Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-09-26
mine through my sudden movement.
1t was M. dc Merten's hand, and he
held the f40 note which he had just
taken out of my hat. The wretched

It was M. dc Merten's hand, and he
held the f40 note which he had just
taken out of my hat. The wretched
mans face was conyulscd with emo
ton. Our eyes met; his were di-
lated with terror, ard there was a
look in them that seemed to hold
me spellbound.
M. de Mertens is my partner
I said, haughtily, to the man who
had warned me and | am surpris-
ed that you should dare to bring
such an accusation against a gentle
man whose reputation IS SO well
| Known
"The individual who had called
out had never been to the club be-
fore, and did not know M. de Mer-
tens at all. We had all been stand
ing 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 be
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 insult should have been offered
him.
"We then continued cur play, and
M. de Mertens soon after left the
club. Three days passed, and |
heard nothing more of the young
man. In shielding him as had
done, my first thought had been of
his father, and | had determined 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 attempt to express his thanks.
zone evening, however, just as |
was going out to pay some visits,
my orderly informed me that lady
wished to see me. | went into the
drawing room, and there | found
woman of about As years of age.
She was very dignifed-looking, and
there was an open, honest expires.
sion about her face which fascinated
me.
81 am Madame de Mertens,' she
said, simply. My son told me
everything about the affair at the
club, and I have come to thank you
with all my heart for having pre-
served for us intact the honor of our
name
tMadame-,' l began but she
interrupted me in her emotion and
nervousness.
"My son 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 7
81 felt very, much embarrassed,
for the poor mothers grief was ter
rible to witness. She was still stand.
ing there in front of me, her face
was deadly pale, and the tears were
trembling on her long, dark eye
lashes.
Gle is young, madame; you must
not take it to heart So stammer-
ed. 1T was just moments weak
ness. l will see your son, and
"No, captain" she. said, shaking
her head, sadly, he is no longer
here x y he has enlisted, and
is already on his way with the regi-
ment.
We had all been listening atten-
lively to Capt. Joubert's story, and
when he stopped speaking there was
silence for few minutes.
"And what happened to NJ. de
Mertens, captain ?" asked one Of the
group. ibid you ever hear?'
He is dead. Six
months ago / received a letter from
Kelung-a pitiful little letter-writ-
ten with very pale ink, and on
sheet of paper that was all crumpled
and yellow with age. There was
only few lines for me to read. |
know them by heart. They were as
follows:
81 am MORALLY wounded
Admiral Coubert has just brought
me the cross /; but x | am
dying. I am sending it to you, my
poor cross, + for you saw
ed me, and I should like you to
wear it = ~
"This is why, my friends, instead
of wearing the decoration which |
received from the chancellor, you al
ways see me with the sergents cross
which poor Mertens sent me. Poor
boy To think that he started as a
thief, and died hero's death at Ke-
lung
A Real Estate Boom
attracts the attention of every prop
erty holder in this city. But when