of the young D'Arcys
who joined me. After the usual interroga-
tons concerning the healths of cur respect
i've families, John gave me piece of infor-
nation.
+" Have you heard that Augusta is going
to be married."
:" Is she really ?" l was nearly adding
at last, bat fortunately stopped in time.
Lady Augusta was the eldest of the family
quite 80 years of age, fine handsome wo,
man of haut ton. She had waited on and
on for high title, which did not come.
though, of course, she. had received many
offers. inquired who was the happy man
expecting to hear duke named. | was
surprised at the answer, Colonel Delinar
Gonzalez. l dare say you have heard of
him.
Indeed | had, in common with all Lon
don. Little more than a twelvemonth pre-
vlously he had burst on society in meteor
ike splendor. The newspapers were ever
lashngly describing his mansion at South
Kensngton-its marbles, its pictures its
wonderful furniture; then his dinners,
soirees, horses, carriages; last, not least. his
heroic conduct in the war between Chill
and Peru, for though an Englishman. he
mad served in the Peruvian army with dis
| tnction; and his vast wealth, which was
| the handspring of this adulation. So Lady
Augusta had accepted him, the high title
! not being forthcoming.
hope she will be happy" ] said sim
cerely, for she had always been very kind
| to me and my sisters.
hope she will, +" returned John d Arcy.
Augusta is good sort l dare say they
will get on well enough"
Well enough You do not speak very
enthusiastically"
. 10 tell you the truth, sinking his voice
confidentially, though he's hero and all
| that kind of thing, been blown up in fort
he was defending, and wounded dozen
times, I'm not in love with him myself
he is so shut up. Some people might cali
| 1t pride. you know, for he is rolling in hor-
rid lucre. HIS first wife was great Peru
Wan heiress-owned a silver mine; she
died some years ago, leaving everything to
him. That's why he has hooked on her
name to his own"
Here the valse terminated. and enabled
me to make my way across the room to paw
my respects to my hostess. Lady Augusta
looking regally beautiful, was standing at a
little distance conversing with tall fash
lonable-looking man whose back was to-
ward rue. Concluding it was her fiance, |
did not like to interrupt her conversation
but looked at him with natural interest.
Presently he changed his attitude Amaze
ment! Did my eyes deceive me? No. Be-
fore me was the very man | had only the
preceding day followed to Ongar-mv mys-
ferrous visitor of the Rue Ste Marguerite /
This man under the roof of Hartbury ! He
Colonel Gonzalez, distinguished for his
bravery and wealth, | could not be mis-
| taken; he had dyed his hair black and
shaved off the Struggling sandy beard, but
his furtive light eyes | could swear to. [
felt l wanted air, and again made for the
door. : Will you point out to me which is
Colonel Gonzalez y | said to a footman en-
tering with ices.
That dark gentleman talking to Lady
Augusta. sir"
| waited with curiosity to see if he would
take an ice. No; the salver passed him,
but he took a wafer with his left hand
The right one in its white glove hung at
his side. L left the house By daybreak I
had determined what to do-to warn Lord
Hartbury. The first step was to send a
telegram to jacob, who was now assistant
house surgeon at the hospital, telling him
| to come over Immediately on urgent bust
| ness, and to bring with him the cast of his
first patients hand. Then at II o'clock /
called on Lord Hartbury, asking for pri-
vate interview. Vans were before the door
removing the paraphernalia of last nights
ball. The Earl came to me from the break
fast-table, looking little surprised. It was
delicate subject to breach, but told him
| the whole story. He did not see the drift
| OF 1t until Tcame to the part of identifying
Colonel Gonzalez as my mysterious visitor.
Then never did man look more astounded !;
but he thought it q decided case of mistaken
identity he said it was impossible 1t was
| well known that his hand had been blown
of at the siege of Lima it was coinci-
| dence.
Not 50. NV Lord, | cried; g can prove
l.