Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-29

''I turned toward the table where they
were playing, and checked gesture of sur
prise. The banker was quite young man
Of about % or % wears of age, whom knew
BY sight. He interested me, for his father
died very bravely at Magenta, and had left
him a small fortune, and name difficult to
equal He only came rarely to the club, and
did not play. was therefore very much
astonished to see him holding bank
and large bank, too, for the notes and
coins were piled up before him.
"fHow much each time?' asked some
one.
{" OH said fat farmer, laughing, M. de
Mertens has all the luck; he is able to hold
IN open bank
The young man was very pale; there was
a kind of wildness in his eyes.
open bankr he stammered.
This was signal for his ill-luck. Ten
times in succession the unfortunate Mertens
lost. In a quarter of an hour the bank had
broken.
Another player took his place, and the
play proceeded, so animated, so passionate,
that l even allowed myself to be fascinated,
and began to play with the others.
There was no more room round the
table, and so played standing, holding in
my hand my hat, into which 1 nervously
threw my gains, which grew larger and
larger every minute.
''The party was more impassioned than
ever, when someone cried out to me:
Captain, you are being robbedr
81 turned round at once, and instantly
seized hand, the hand of NJ. de Mertens,
which held note for !, 900 francs, which he
was taking from me.
''The face of the unfortunate man was
convulsed.
81 exchanged look with him, one only,
and l saw something pass in his eyes, now
enlarged by fright.
" NJ. de Mertens is quite right 1 said,
quite coolly, and am surprised that any
one has dared to bring such an accusation
against such man as he; we are associates,
and he has taken money for which he has
need that is all
''The explanations were brief 1t was the
first time that the individual who cried out
had come to the club, and he was not ac-
quainted with NJ de Mertens. The players,
who were standing, were rather anxious; the
new conner had seen hand slip in the hat,
and, believing that someone was stealing
from me, had cried out. He made profuse
apologies to N. de Mertens, whom all sym
pathized with on the deplorable incident
caused by the foolishness of the impolitic
individual
eve then continued playing, and NJ. de
Mertens went out.
Three days passed, and I received no
news from the young man. That he was not
wishtul to see me was quite natural In
saving him 1 had saved the posthumous honor
Of brave soldier; but still / thought 1t
strange that he should not h,se found some
way Of testifying his appreciation of my
service.
Zone evening 1 was just setting out to
make some visits, when my orderly told me
that lady was waiting in the salon.
g She was a lady of about 45, face calm
and proud, with an honest look.
/" am Madam de Mertens,' she said.
My son has told me all, and have come
TO thank you for having kept unsullied the
honor of our name
:" Madaml'
My son was foolishly enamoured of a
woman, who was always demanding money.
and he has ruined himself for her he has
played, he has lost You know the rest
Il was very sorry, for the trouble of this
noble woman touched me deeply; she was
standing before me, and the tears glistened
in her dark eyes.
GA folly of youth, Madam 1 stan-
mcTcA L will see your son and talk to
him..
She quietly shook her head
'You will not see him, Captain: he is |
engaged in the Infantry of Marines, and 1 |
came when he had departed.