Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28


.t;tuds. Amusement! Did my eyes
dccsiye meS No. Before me was
the very man | had only the
preceding day followed to 0ngsr-my
INV sterious visitor Of the Rue Ste. Mar
cnerite This man under the roof OF
Lord Hartburyl He, Colonel Coma
les. distinguished for his bravery aud
wealth j could not 5e mistaken; he
had dyed bis 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. Will you point out to me
which is Colonel Gonzales!" | said to
a footman entering with ices.
THAT dark gentleman talking to
Lady Augusta, SIR"
WAITED with curiosity to see If he
would take an ice. No; the salyer
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 | had deter
mined what TO do--to warn Lord Hart
bury. The first step was to send a
telegram to jacob, who was now as
sistant house surgeon at the hospital,
telling him to come over Immediately
on urgent business. and to bring with
him the cast of his first patients hand.
Then at II o'clock | called on Lord
IIartbury, asking for private inter-
view. Vans were before the door,
removing the paraDhernalia OF last
nights ball. The Earl came to me from
the breakfast table, looking little sur
prised. 1t was a delicate subject to
breach, but told him the whole story.
lie did not see the drift of it until !
came to the part Of identifying Colonel
Gonzales as my mysterious VISITOR
Then never did man look more astound-
ed but he thought it a decided case oil
mistaken identity; he said it was in
possible. 1t was well known that his
hand had been blown off at the siege OF
Lima it was coincidence.
Not SO, my lord" ] cried, &" / can
prove TO the contrary"
Never was man so hard 10 persuade,
but it ended in his consenting to put
the Colonel to the proof in manner
we arranged. Late at night Jacob ar
rived. -
L" Per corpo di Bacco, my curiosity
is great Why hast thou summoned
me in such haste: The cast is here"
tapping his valise. II waited for
nothing-threw a little wearing apparel
together and started half an hour after
receiving your telegram"
When he had eaten good supper |
told him the particulars. To say ne
was astonished is superhuous.
The following morning we went to
Portland place, jacob carrying little
neat parcel. Lord Hartbury had taken
his eldest son into his confidence, who
was more incredulous even than his
father; but when jacob related in suf-
ficiently good English his account of the
operation he had performed two years
previously they began to be a little
shaken in their incredulity. We all
four drove across Hyde Park to South
Kensington. Arrived at an elegant
house, with choice flowers at all the
windows and balconies, we were usher
ed into charming morning room over
looking a pleasure garden.
"Thou must be mistaken, MIC Secre-
tano," whispered jacob, upon whom
the marble entrance hall, its luxurious
appurtenances, and liyeried servants
bad made great impression. 1t GER
tainly did appear incredible.
and jacob stationed ourselves in
the shadow between the windows; the
two noblemen stood in the sunlight.
Presently the Colonel entered, shaking
hands with them in an easy manner. lie
wore rich crimson silk robe de cham
bre. With his black hair and pale
complexion he certainly looked picture
like. The loose cuff of his right arm
was looped up to his vest. He glanced
inquiringly toward jacob and me.
These gentlemen tell me they al
ready enjoy the privilege of your ac-
ouaintance, Colonel" said Lord Hart
bury.
"Yes, in Paris" cried jacob, start
ing forward, and placing the cast OF
his hand Immediately before him with
the quickness of lightning. This
little memento will remind"
Words cannot describe the effect Of
the announcement | trust never again
TO see a fellow-creature receive such a
mental shock. lie pushed back the
cast with his left hand, its fellow, it:
counterpart-even in wilderness. He
tried to speak, but failed he staggered
TO a chair and sat down, great drops o.
agony on his pallid forehead.
Take that horrid thing away! !" hi
gasped in low, hoarse voice, strug
Cling hard to rally, the father and sor
looking at him in dismay. "ExcuSC
me-" be continued, but in warfare
have gone through such horrors that q
frjghtful object suddenly presented tC
me-has-has-startled me-"
at is the cast of your own RICH
hand, anputated by me two years age
last November it was a perfect hanc
unnamed. You came to me in thu
evening. My name is jacob"
"You lie"
"Philip Secretan, step forward
said Lord Hartbury.
. obeyed, and our eyes meeting,
saw that he recognized me. Boil
these gentlemen" continued the Earl
"swear to having known you in Pari;
under strange circumstances. Wha'
are we to conslude? Philip Secretan
have known from his boyhood he i,
truthful as one ofmy own sons. Why
are you so agitated!"
This would agitate any man o
honor =" cried the SOi-diSam Colonel
suddenly springing to his feet, Ito b.
insulted SO infamously-though Of wha
you suspect me heaven knows! viii
fetch you ample proof that was il
Lima the very month you MENTION"
"By your leave, we will accompan,
you," said Lord Darcy, coolly.
"Only yourself and Lord Hartbury
if you please. AS you will soon b
such near relations, of course ="
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