Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
nAn readr and ali ven on board ? I"

Then give way, men" and the oars
splashed in the water.
After wa had gone about quarter OF
n mile could dimly discern in the fast
gathering gloom the long, low black hull
OF a steamer. She was rakish-looking
craft. and at once Guessed the nature oil
her duties. We were nj war with China
at the time, and the British Government
were fitting out series OF fast cruisers
TO follow and destroy the flat-built Chi
neso war-junks up the shallow estuaries
along the coast and crush out the rem
nants of piracy in the Malay archipelago.
The steamer we had now reached was
evidently one of the class. When we
got on board 1 could see that all prepa-
rations we're completed, except that
the guns had not as yet been
placed in position; but ms they
would not bo required till the voy-
age was nearly completed l was not sur
prised. After few moments converse
ton with the Captain, areseryed, austere-
looking commander, he introduced me
10 him and then took me on tour OF In
spection round the vessel. Tho last
cruiser is very like another, so l need
not trouble nay reader with the details OF
what | saw, the more 30 as the night
which had now fallen rendered most OBJ
iects on board indistinct.
"The Captain compliments, sir. and
we shall start almost inmediately-steam
is MP. Will YOU join him in a parting
glass ?" said a steward, coming up.
Certainly, We will come at once,
said Captain Eustis, who had told me he
was acting as first lieutenant He had
not volunteered any information further,
and had not cared to ask. The Cap
tain, who vas waiting in plainly-fur-
nished cabin, evidently got up for active
service rather than show, bowed courte-
ously to my warmly expressed wish TO
! them both OF prosperous cruise.
"The boat is ready, SIR" said the
steward and after bidding farewell to
the Captain, Lieutenant kustis and
went on deck. The same boat and crew
were waiting"
Goodbye, old fellow, he said "be-
lieve me, ] have done all | can.
81 am sure Of that" | said.
"Well, on my honor rs al officer and
gentleman, / have" he replied.
"Look here" be said, az q transient
CLEAN of fun shot over his features, and
/ he fumbled ia his waistcoot pocket and
pulled out n sovereign, take TINS
sovereign and call at the Saddle on
! your way to the stetion-you will be
wanting n drink before you start on your
| Journey back-and gave 1t to james as
| last tin from me, and tell him and the
landlord you have seen me OFF. 1T IS
tho last piece of money l have in tho
world"
could only gasp at this astounding
piece of information, and he good
humordly showed me over the side INTO
/ the bOst
"God lack to you !" called out as We
shot swiftly toward the landing stage.
Good by!" came back the answering
shout through the gloom, and that was
the last saw of my strange client. On
reaching the landing stage l gave the
coxsvain 5s. for himself and the men.
lie accepted it civilv bnt impassiyely,
and without a moments delay turned the
boats head back to the ship. stood on
the dock side and strained my eyes III
the direction where she lay. Iheard the
boat hoisted up the side, the clank Of
the windless as the anchor was weighed,
and. her engines throbbing in measured
pulsat.ons, she steamed slowlyand silent
ly into the night.
was getting cold and chilled, so hur-
rvine to the dock gates [ called a cab,
and, reaching the Saddle Hotel | gave
the sovereign to James and the message
TO him and the landlord while l had a
glass OF hot erog.
reached Manchester late that night,
ari next morning early | had an inter
view with my other strange client. Miss
Constable paid her the 1926, and prefer
Cd nay services generally, which she grate
fully declined, saying she was leaving
Manchester at once, rs the place hcld
too many painful memories for her, bat
that she would always think OF me as
friend: and I lost all sight OF her as
completely rs if tho whole affair had
been feyerish dream.
PART HIN LONDON.
Five years had elapsed. and amid the
cares of rapidly-incressing business hal
almost forgotten my strange clients and
the DAYS adventure had in Liverpool.
1t was in 1852 / had last seen them, and
the wear was now well forward in 1867.
| was on the platform OF the LOndonand
Northwestern railway ut Euston Station,
having arrived that afternoon from Nan
chester The train had Just arrived,
and, amid a crowd Of passengers slml-
larry enga ged, I was .endeavoring to ok
tricate nv luggage from the pile just
disgorged by the train ut the end OF the
platform. \ lady and gentleman were
standing little apart from the crowd,
waiting till tho first crush should be
over. lhe gentleman was an entire
stranger 20 me q tall, bronzed warrior,
with the scar OF sword-cut running
obliGuely across his cheek til it was hid
den bv a massive mOustache and blonde
beard that covered his chest. Tbs
lady had her back turned to me,
bat in the casual glance / gave q
puzzled reminisconce seemed to oc-
. cur to me. Surely / remembered
that form and carriage somewhere. The
more | taxed my brains tho more puzzled
/ got. Finally my curiosity oVermas
tered me. and L determined to walk
slowly past them and see If | recollected
the face. AS l did SO she turned hal
around and our eyes met. The indiiie
rent look that met mine turned to one
pleased inquiry, and then thought tc
one of pleased recognition. | was de
termlned to solve the question, as l now
felt sure it was my old client, Miss Con
stable. | accordingly went up to her,
and bowling, took of my hat, and said
81 beg your pardon, ! am sure, but
think you must be my old client, Mis-
Constable"
She looked puzzled for moment, ther
her face cleared and she said:
"Why, of course it is, Mr.. Bostock
How do you do, Mr.. Bostock ?" sh'
said, as she shook hands warmly witt
mo "but [ am not Miss Constable,
she added, with a happy blush and
glance of shy pride at the bearded war
nor with her =" am Mrs. Enstis.
The Captain, as I must still call him
who had been looking wonderingly a