The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-03-07
course Of action, unwilling that Fate was
vrortfno fov mo

working for me.
The next night was due at ball given
by Lady Hartbury in Portland Place. Lord
Hartbury had presented my father with the
living on his estate, and we had seen much
Of the family. It 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 my excursion
into Essex | had little inclination for gayety
but IL was incumbent on me to go 10 It.
The night was splendid, and found the
drawing rooms full gay scene Of flowers
In profusion, brilliant chandeliers, feathers,
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 speedily spied out
by one Of the young DArcys, who Joined
me. After the usual interrogations con-
corning the healths Of our respective fami
lies John gave me piece of information.
"lIave you heard that Augusta Is going to
be married ~
"Ts she really Z" | was nearly adding,,"at
last" but fortunately stopped in time. Lady
Augusta was the eldest Of the family, quite
thirty years Of age, fine handsome woman
OF hdm ton. She had waited on and on for a
high title, which did not come, though, Of
course, she had received many offers. in
quired who was the happy man, expecting to
hear duke named. was surprised at the
answer, "Col. Delmar Gonzalez. dare say
you have heard ofhim."
Indeed | had, in common with all London.
Little more than twelve month previously
he had burst on society in ineteor-like splen.
dor. The newspapers were everlastingly de-
scribing his mansion at South Kensington-
its marbles, its pictures, its wonderful furni.
ture then his dinners, soirees, horses, car
riages last, not least, his heroic conduct in
the war between Chilli aud Peru, for, though
an Englishman, he had served in the Peru
Wan army with distinction and his vast
wealth, which was the handspring of this
adulation. 30 Lady Augusta had accepted
him, the high title not being forthcoming.
81 hope she will be happy" I said sin
cerely, for she had always been very kind
to me and my sisters.
az hope she WILL" returned John DARCY.
augusta is a good sort. | dare say they
will get on we'll enough"
"Well enough You do not speak very
enthusiastically"
"To 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 call II
pride, you know, for he is rolling in horrid
lucre. His first wife was great Peruvian
heiress-owned silver mine she died some
years ago, leaving everything to him. That s
why he has hooked on her name 10 his own"
Here the valse terminated, and enabled
me to make my way across the room to pay
my respects to my hostess Lady Augusta,
looking regally beautiful, was standing at a
little distance conversing with a tall, fash
ionablelooking man whose back was toward
me. Concluding 1t was her fiancee, did
not like 10 interrupt her conversation, but
looked at him with natural interest. Pres
emily he changed his attitude. Amaze
ment! Did my eyes deceive me No.
Before me was the very man had only the
preceding day followed to Ongar-my mys-
FERROUS visitor of the Rue Ste. Marguerite |!
This man under the roof of Lord Hartbury
He, Col. Gonzalez, distinguished for his
bravery and wealth l 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 wanted air, and again made for the
door. evil you point out to me which is
Col. Gonzalez ?" said to footman entering
with ices.
"That dark gentleman talking to Lady
Augusta, sir"
waited with curiosity to see If he would
take an ice. Mo- the salver passed him.
but he took wafer with his left hand. The
right one in its white glove hung at his side.
| left the house. By daybreak l had de.
termined what to do-to warn Lord Hart
bury. The first step was to send telegram
to jacob, who was now assistant house sur
tka al o.
over Immediately on urgent business, and to
bring with him the cast of his first patients
hand. Then at IL o'clock | called on Lord
Hartbury, asking for a private interview
Vans were before the door removing the
paraphernalia of last nights ball. The Earl
came to me from the breakfast table, looking
little surprised. 1t was delicate subject
| TO breach, but told him the whole story.
He did not see the drift of it until came tc
the part of identify ing Col. Gonzalez as my
mysterious visitor. Then never did man
look more astonished but he thought it a
decided case of mistaken identity he said
it was impossible II was we'll known that
his hand had been blown off at the siege Of
Lima 1t was a coincidence.
''Not SO, my Lord" cried can prove &c
the contrary"
Never was man SO hard 10 persuade, but i,
I
the nroof IN manner We arranged Late al
night Jacob arrived.
apr como d Bacco. nv curiosity WIN
hast thou Summoned me in sucb haste m.
cast ia here - tanning his valise. 81 waited
for nothine-threw a little wearing apparel
together. and started half an bour after re
ceiyipg your telerram.'' When he had
eaten q good sumner told him ths particn
lar. To saw he was astonished is snneran
ous.
The following morning wa want IN Port
land place. Jooobi carving neat little mar
cal Lord Hartbnrv had taksn his eldes,
son into his Confidence. who was more incred.
nlous evsn tban His father Int " han Jacoh
rs,atsd In snficiantlv uood Fnai;sb his on
oomnt If Tho onarat;on 20 had nsrformsd ,w,
vaaTs nrevionslv thew bsgan 10 he a l;ttle
shaken in their ;ncrsanIitv We all fom,
drove aoross Hvda Park IN Soutb Ksns;noton
Arr;ved At nm slsoant house with ci,o;o.
aowsrs At ali the windows and balconies W.
wars nsbsrad into a oh AIMING morninr .roo M
ovarloor;ns n n,sasura.aardan
IThou mns, ba MISTAKEN mio sscretano i,
wb;snsrad Jacob; mon whom tbs morh,.
Sntrancs'h to luxpr;ous snnnrisna mo os'
and I;usr;ad sorwants had mada n ar.at ;n,
,rsrs;on II car,a;nIv iii annssr inerod;hia
p' md Jocohi sta,;orad anr.sivas IN ,i,.
| "S~~oe ~" 80 sAAe