Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-18


de Mertens is In luck s way; he can safely
keep his bank OPEN
Il noticed that the young mans face
was deadly pale, and, thkre was ansexcited
look in his eyes.
Open bank he said, and it seemed as
though the very words had changed the
tuck. ft4sszsz
Ten times running Mertens lost, and
in quarter eff. aas hour his bank was
clsared out. Another man took his place
ard the play went on. 1t got so exciting
that /, to, was fascinated and Joined in
There was no room to sit down at the
table. so | continued standing, hoI5ie my
hat In my hand and throwing my win
nirgs into 1T | had run Of luck, and
went en- playing IL, the most excited way
until 1 was startled by some one calling
out, You are BEING robbed, Captainp
Il started, and instinctiyely seizsd a
hand which had knocked against mine
through my sudaen movement. 1t was
M. &c Meptess' hand. and he held the
forty-pound note which he had Just taks n
out of my hat The wrstched mans face
was conVuls2d with emotion. Our eyes
met; his eyes were dilated with terror,
ard there was look in them that seemed
to hold me spell-bound.
" M. 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 accusation against
a gentleman whose reputation 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 around the table close to
each other, and or seeing another player
put his hand into my hat 1t was very ma
tural that the man should have thought
Of his duty to warn me. On hearing my
explanation he apelogized most humbly
to NJ. de Mertens. and several. of the ac-
quaintances of the latter gathered
such an insult should have been offered
to him. ats2s15
1--WE then continued our play, and NJ.
de Msrters soon after. left the club
Three days passed and heard nothing
more of the youeg man. In shielding
him as had dorn my first thought had
been of his father. and had deternine d
to save from disgrace the name of the
brave soldier of Magenta. OF course, !
could quite understand that the young
man should now shrink from seeing me
again, but, still, 1T struck me as rather
strange that in some way either direct or
indirect, he did not attempt to express
his tharks. ea sa.s ,lsn.
"Cne evening, however, just as I was
going out to pay some visits, my orderly
Informed me that "a lady wished to see
me. went into he drawing room ard
there found wonranof about 45 years
of age. She was very adignified looking
and there was an open. honest expression
about her face whichafsseiDateltd me-
:" I am Nine de Mersens,' SHE said,
simply. My son told me everything
about the affeis.at the club. and I have
come to thank you wi. all my heart for
having hs preserved for Us intact s the honor
" +Nladame-- I began. but she in
terrupted me in her emotion and nervous
ness. ''s-.-7 -ssat
My son had got errapgled. in various
ways, and in despera tinni had. taken to
play. 1t appears that he lest every PEN
ny he possessed MAT night. 'sYou know
the rest alasi -.f-s7 s1tffl
81 felt very much, EN- la rrasssd. for the
poor mothers grief was terrible to wil.-
ness. She was SIN standing there in
front of me. her face was deadly pale
dark eyelaShes.
q He is young, madame; vol, must not
take II to heart So I stammered. 1T was
Just a moments weakness. L will see
your son, and
+" No captain. r shte, said. Shaking her
head sadly. he is no, longerlhere
he has enlisted and he Is already on his
I'VE had all been listening attentively
to Capt. Joubert's story and when he
stopped speaking there was silence for a
'tAnd what happened to M. de Mertens.
cap;ain?" asked one ofRthe group. Did
you ever heara" nee,fa = ~
He is dead. - N'*v Six months ago
received a letter from Kelung-a pitiful
little leiter-written with very pale ink.
and on a sheet of paper that was all
crumbled yellow with age. There were
only q few lines for me to read. I know
them by heart They We're as follows:
am morally wounded Adj
miral Courbet has just brought me the
cross; but 80 Lam dying. I am
sending 1t to you, myspeors
for you saved me- nd sheuldrlike you to
wear III ~
This is why. my friends. instead of
wearing the decoration which received
from the chancellor YOU always see me
with the scrgeant's cross' which poor
Mer'tens sen. me- Poor boyt To think