The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-04
,s:,; ~ A MARTYR. :;

and dingy cafe. 1t Is one of many similar
institutions, but less pretentious perhaps
than any of its oonfreres. Within the
memory Of its Oldest patron no woman
has ever set foot across the front door, and
the little busybody, whose husband is
mine host, has never boon known to go
outside the sacred precincts Of the cashiers
desk. The proprietor of the inn Is fussy
little Frenchman, personally attending to
the comforts OF his peculiar guests, fitting
from one table to another saying "Bon
soir, mon ami" to one and drinking a
hearty "a votro sante' with another
There is no bar In the place, and the
only available liquor is wine-wino which
NJ. X. imports himself from the only
country where real wine is produced.
Our little cafe stands In a side street,
and II one unacquainted with its charac.
ter should regard tho immediate noighbor
hood ms criterion of what 1t must be no
will DO likely to leave it alone A big
gloomy looking sign adorns the front Of
the house and Is lit up from within at
night by a bent and rusty gas jet.
Inside this queer establishment can be
found, from 9 o'clock in the evening un-
til midnight, curious assenblage of all
nges and types
Night after night have dined there
and observed with curiosity an elderly
man sitting mt one of the tables He would
sit for hours with his head buried in his
hands, MS though in the deepest revcrle.
1t was tho head that attracted me-not
tho man, for he never oonverscd with any
one, not even noticing those who hap
pened to sit at his table from time to time.
The head was q remarkable one, covered
with snow white locks.
I had made firm resolve that he and ]
should become acquainted But how'
Many an evening l managed to get seated
at the Same table with him, but to my
friendly overtnres he vuuchsafed no recip-
rocation His answers were invariably
monosyllabes.
Once l asked NJ. X. about his mysterl
Gus guest.
mon Dieul Ee ees queer main, +" bt
responded "Ee ees Francois, muis co nC
weel talk. "
So tho responsibilities OF getting &c
quainted with my venerable but elusive
friend deyolyed upon mo altogether. One
evening, strolling into the cafe later than
usual, found my friend alone ut his ta.
bic in his ordinary attitude of detection
went up to him, passed tho compliments
of the day and placed myself opposite him,
meantime ordering bottle of NJ. \. Is
best Vtnrougc, with two glasses
| started tho conversation, as usual, and
this time ] chose fer my theme the recent
lynching of Il man out west who was aft,
| crHard proved innocent Of the crime fol
| which he suffered. My friend, much tc
my surprise and delight, raised his head
| and listened to me with SUCH attention
that was led 10 go further l denounced
circumstantial evidence with good deal
Of vehcmence. He kept murnuring Yos
| yes, " and then down would 20 that fln,
head, and through the hands that covered
| the face would hear u sigh.
| When we had drained the FIRST glass
with q mutual though unspOlien wish
for welfare, the man Of silent grief broke
tho oppressiyeness with, Il leave fol
France IN the morning"
This was said in pure French, but fol
the renders snke l shall use the English
| The stranger had a clear, rich voice, not
at all In keeping with tho brusque, mill
tnry bearing that his snow white hair,
heavy mustache and we'll trimmed impe
rial, gave him.
| You are wondering at my being ST
evAsive and apparently sullen, my yuuns
friend, continued he, and have tried tC
draw me out and get acquainted, / nppre
ciate the fact that you have never inquired
AS to the cause OF my depression, and nov
that l shall leave America forever yot
shall know, Yes, you--shall-know Cir
cumstnntial eyidence-oh, my Gudr Aul
again he buried bis bend in his hands
Patiently | waited for him to resume
understanding that some deep emufio,
had overcome him. | had not long t,
wait, for after taking several glasses o
wine in succession and ordering unothe
bottle be began:
1t was in the year 1879. was ther
judge in the department Of tho Seiue
Two young men, with whom / was nc
quainted, lived at tho same time in tin
Rue lEspagnol, Paris, where they ha,
rooms together, for thoy were great chums
With one Of these young men | was OF
very intimate terms. had great In,
for the boy, and he mndc my home entirely
his own whenever he chose to call there
lilo was ahnut 90 Years old at tho tint
and something of houluvAdier Although
past The iwusrure mark myself, had mar
ried Il young and beautiful woman, o
very fine family and our home was tn
rendezvous for muny of Paris society peo
Pile.
Young r. WIS at TINT time attending
the College 81 EeaHx Arts and living on
comfortable allowance from his father K
and his friend l4eo, as | havo said, ha'
apartments IN the ldio l&sphgnol, ana II
moro deN oted friends could be found II yul
searched thowolld over, Leo was youn
lawyer whose talents had given him
steady progrtss in the courts, and seyrrn
Important Gases were being at that tim
either prosecuted or defended by him
| Zone FfiSn ItuIlr VrI,P0 u,, ~,
mcnse fortune hinged on the possession q
certain documents, Was taking up IA grua
deal OF the young lawyers attention II
represented the side that had POSSESSION q
the papers aud had himself been mad
guardian u the documents, pending dt
Cisiun.
"On the night Of the 7th Of Scptenlbe
the tno Young nnn had Been diEporlin
themselves IN Il gaming saloon on Az
euue dc l'Upera They left shortly UGiur
midnight, arm IN arm
"A o'elork the next morning the ol,
concierge knocked at the door of thui
apartments with their usual morning cGl
fee. Receiving no response bo decide
not to disturb thrm and withdrew Bu
tho old mans curiosity Ind been aroused
Ho returned soon aItgr a.tl Il autrt q.
der, which he placed against tho door /
pecred ever the transom and then gave
piercing shriek. Rushing hcadlong dow
stnirs, he hailed the first ngcut OF po!t
that he met and at once returned with Il
officer TO the house.
The door Of tho apartment was quick
broken In, aud tho officer saw at ii CLAN
that crime had been committed.
On the floor, close t. the bed, lay Il
body II the young lawyer Tine he'd GsuG
ly occupied by tho artist showed no sigl
of having been used that night Tie nu
der had Teen done with "A silver hnndi
puuknifr, the property Of tho murdert
mans friend, the artist"
Here the old man stopped In his recit
long enough to drain two more glasses
Ito vino.
Lot me sec, continued the narratc
L l.. Il L.