Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02
!. See anything of II when you we're

dying Of it, but it's smuggled away Us
much rs possible" 80
"Ah Didn't You tell me that you
had a kind O. nervous shrinking-that 1t
was about the only mortal tnipg tnat
scared YOU, Mr.. Questin ?
"Just that" answered the other, with
a slight laugh then he turned to some
topic OF the day, and an animated con-
yersation ensued.
Mr.. Perkins took no notice OF Dicks
eager questions and comments until the
two were at the latters hotel, when. re-
moving his big cigar, be said; "Shes
right, as young woman In love shouiu
be. It's another man.
At this astounding announcements DICK
seized him by the arm. Rasping with
anxiety to hear more.
Face, same voice, same action,
same inside oil wrong not hit that on
Now 10 discover il he has murdered tho
other. Can't make out if he is the other
man in the car.
Dick wrote at once to Anastasia, say
ing that they had clew at last.
Now" said Mr.. Perkins, wen get
a right cute sort OF detective, and Keep
an eve on our friend day and night.
Directly Anastasia heard that there
seemed a possibility Of her idea being a
correct one she began to put together all
that Osmund had ever told about the
Questin family, with the conviction that
il there was an imposter in the case, SO
strong a likeness could not be mere ac-
cident. She then wrote to Sherrleh,
telling him that Mr.. Questin's younger
brother had married a sister OF his
wffe's. and that when he declined sup
plying their extravaganza wants any
longer they hrd vanished from sight,
and that they had had one, IL not more,
sons whom Osmund had never known.
Anastasia was now in condition Of
feyerish anxiety her nerves IN terrible
state of tension; haunted by pictures OF
what might be, weighing in the balance
tho chance OF ever again having her
lover restored to her, daring not to hit
her hopes too high in dread OF their
being knocked down again.
After having suffered that cruel abase-
ment of that sudden contemptuous de-
serton. after having her love torn,
crushed and bleeding from her heart, all
these hopes and fears were a strain upon
her too great to have been long endured.
She had made mp her mind to bear 1t,
nevertheless, for some time yet, when a
telegram relieved her from acute sus-
pense
Twelve hours later she entered the
| Hotel de France. and was met by Dick
scarcely able to contain his excitement.
| Pale as death she grssped his out
stretched hands, but could not speak.
"He is found alive" said Dick al
most in whisper, overcome himself by
| the sight of suppressed emotion stronger
than he had given human nature credit
| for.
Then she gave a little sob and turned
away. Oh, unspeakabe mercy should
not she give thanks and praise in her
! heart, even before she asked single
question.
Dick could not have made long story
OF it then, though he did afterward.
! I'VE tracked him-the fellow-at last
10 r1disOT1 dc Sdate outside Paris; and
there he is-ill, rather has been very
! ill-that's only natural That scoundrel
placed him there as an insane relative.
and goes to see him, | believe, for the
sake OF studying his part. You must
come and swear to his identity, and then
we will telegraph for the father.
She could not see him till the next
day. when che and Dick went together
and found the dear Septimus Perkins
waiting for them, because he would not
thrust himself upon her sooner.
"Got him safe. ma'am, he whispered
ierkily, "but you mustn't expect to find
his hair cnried and his handkerchief
scented" This with great earnestness.
Rho door opened, a French doctor
with a waxed moustache bowed himself
into the room and invited Anastasia to
! follow him into the inner one.
If the Doctor was so moved that he
could only shed tears copiously INTO
large cambria handkerchief if Sept
mus Perkins was stamping and coughing
in the other room to keep his sympathy
within bounds if Dick had mist be-
fore his eyes, then should not the cur
tain fall over that wonderful reunion
All, dear love and unfailing truth, what
matters pale, sunken face and lean,
trembling figure? II was Osmund him
self, though a wreck.
"Oh. sweetheart oh, my own -
heart to heart spake what lips could not
utter.
The only disappointment was to the
Doctor"
These English-they speak SO little
they throw away situations the most
rayishing," so he meditated,
They all thought themselves very
clever excepting Issis, who thought OF
nothing but how to pet and comfort her
founding" as Mr.. Perkins called him,
and to bring him back to health but
they hal to deal with wits as sharp as
their own. When they marched forth
armed with the law TO arrest the pseudo
Os1nund Questin. all trace OF him had
vanished but brief letter addressed to
Mr.. Questin, ST., which came by post,
threw much light upon the past.
Dear Uncle.-As impertinent persons
have upset my arrangements, and will
ere this have surprised you by an ex-
change OF sons, think it expedient to
run down into Spain. Now don't trou-
bic to seek for me, for Spain is not ac-
commodating in these matters, and | am
positively your nearest relative after my
cousin Osmund (who holds to life with
the most unaccountable tenacity. seeing
what poor idea he has OF enjoying it)
you will, 1 presume, let the affair
drop. L saw your son first in Rome,
when his extraordinary resemblance
to myself-his double first cousin-put
little scheme into my head. We ira
yelled alone together from Belfort, and
L give you my word l could as easily
have dismissed him from world of dis
appointments as reduce him to state OF
partial insensibility, in which conveyed
him with all tenderness TO the admirable
institution wherein he has been ever
since. Should you ever require an
establishment OF this kind, L can most
heartily recommend it, aud have given
DR.. s. full authority to use my name.
After all wasright-nothing utinsanity
could have induced Osmund to help to
nurse cholera patients at Naples, with