The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-09-09

81 started, and instinctively seized Q
hand which had knocked against mine
through my sudden movement. It was
M. de Mertens' hand, and he held
the $40 note which he had just
taken out of my hat. The wretched
mans face was convulsed with emo
ton. Our eyes met; his were dilated
| with terror, and there was look in
them that seemed to hold me spell
| bound.
EN-. de Mertens is my partner
said, haughtily, to the man who had
warned me; and / am surprised that
you should dare to bring such an accu.
sation against gentleman whose rep.
| utation is so well known
1.-THE individual who had called out
had never been to the club before, and
did not know M. de Mertens at all.
We had all been standing round the
table close to each other, and on seeing
| another player put his hand into my
hat, it was very natural that the man
should have thought it his duty to
warn me. On hearing my explanation
he apologized most humbly to M. de
Mertens, and several of the acquaint.
ances of the latter gathered round and
expressed their regret that such an in.
suit should have been offered him.
"We then continued our play, and
NJ de Mertens soon after left the club,
Three days passed, and heard moth.
ing more of the young man. In shield.
ing him as had done, my first thought
had been of his father. and had deter.
mined to save from disgrace the name
of the brave soldier of Magenta. OF
course, I could quite understand that
the young man should now shrink
from seeing me again, but still it struck
me as rather strange that in some way,
either direct or indirect, he did not at.
tempt to express his thanks.
Zone evening, however, just as I was
going out to pay some visits, my order
ly informed me that lady wished to
see me. went into the drawing-room,
and there 1 found q woman of about As
years of age. She was very dignified-
looking, and there was an open, hon
est expression about her face which
fascinated me.
simply. My son told me everything
about the affair at the club, and have
come to thank you with all my heart
for having preserved for us intact the
honor of our name
'Madame-,' began; but she in
terrupted me in her emotion and nerv-
BUSINESS.
"My son had got entangled in vari-
Gus ways, and in desperation had taken
to play. 1t appears he had lost every
penny he possessed that night. You
know the rest, alas!'
81 felt very much embarrassed, for
the poor mothers grief was terrible to
witness. She was still standing there
in front of me, her face was deadly
pale, and the tears were trembling on
her long dark eyelashes.
"'He is young, madame; you must
not take it to heart so,' stammered.
1T was just moments weakness. !
will see your son, and
"'No, captain she said, shaking her
head, sadly, he is no longer here
he has enlisted, and is already
on his way with the regiment
We had all been listening attentively
to Capt. Joubert's story, and when he
stopped speaking there was silence for
a few minutes.
Sand what happened to M. de Mer-
tens, captain? 2" asked one of the group.
'Did you ever hear?"
'He is dead. Six months ago
I received letter from Kelung-a pitt
full little letter-written with very pale
ink, and on sheet of paper that was
all crumpled and yellow with age.
There were only few lines for me to
read. I know them by heart. They
were as follows:
81 am mortally wounded y
Admiral Courbet has just brought me
the cross; but I am dying.
I am sending it to you, my poor cross
for you saved me, and should
like you to wear it ~
''This is why, my friends, instead of
wearing the decoration which I re-
ceived from the chancellor, you always
see me with the sergeant's cross which
poor Mertens sent me. Poor boy! To
think that he started as a thief, and
died hero's death at Kelung."-
Strand Magazine.
He Was Not Used to Shoes.