The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-09-02

warned me; and am surprised that
you should dare to bring such m ac-
cusation against gentleman whose
reputation is so we'll known
"The individual who had called out
had never been to the club before, and
did not know NJ. de Mertens at all.
We had all been standing round the
table close to each other. and on see-
ing another player putting his hand
into my hat, it was very natural that
the man should have thought IL his
duty to warn me. On hearing my
explanation he apologized most hum
bly, to NJ. de Mertens, and several nc
quaintances OF the latter gathered
round and expressed their regret that
such an insult should have been Of
fered him.
"We then continued our play, and
Nj. de Mertens soon after left the club.
Three days passed, aud / heard moth
ing more of the young man. In shield
ing him as l had done. my first
thought had been of his father
and L had determined to save from
disgrace the name of the brave sol
der of Magenta. Or course, could
quite understand that the young man
should now shrink from seeing me
ngain, but still it struck me ns rather
strange that in some way, either di-
rect or indirect, he did not attempt to
express his thanks.
Zone evening, however, just as i
was going out to pny some visits, my
orderly informed me that Indy
wished to see me. l went into the
drawing-room, and there | found
woman of about forty-iive years OF
age. She was very dignified-l looking,
and there was an open, honest express
sion about her face which fascinated
me.
/" Il nm Madame de Mertens,' she
said simply. MY son told me every
thing about the affair ut the club, and
/ have come to thank you with all my
heart for having preserved for us in
tact the honor of our name
'Madume--' | began; but she
interrupted me in her emotion and
nervousness.
"'My sou had got entangled in
various ways, and in desperation had
taken to play. 1t appears he had
lost every penny he possessed that
night. You know the rest, alas'
~ felt very much embarrassed, for
the poor mothers grief 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.
"'Ho is young, madame; you must
not take it to heart SO, l stammered.
1T was Just moments weakness. /
will see your son, and
"'No, Ciptain, she said, shaking
her head sadly, 'he is no longer here
.. he has enlisted, aud is already
on his way with the regiment. >"
We had all been listening attentively
to Captain Joubert's story, and when
he stopped speaking there was silence
for few minutes.
"And what happened to NJ. de Mer-
tens, captain?" asked one of our
group. "Did you ever hear?"
"He is dead. Six months ago
/ received letter from Kelung-a
pitiiul little letter written with very
pale ink, and on u sheet of paper that
was all crumpled aud yellow with age.
There were only few lines for me to
read. know them by heart. They
were as follows:-
"T am mortally wounded Z.
Admiral Courbet has just brought me
the cross; but L am dying. 1
am sending it to you, my poor cross
=. for you saved Inc, and 1 should
like you to wear it. =
"This is why, my friends, instead
Of wearing tho decoration which l re-
ceived from the Chancellor, you al
ways see me with the sergeant's cross
which poor Mertens sent me. Poor
boy! To think that ho started MS a
thief, and died hero's death ut
Kelung. From the French in Strand
Magazine.
Origin Of County Lines.
Every state in this country, except