The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-15

Saint Cyr is the West Point of France,
and the honor of its cadets is dear to
every soldier and civilian in the country.
1t is, therefore, with nothing less than
feeling of pain that society hears of the
convocation of q colIrt-martial for the
trial of "Saint Cyrien" for theft. A
few nights ago cadet, who may be DEG
ignated as b., tossing haplessly On his
bed, saw a figure in white passing by
him Gt should be observed that tire
pupils of the military college sleep to-
gether in large dormitory), and cried
ont, "Who's that Z" g 1t is !" said a
voice, which he recognized as that OF X.
"What are you doingg" ". informed
his comrade, and the latter, merely tax
ing advantage of the situation TO make
joke, thought no more OF the matter.
Next morning cadet missed his purse,
containing 1,000f. 20c. Who had taken
it9 1t was soon discovered that the thief
must have been one of the pupils, and
yet there was no one who could be fairly
suspected. IL was then that b. called to
mind his nocturnal interview with r.,
though he shrank from the idea OF ut
tering his thoughts aloud. Still be men
toned the circumstances 10 an intimate
friend or two, and one of these present
! ly suggested that every cadet should
submit to be searched. The proposal
, was agreed to. y. never moved a nlns-
Gle while his comrades were thrusting
their hands into his pockets. Nothing
was found on him but 20 francs, to
which his title could not be disputed
1t was now III o'clock in the morning.
At 2 o'clock the promotion List was 10 be
published, and it was known that \.
would appear among the number OF
Sub-Lieutenants. Once q commissioned
officer and he would have been safe from
/ further inquiries. He was playing
! desperate game for the coveted epanlette
or pair OF handouts. Still his every
movement was jealously watched In
few minutes he was observed 10 be pae-
! ing uneasily between the dormitory and
the court yard, as though he were watch
ing for an opportunity OF being alone.
| B., whose suspicious were tar from be-
ing laid at rest, demanded another gen
eral search, each cadet TO strip. Y.
smiled when it came to his turn, and
| col Ltinued TO smile while the lining of
his coat was conscientiously eross-ex-
amined. Nothing was found, and now
| popular opinion yeered round to his
side. He stood honorably acquitted In
| the eyes of his comrades. 1t was half
past /. In another haf-hour he would
/ be French officer. An old chHm of
his came forward and heartily shook
him by the hand. Z" Now it's over" he
said, "I don't mind telling you, old
| fellow, that you were suspected ;" and
he explained why. Y. made no answer.
His gaze was fixed almost stonily on a
young cadet who had just stretched ont
his hand toward packet of Maryland
cigarettes, which had been turned out of
X. 8 pocket. Then B., VINO had never
ceased to watch him, darted forward
and snatched the packet himself, tore
the paper from cigarette and found it
contained, instead of tobacco, q ZOO
franc note, neatly rolled up. Every one
stood confounded. "Dress said one
of his comrades sternly to ", who was
now observed, while taking up his socks,
TO make rapid, almost imperceptible
movement. -Four cadets sprang on him
and seized the socks. One of them con-
tanned 4 sous, which the unhappy youth
had had the courage 20 hold concealed In
his left hand during the two previous
Investigations, OF course they exactly
made up the ,000f. 20c contained in the
missing purse. Y. was left for q few
minutes quite alone. Then several of
his messmatec returned. One bore
loaded Cbassepot, another six-shooter,
also loaded IA third a vial containing
poison, fourth short cord, evidently
capable OF sustaining considerable
weight.
Then one of the seniors said: "We
shall leave you alone once more. DO
your duty Your suicide shall be attri-
buted to q disappointment in love or
whatever you like. II you wish it we
will take letter from you to the Cen
eral."
Y. merely replied, "I'n be damned If
do"
His last chance was gone. The Gen
eral was Immediately informed OF the
circumstance and the offender arrested
What makes the whole business mex
pressibly sad is that the culprit Ii the
son Of brave olj Major, now ON half
pay, vino had both his arms carried
away by cannon bali while charging nj
the head of bis battalion before Sebasso-
pol. There seems every reason 10 sus-
pect that this is another case OF kiepso-
maria.
On examining the trunks OF the pms
oner there were found concealed IN them
books belonging to the Public Library
and stamped with its seal. During tho
two Years of his residence X. is supposed
10 have stolen about $1,000 in money
from his comrades. We may srnile If We
will at the idea of the thoughtful consid-
Grafton displayed by those boysin provid[
ING their comrade with so varied an as
sortment fthe means of self-destrucfson,
but il recslls an incident in the life of
another soldier, in which no comic ele
ment was blended with the tragic A
famous Prussian General, affectiouatcly
called " Papa by the whole army, ouee
hail son who disgraced his name The
father first "paid him out of the scrape
so well that the world would scarcely
have heard of the affair. But the father
was not satisfied. He called the son into
his room and pointed to pistol that bay
on the table. "There is but one comse
before you," he said. The young man,
n -