The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-05

smoked my morning cigar and
watched Uncle Nelson open
his mail He had an old
fashioned way of doing this:
holding the envelope in his
left hand, clipping its right edge with
his desk shears, and then removing
the inclOsure and carefully reading 1t
before he returned it to its original en-
velope Across one end he would
make a memorandum of the contents,
after which the letters We're placed IN
a neat pile.
AS watched him methodically
working, Uncle Nelson raised a large
blue envelope, clipped its end, and
read the Enclosure with an appearance
of unusual interest. Then. instead of
adding it to the letters before him, he
laid it aside; and a few minutes later
reverted to it again, giving the letter
a second careful perusal. Deeply
musing, for a time he sat mOtionless
in his chair. Then, arOusing himself
from his deep abstraction, he cast
fleeing glance in my direction and
eomposedly resumed his task.
knew Uncle Nelson's habits so
we'll that this affair of the blue enVe-
lope told me plainly the commun1ca-
ton was of unusual Importance. ct
the old gentleman calmly continued
his work until every letter the mail
contained was laid in pile before
him and fully docketed. With the
last he suddenly swung around in his
chair and faced me.
Robert" said he, "how would you
like to go to Brazil2"
Lacking a ready answer to this blunt
question, I simply stared at him.
de Pintra has written me- he con-
tinued-"dO you know of Dom Miguel
de Pihtra ?" I shook my head. He
is one of the Oldest customers of the
house. His patronage assisted us in
getting established. We are under
deep obligations to de Pintra.'
81 DO not remember seeing his name
upon the books" I said thoughtfully.
mo; before you came into the firm
he had retired from business he
is a wealthy man. But believe this
retirement has been e q for him. His
energetic nature would not allow him
to remain idle, and he has of late sub
stituted politics for business
fThat is not so bad L remarked,
lightly. Some people make a BUSH
ness of politics, and often it proves a
fairly successful one
My uncle nodded.
Here in New Orleans yes" he &C
knOwledged; but things are vastly
different in Brazil. I am sorry to say
that Dom Miguel is a leader of the
revOlutionists.
"Ah." said I, impressed by his grave
tone. And I added: Il have supposed
that Dom Pedro is secure upon his
throne, and personally beloved by his
subjects"
He is doubtless secure enough - re-
turned Uncle Nelson, dryly. but, al
though much respected by his people,
there is, I believe, serious opposition
to an imperial form Of government.
Rebellions have been numerous during
his reign Indeed, these people of
Brazil seem rapidly becoming republi-
cans in principle. and it is to establish
a republican form Of government that
my friend de Pintra has placed himself
al the head of a conspiracy"
Good for de Pintra!' I cried, hast
lily.
NO, no; it is bad" he rejoined. with
a frOWn. There is always danger in
opposing established monarchies, and
In this case the Emperor of Brazil has
the countenance of both Europe and
America
AS I ventured no reply to this he
paused, and again regarded me earn
estly.
81 believe you are the very person,
Robert, I should send de Pintra. He
wishes me to secure for him a secre-
tary whom he may trust implicitly. At
present, he writes me, he is surrounded
by the emperor's spies. Even the
members or his own household may
be induced to betray him Indeed, ]
imagine my old friend in a. very hot
bed Of intrigue and danger. Yet he
believes he could trust an American
who has no Partially for mOnarchies
and no inducement to sym pathfze with
any party but his own. VIII you go
Roberto"
The question, abrupt though it was
did not startle me. Those accustomed
to meet Nelson Hareliffe's moods must
think quickly Still, / hesitated
"Can you spare me, Uncle?"
OF very well, he admitted You
have relieved me of many of the ted
tous details Of business since YOU came
nome from college. But, for de Pin
tra's sake, am not only willing YOU
should go, but I ask you, as a personal
FAVOR, to hasten to Rio and serve nv
friend faithfully, protecting him, so far
as you may be able, from the dangers
1e IS facing. You viii find him a
charming fellow noble man, indeed
and he needs just such a loyal as
slslant as believe you Will prove viii
you 60, Roberto"
Uncle Nelson's sudden proposal gave
me a thrill Of eager interest best ex-
planned by that fascinating word dan
ger. Five minutes before I would
have smiled at the suggestion that !
visit foreign country on so ouixotfe
an errand; but the situation was. after
all, as simple as it was sudden in de-
Velopment, and my uncIe's earnest
voice and eyes emphasized his request
IN no uncertain manner. Would I 20
would L. a young man on the thresh-
old of life, with pulses readily re-
spending to the suggestion of excite.
Lnent ana adventure leave my hum
aEum existence IN q mercantile esta b.
iishment to mingle in the intrfgues OF
nation striving to cast off tht
ghaekles Of monarchy and become
free and independent? My answer
vas assured.
Nevertheless, we HarcIiffes are
ehary Of exhibiting emotion Any Gag
erness on my part would, I felt. have
seriously displeased my reserved anc
deliberate uncle. Therefore I occu-
pied several minutes in staring
thouzhtfully through the open win,