St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-01-23

had flee. and those that remained were
perhaps the most cultivated who had
been with us. In those hazy days of
late summer and early autumn there
was little to do but sit on the piazzas
and watch the changing lights on the
hills.
General Randolph was here and there
and everywhere. / have seen much of
the world since, and Alice, my wife. is
keen Judge of men and things, but
we can both freely say that he was the
most fascinating man we have ever
met. He had keen intellect and was
brilliant in conversation. His fund of
information seemed endless He would
sit on the piazza an hour at time,
twirling the little cane which he always
carried, discussing favorite author or
telling funny story or pathetic incl
dent of his army life We asked no
greater pleasure than to watch the
lights and shadows of his wonderful
eyes.
The ladies were charmed with him.
One of my cousins mixed his brandy
and water nightly, and rich young
widow, who had many suitors at her
feet, received his attentions with evil
dent pleasure. But he had the tact
which made no one jealous or unhappy
in his presence. Not pang crossed
my mind in thinking that Alice would
travel with him. He was my ideal of a
Southern gentleman and my only feel
ing was one of pleasure that Alice
would be SO well taken care of.
He formed special friendship for a
gentleman who had a school in the
neighborhood. l remember that one
evening as we sat in the parlor he
asked this gentleman to purchase for
him a number of books dnring a visit
to New York. He wrote down from
memory the titles of at least one hum
dred of the best of books, and our
friend readily promised to do as he de-
sired, and give the privilege of his dis
count. The General also proposed to
bring his brother to our friends school
and offered generous subscription to
aid him in his work.
He stayed two weeks and then left
for few days. He was expecting to
return and bring his brother, then take
Alice on their journey.
He came back, but his brother was
not with him.
Harry came to the depot" he said,
in explaining, ''but was suffering so
much from a felon on his hand that /
had not the heart to insist on his
coming. He will be here in few
days"
But all pleasant days must end. and
the last of our pleasant season came.
He and Alice started. He had left
substantial check in the hands of our
friend, and we were all sorry that we
might never meet him again.
fingered few days to gather my
things together, and was spending my
last hour with my uncle and his family,
when our friend, the Professor, came
suddenly into the room with dazed
look. saying:
General Randolph's check has been
returnedr'
We could not believe our ears. Gen.
eral Randolph dishonest! Impossible!
My uncle telegraphed at once to his
clerical friend in the East. Alas! Dr.
B. knew no such man. He was blind,
and wrote by means of secretary, so
that his signature had been easily
forged.
Twas crazy, maddened! Alice had gone
with him! Where? o, where? Itook a
detective and started in search of her.
l gathered my own savings, the bank
furnished more money and l determ-
ined to find him and bring him back to
justice, dead or alive.
We followed them to New York, but
they had left the day before. We traced
them by means of a small cane which
he had left to be marked at a jewelers.
store. 1t was to be engraved: From
of Virginia, to Bush, of Ken
tucky," and was to be sent to Lexing-
ton, Ky. We followed them to Cincin-
natl. recognized his handwriting on
the register of one of the hotels in an
name. As pointed to it the
clerk laughed and said:
I'D like to collar that fellow. He
played us the neatest bit ofroguery that
I've seen for many a long day. He
went to the theater one night and
brought back with him chap that he
picked up there. They were as thick
as hops. They must room together. l
had charge of the safe and as they
came to the desk to get the key, your
friend said to the other in the airiest
know what way he had
with him-(Yes, l knew: Now, you
must excuse me, sir; but of course we
never met each other before, and
think it would be better to leave our
in the safe over night. I have
a package Of papers beside me that is
worth good deal, and, with your per-
I'll take check for it, The
other chap did the same. leaving a
watch and quite a sum of money. Now,
what do you suppose that internal
rogue didf Early in the morning, be-
'ore the other fellow was awake. he
slipped his hand into his pocket, got
,ut the check, dressed himself, came
iown and handed it over to the clerk
"a different one in the morning, you
now, and received the watch and the
money, leaving his friend his package
# papers, worthless, of course. You
nay be sure we haven't seen him
'ince."
We then visited the chief of police,
yho conducted us to the rogues' gal
cry. I hate to live over again the dis
rust of human nature that entered my |
oul that day when, in q conspicuous
lace, saw the handsome face and
brilliant eyes of our friend Randolph.
u