The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-30
A CAPTAINS STORY.

"It was when l was in garrison at
NJ, ono OF the dullest and most stupid
of provincial towns. There was nothing
in the world for fellow to do with him
self there, no thcater even only n low mu-
sic hall.
"When / was off duty, 1 gradually got
into the habit of turning into the Union
club, which, by the bye, was the only one
the town possessed.
at was called the Union, l should
imagine, because there was always dis
pute of some kind or another going on
there. There was very little play at the
club except mt the time of the three annual
fairs, each of which lasted a week. One
autumn afternoon, just at the opening Of
one of these fairs l happened to go to tho
club rather early There was fair num-
| Der of men there that day who were stran-
gers to me- wealthy farmers of the neigh.
borhood who rarely came into town, and
| the various owners of the country houses
| around.
"'They are playing high today, said
one of the habitues Of the club to me- l
turned round toward the table to watch
the game and was so surprised at the sight
of one of the players that l almost ex-
claimed
at was young man Of some 90 or 90
years of age, whom l knew by sight. l
was very much interested in him, for his
father had fought couragcously at Mugcn-
Ia and had been killed on the field of bat
tie, leaving his widow and son by no means
well provided for. The young man came
very rarely to the club, and l had never
seen him touch n card before l was stupe-
fed, therefore, to sec him holding the bank,
and good bank it was, too, for there were
plenty Of notes and gold coins heaped up
In front of him.
"'How muchY' called out one of the
players.
"'Ohr laughed wealthy farmer, M.
de Mertens is in lucll's way. He can safely
keep his bank open.
81 noticed that the young mans face
was deadly pale and there was an excited
look in his eyes
"'Open bank, he said. And it seemed as
though the very words changed the luck
"Ten times running Mertens lost, and
in quarter of an hour his bank was clear
ed out. Another man took his place and
the play went on. 1t got so exciting that
l, too, was fascinated and joined in. There
was no room to sit down at tie table, so
continued standing, holding my hat in my
hand and throwing my winnings into it,
| 7 hid q, nm, Of I,ol. ,rd ,,,o,+ o., ,,Io,.;rr,
in the most excited way until was startled
hv some onn c,Iling ont Won orn being
roLbed c,,,tainr
Il started and instinctively seized a
hand which had knocked against mine
through my sudden movement. 1t was NJ.
de Mertens' hand, and he held the $40
note which he had just taken out of my
hat. The wretched mans face was con-
vern dilatad VIM terror, ard tboro ,ras .
lodi in tbon, tbnt ecor,o1 to hold mo s,,oli'
hound
...1T da NTortnrs i, my, ,,,,tnor 7 soid
boupbtily tn the man Who had ,vor,,ol mo
z ,ord ,,,, s,,r,,,iso1 +hot ,,o,, s1,a,,ld d,,l
10 brine er1rh nm occnention ,.,ainst - ,ro,,,
tIc,nan whose rarnt,tio,, 10 ca I'LL i,,ntI-,
: usTbe individnal who had calIcd ont bol
o nevcr beon to tho c1,,I boforo o,,d did mo,
know NJ de NTer+ens nj all We had NJ
. Neon e+nrGin,, ronnl& NO. +ohio ,oso to oooI
other. and on seeing another nIover NM
his hand into nv hat il was very nature
that the man sbouId have tbought IL hi.
b. duty to warn me On bcorinr INV e,,nlon,
c tion be anoIoo,i,od most brInbI,, 70 NJ n,
Mertens, and several of the acoraintance
S of the latter gathered round and EXPRESSED
| their regret that such an insult SHOULD
n ! have been offered him
"We then continued our play, and NJ. dc
, Mertens soon after left the club. Thre,
DAYS passed. and heard nothing more n
the young man. In shielding him as
: had done my first Thought had been of hi
d father, and had determined to save from
e disgrace the name of the brave soldier O
;. Magenta. OF course l could quite under
:, stand that the Young man should nov
:, shrink from seeing me again, but still i
struck me as rather strange that in SOM
= way, either direct or indirect, he did no
o attempt to express his thanks
Zone evening. however, lust as | wa
y going out to pay some visits, nv orderl,
u informed me that lady wished to Sc
r me. went into the drawing room, an,
there 1 found a woman of about As year
% of age She was very dignified looking
. and there was an omen. honest expressiol
about her face which fascinated me
Il '''I am Nine de Mertens, she said sim
@ ply. MY son told me everything abou
e the affair at the club, and have come t
t. thank YOU with all nv heart for hayin
f preserved for us intact the honor of on