Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-10-14

An Old Ambassador Revelations of the

Inner History Of Famous Episodes
Heretofore Cloaked in Mystery
Chronicled by ALLEN UPWARD

seated ourselves in front of small
table with marble surface, which a
waiter diligently wiped with his nap
tin, before proceeding to bring us our
refreshments. The night was mild,
and the numerous lights Of the boule-
Yard were muflled by faint mist,
which Sof,ened the voices of the pass.
orsby. The ambassador leaned for
ward with one arm resting on the
table, and his hat set back from his
forehead.
1T was on night like this" he be-
AN, only more close and sultry, that
had what is perhaps the most bizarre
Xperience of my life. 1t was when
was attached, in the capacity Of secre-
Lary. to our embassy in Constanti-
nople.
1T was at time when the affairs Of
Turkey were about to attract the at
.ention of the civilized world. Russia
vas already preparing to draw the
sword, and it was believed in some
iuarters that England would not con.
sent to remain passive spectator OF
The struggle. The entire weight Of
france was being thrown into the
scale to avert this contingency, and /
have reason to believe that it was the
.ervices which l was able to render to
the republic during this crisis which
led to my being intrusted with my first
embassy.
Our desire, Of course, was to keep
Russia strong, to act as restraint on
russia; and in this task ! found my
self pitted against your celebrated
minister, Lord Beaconsiield. He was
a great man, let me tell you, who sue
ceeded in obtaining for himself a
European vogue second only to that Of
Bismarck. But Of my labors in this
direction | must not speak.
ITO return to the night which I
have already referred to: l had saun-
tered out from the embassy quite late,
and after walking through the streets
of Pera for an hour, l was seized by an
impulse to cross over the Golden Horn
and explore old Stamboul. 1t was per-
haps a rash proceeding at such time
but had accustomed myself to these
nocturnal rambles, in which, for great
er safety, l wore Mohammedan cos
tune.
Doubtless, you have read those de.
lightful Arabian Nights and can fig.
ure to yourself the enchantment OF
wandering through an Eastern city In
the silent hours, when the moonlight
falls softly on the tapering minarets,
and on the high walls of mysterious
gardens in which veiled beauties re.
cline beside marble fountains, and
listen to the songs of divine birds.
Il made my way, as have told you,
into the Turkish quarter. Avoiding the
region of the bazaars, which at this
hour were closed l turned my steps
into that in which the pashas have
their superb residences, region in.
tersected at long intervals by narrow
and solitary lanes, running between
blank walls, with here and there lit
tie postern gate artfully introduced
beneath the ivy. | was sauntering
slowly down one OF these lanes when
| perceived.in front of me, at a point
where the shadow of a tall lick fell
across the white surface Of the road,
a group of those dogs which infest
Constantinople. They were quarreling
over some object which lay on the
roadway in the center of the black
patch of shadow. Save for the pres
ence of the dogs the whole neighbor-
hood appeared to be absolutely de.
serted.
Il advanced toward the spot, en-.
deavoring to make out the nature OF
the object which had attracted these
carnivorous brutes. AS | got nearer
l perceived it to be slipper of the
pattern usually worn in Turkey. My
curiosity was now strongly reused.
stepped into the midst of the growing
urs, and drove them off with few
plows of stick which carried. Then
| stopped down to pick up this mys.
terious object.
mo sooner had my hand touched
it than | started back with veritable
thrill of horror. The slipper contained
a human foot!
my first impulse on making this ter
rible discovery was to turn and fly
from the place. But dreadful fasci-
nation, which | could not overcome,
rooted me to the spot, and even com.
PEELED me to make a closer examina-
ton. l stopped down, peering in the
dim light, and asking myself with a
beating heart how this severed foot
had come to be exposed there on that
lonely path, as If it were the damning
evidence of some strange crime.
"As ! gazed at it thus, / became
aware that the foot had for some time
ceased to bleed. 1t had been cut off
at the ankle, and the dry blood was
beginning to CONCEAL over the severed
veins and arteries. l looked on the
ground beside it for stains of blood,
but not one was visible. l extended
my circle, and scrutinized all round it
with care, but the result was the same.
"Of one fact was now positively as
sured. This foot which l beheld Oh
the ground had not been cut off the
human being to whom 1t belonged at
this place, nor perhaps anywhere in
the neighborhood. 1t had been brought
here, doubtless, under the influence of
some strong fear, by one who felt 1t