The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-20
! THE MISSING MESSENGER
8 Why the French
9 Were Unsupported In tie
. % Franco-Prussian War.

: 8 Why the French
z 9 Were Unsupported In tie
j. % Franco-Prussian War. ].
. !. :. !. = + !. X \ Il !: + !.
Many people have wondered, and not
without reason, why Napoleon III plung-
ed Franco into a war with Germany,
unsupported as he was by any Of the
great powers. Yet at the first the EN-
peror's tone was one of proud confidence:
it was only too late lie discovered that
he had been overreached by the man who
was the bane Of his existence, his arch
enemy-Bismarck.
But Napoleon III was neither so blind
nor SO rash as is generally supposed. He
had taken certain measures beforehand
and counted upon support which was des-
tined to fail him. Had matters turned
out as he expected the issue of the strug.
gle might have been vastly different.
The prime minister of England drove
in haste to the foreign Office late in the
afternoon, for the matter which engaged
his attention at the moment was one of
pressing and vital Importance. He had
just returned from an official visit to
Windsor, where a document upon which
hung the fate of a European nation had
received the sanction and signature OF
her majesty.
Upon reaching the foreign Office he en-
countered the secretary on the stairs, and
they proceeded together to the private
room of the latter. Depositing the treaty
on the table, the premier inquired:
rs the messenger ready?
''He is waiting here. When must he
start?'
"This evening. The treaty must reach
the emperor in the morning, for war may
be declared at any moment"
at has received her majesty's sane
ton. then?"
''It has. 1t will come as a surprise to
Germany, no doubt, when it is made
known, but we are bound by motives OF
interest and policy alike to support the
French in this struggle. Backed up by
England, France can scarcely fail to b.
victorious, and then We can dictate terms
to Europe"
"But Bismarck-doeS he SuSpect?"
The premier paused before replying. 1t
was the one point upon which be did not
feel quite secure.
NO" he said at length; though he is
ever OH the alert, on the watch. l think
we have effectually blinded him on this
move. But this messenger, can we rely
upon him?'
II think I can answer for Mr.. Whar-
ton, n man of tact and resource"
every well. L will write dispatch at
once. Meanwhile VIC must communicate
with the emperor by wire, informing him
that our messenger leaves for Paris to-
night with the treaty. lie will then feel
his position secure and can act accord
ingly."
An hour later Mr.. Spencer Wharton
was summoned into the premier's pres
ence. who with his own hands delivered
to him the secret treaty.
81 need scarcely impress upon you, Mr..
Wharton" he said, that this is a matter
requiring the utmost secrecy and dis
patch. This document must be placed in
the emperor's hands tomorrow morning
or the consequences may be fatal"
Having seen the treaty safely sealed
up in the messengers dispatch bag, the
premier went home, not Il little relieved
at having got this weighty matter off his
mind. Added to this there was the pleas
ing consciousness Of having overreached
the willy Bismarck, who had been making
strenuous efforts to secure the neutrality
Of England.
Meanwhile Mr.. Spencer Wharton lin
gered at the foreign office, never trusting
his precious dispatch bag out of sight.
This hasty journey to Paris was not nj
together without its attractions for him.
In fact. he was impatient to be off, to get
this state mission over, SO that he might
have n day or two in the French capital,
which he intended to devote to purely
personal affairs.
Just us he alighted from his cab at the
station his attention was attracted to a
group of loungcrs and one or two grin
ming porters. In the center stood lady
who was being subjected to the abuse of
O drunken cabman. Just then Mr.. Spen.
Ger Wharton caught sight of her face.
He started and the next moment was ell
bowling his way vigorously through the
crowd.
mime. Vincent" he cried In amaze.
ment. "You in England! thought
Instantly the lady turned toward him
with a look Of pleasure and relief and
held our small gloved hand.
All" she exclaimed with a slightly
foreign accent. what it is to behold a
Friend! This man is grossly insolent. He
has lest ore Of my boxes and declares he
never received it. What am to dot"
Leave ME to deal with him." replied
Wharton. with rising indignation. "lf
you 60 inside. l will join you in a mo-
me1t."
He roundly berated the cabman for his
incivility. but could get little out Of him.
The man declared he had never seen the
box. and Wharton had to content himself
with taking the mans number and has
tccei to rejoin 3llne. Vincent.
"Ah. how grateful l am to you. my
friend" she said, raising her eyes to her
companions face with look that thrill.
ed through Lin. But my box? Shall
.eceEe: it?"
81 Ecoe So" returned Wharton. 81
have taken the mans number and will
see to It o. ny return from Paris"
Paris" she cried. you are going to
PARISH
Eyes"
"How fortunate! am returning there
myself. / confess that l dreaded the
journey, bCt row shall travel with m
easy mial. 20: know there is fr:end al
hand"
81 shall not trust yor out Of my sight"
| &c said in n low voice. Fear nothing;
you will not be exposed again to such in
| solrnce. But how comes it that you are
In England? thought you had settled
down in Puris and looked forward to the
| pleasure of seeing you when l had trans
| acted the business which takes me across
the channel.
"A dear friend of mine was i'll here IN
| Loudon-d vigorously ILL.," she replied.
| II Fastened across Il week ago to see her.
| But you?" she added, raising her beauti-
| full eyes to Las face again. Il have not
| seen you for Il month at least. l thought
| you had quite forgotten me-"
Forgotten your he said ardently. 81
| assure you | welcomed this journey to
| Paris, as hoped it would afford me an
| opportunity of seeing you again"
The train was rather crowded, but they
selected Il compartment i'll which two
gentlemen were already seated, both deep
| in their newspapers.
On the journey down an extraordinary
| and somewhat ludicrous incident occur
red. The two ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS evil
| dently--were discussing the burning
question of the hour-the prospect of hos
| tilities between France and Germany.
| They appeared to hold different views
upon the subject. The discussion waXct
warm: high words arose. Finally one Of
the disputants seemed to lose complete
control of himself. Springins to his feet
he dashed his newspaper into the other
| face.
Madame screamed, and as it appeared
highly probable the two excited politi
clans would come to blows Wharton
] sprang forward to separate them. 1t Was