The herald., 1896-01-12
EMIL AND MARIE ST. MARTIN
BY SAUL O0G
A NEW YEARS "REMINISCENCES

years aSO, i've COuReulal 6plrlCS nAO
met to watch the old year out and the
new year in. It was not an orgie or
carouse. The convivial feature was
but an incident. The joyous and the
more serious aspects Of life we're
mingled. As the hand upon the dial
marked the advent of the new year
1856-we prepared to bid it welcome
and make our farewell to the old in a
glowing punch of kirsch which had
been fred for the occasion and was
emitting fitful, brilliant, many -colored
flames.
Just then the door flew open and
there stood within its portal an un-
couth, awkward creature of gsunt, her.
culean frame, his breathing quick and
labored. The expression on his homely
face was one of horror. To one of our
number. highly cultured, genial Irish
man, skilled in medicine and surgery
and q matchless raconteur, the intrud.
er addressed himself: "Doctor, quick,
you are wanted at my house." And
then to the rest of us, neither COM
mandingly nor entreatingly, but with
a matter of fact air: "You gentlemen
will come along" Then, no less ab-
ruptly than he had entered, he slammed
the door and we could hear his sturdy
tramplng through the snow at break
neck speed.
Knowing him to be one of the least
emotional of men, we knew that the
look of horror on his face had more
than ordinary meaning. Wherefore we
took no further thought of the fare
well-welcome cup, left the kirsch to
the mercy of the flames. hurriedly
donned our wraps and headgear and
hastily followed him.
Emil st. Martin was our unbidden
guest. He and his petite wife, Marie,
were objects of general goodwill and
curiosity. He stood six feet two in his
stockings, bore not an ounce of super
fuous flesh, was rawboned, sinewy and
possessed Of herculean strength and
unlimited powers of endurance, was as
tireless as steam engine and about as
strong, was angular, awkward and
rough of feature and WAS never known
to emile, weep or complain.
Marie was in all respects his very
opposite. Petite, piquant, vivacious,
roguish, her movements, manners,
voice and disposition, all we're bird
like. Her taste was exquisite. Her
accomplishments we're rare. She sang
we'll, played we'll, rode with grace and
ease, was an expert with the billiard
cue, had rare conversational powers
and her laugh was like the trill of q
canary. She was perpetually in motion
and her life WAS continual frolic.
They made no secret of the how and
wherefore of their wooing and their
marriage, which of itself was an inter-
esting story, but the repetition is not
germane to this narrative. They came
from Canada and at once found their
way to the then most famous mining
camp in California. At first, owing to
scarcity of tenements and uncertainty
about remaining, they pitched tent,
in which they made their home, while
Emil tried his luck at prospecting.
By chance the ground on which they
pitched their tent belonged to Cyril
Davenport. He was Baltimorean Of
distinguished family, city bred, hand
some, polished, accomplished in all the
arts, the pleasures and the vices of
urban life. He had made large invest
ments in ditch and mining properties,
was the owner of the only banking and
express business in the camp, q saw
est in about every promising enter
prise of the section. He particularly
prided himself on his success with
women and had been known to boast
that he had never failed in any enter
prise Of business or of love upon which
he had firmly determined to succeed.
CHANGING to spy the st. Martin tent
with woman in it-upon one of his
numerous properties. he ventured to
call and form their acquaintance. After
brief interview he manifested lively
interest in St. Martins welfare, and
proffered to build him residence in
any location he might select. He also
recommended a certain piece of mining
property, and sold it to Emil for lower
than the market rating, to be paid for
out of the proceeds, and he preferred
peouniary assistance for opening and
developing it. He had correctly taken
the measure of his man. Thenceforth
Emil was bound to him by hooks of
steel, through his strongest impulse,
gratitude.
Upon Marie the duty devolved of
choosing the location. She chose a
picturesque, open spot, commanding a
grand view of the surrounding scenery
and shaded by a majestic nutmeg tree,
perfect cone, wide-spreading at the
base and of perfect symmetry. In
their new home the st. Martins soon
became prime favorites with all; he by
reason of his industry and rugged man
Illness; she by her CHEEKY disposition,
freedom from restraint and child-like
trustfulness; both by their ALIEN brac-
ing acts Of neighborly kindness. They
throve and prospered. Their home,
both within and without, became fa-
nous for its comforts and its beautiful
adornments.
Davenport, their patron and most
generous friend, presuming on his
wider range of worldly knowledge and
propriety, soon took occasion to warn
Emil of the scandal that might result
from the too great freedom of Marie
with the unmarried men-"the boys'-
of the camp, and theirs with her, for it
must be confessed that the captivating
little witch had turned the heads Of
all. At first Emil repelled these pro-
tests. He did not, he said, wish to
cage his little bird. She was his wife.
but he did not wish to make her his
slave, nor yet prisoner. His highest
happiness was in seeing her happy. If
she should ever feel that she would be
happier with another than him he had
no desire to restrain her. This, he
said, she knew. From the first and al
ways he had made il plain to her.
Then came the plea that not for his
sake at all, but to prevent scandal and