Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-24

which sui continued 10 haunt MIN. couiu
be the mask OF On abandoned heart !?
Mr.. Brooke could not believe that he
knew that she was innocent and yet o
depressing fear wonld sometimes arise.
Many Of his friends who had lost by their
speculations assumed very unkindly ex-
pressiors when they saw him; but Ms he
had never advised any one to invest in the
Phrygian mines, it was impossible to
blame him openly. Although it was
known that be had lost heavily, he was
still wealthy man so that many, when
they saw his pale face and downcast ex-
preston, wondered why he was taking
his loss 80 much TO heart They were
ignorant that it was not the loss OF his
meney only that he was grieVing for,
but that he had lost his faith IN man,
and almost his faith in woman.
More than 3 month passed by, when
one evening ct public dinner he met a
member OF the Athenian legation whom
he had numbered among his friends
many years before. While talking to this
gentleman Mr.. Brooke abruptly said, az
ter brief rsverie
Have you ever heard OF any one in
Greece called the Duke Of Macedon?"
al know him well" was the reply.
81 mean by reputation, continued the
speaker, Gas ] cannot boast OF personal
acquaintance.
81 should like to know something
about him."
"Ths information possess regarding
him is limited. but weighty. lie is.
believe, the greatest svindler In Europe.
he is thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS and pos
sesses great abilities. He is no common
rascal, who for the sake of a few hum
Sreds, or even thousands, does some
thing that brings him into the hands OF
justice. He is only attracted by stakes
of the greatest magnitude, and he
seems to be able to secure his
plumber without falling into the
clutches of tho law. 1t is a singu-
lar fact that his victims are invariably
reticent regarding their Losses. and so
far fron seeking 10 parish their de-
frauder they generally do their utmost
10 conceal their injuries. lie must pos
sess a large amount Of capital, and no is
thus able TO conduct many operations
which would be altogether beyond
the scope OF any ordinary advsn-
turer. A short time ago lie was con-
cerned in raising loan for European
State, and in his conduct Of this affair
he committed large defslcations. But in
order TO inaict tho punishment which he
had merited, his extradiiion would have
been necessary, aRd ere that could have
been secured political secrets connected
with the loan must have been diVulged
which might have involved the country
he had robbed in war. So h0 was per-
nitted to go unscsthed. With such re-
sources, both Of mind and money, lie
seems to be able to set Law and justice at
defiance. 1t must surely be a swindlers
crowning triumph when bis victims are
eager to conceal their wrongs But bow
do you come TO be interested in the
Duke of Msccdon ?"
81 wished TO know" stammered Mr..
Brooke, whether the title was a genu-
inc one"
81 think not. His family, l believe,
is an ancient one, but even he, L imagine,
would have some difficulty in proving his
claim to n dukedom. / may add that his
youth and middle age are shroudod in
obscurity how and where he passed them
is a mystery, and | shah not repeat to
you certain rumors, for which, after all,
there may DO no foundation. BY
the way, l heard that be YVES
seen in Londen recently" The
speaker paused for short time,
while he seemed to deliberate. and then
he exclaimed. as if an idea had suddenly
occurred to him 4: 81 wonder if he could
have been connected with that gigantic
fraud, the Phrygisn goldnines The
manner in which the confidence Of in
vestors both in London and Paris was
won Is as marvellous IS it is obscure. L
have heard that the perpetrators OF that
swindie must have cleared little short of
hah million. Both tho magnitude Of
the operation and the skill with which it
must have bsen conducted seemed to me
to prove the completely OF tho Duke. Arc
yoa not able to throw any light upon the
AFFAIR.""
81 cannot"
"T'he Duke has a wonderfully lovely
daughter to whose destinations believe
he owes much Of his success. But the
opinions Of those who have met her are
divided regarding the nature Of the part
she plays, IS some assert that she is
ignorant Of her fathers true character
and unvittingly lends her aid to further
his projects.
"She is inuocentl" exclaimed Mr..
Brooke in fervent voice. The diplo-
mat slowly elevated his eyebrows, look
ing at him keenly the while. 81 shall
bid you good evening"" he said, and as
he walked away he continued, speaking
to himself: "Brooke knows more Of the
Duke Of kacedon than | do"
Not long after this one Of his oldest
friends, Mr. Warren, = director of the
Bank of England, and his fathers eIecu-
tor, met him in the city. Addressing
Mir. Brooke in paternal manner the old
fellow said whats this hear about
your losing thirty thousand pounds in q
bogus gold mine? would never have
believed it Of you, Robert and | don't
think your father would have believed
it. But have known very good men
ere now, who, leading lonely bachelor
life like you, when on the verge of middle
age, begin to get little cranky and rs
likely as not to begin to drop their
money. Take my advice, my boy, and
ere You 60 further wrong gets wife she
will help TO keep you straight
Whether Dir. Brooke was alarmed by
Mr.. Warrsn's experience is uncertain,
but hs certainly acted on the evidence
given, and only three months later his
forthcoming marriage was announced.
In his choice of wife MIR. Brooke
seemed this time TO have avoided all that
was Greek; because, although the fea-
lures of the Non. Cecills Barbszoh, who
had accepted him, were decidedly clas-