The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-21
A GAME FOB LIFE.

In tent in the inner circle of the camp
sat two officers at a rude table, upon which
| was marked with lead pencil a draught-
| board, while black and white buttons
served for the men. -
They were prisoners-soldiers in the
service of Juarez captured the day before
| but their appearance indicated that they
were not Mexicans
A love Of adventure had caused them to
leave their homes in England and cast their
4 swords with .Iuarez to aid in driving from
Mexican soil a German emperor.
Capoul Monteith, the light haired officer,
| was young man of wealth and good
family
Garnet Weston, the brown haired, was
! q young lawyer of good though poor par
entage. He was fast winning a name
when he crossed the path of Mabel Mon
teith, the sister of Capoul
One day a pretended friend told him
| that Mabel was his promised wife, but
that their engagement had not yet been
made public
Three months later found him cavalry
captain in the army of Benito .Tuarez
where in a few weeks he was surprised to
be joined by Capoul Monteith who had
also offered his services to the Mexican
president.
Suddenly a heavy tread resounded with
out the tent, the sentinel challenged, there
was response, and three of Maximilian's
officers entered, one of whom was an
American, another Frenchman, the third
q Mexican
"Gentlemen, =" said the American, "I
am sorry to disturb you, but news has
come tonight that Benito Juarez has ex-
ecuted captain of our army, and have
orders to select one of you and march you
forth to die in retaliation.
''You cannot mean that one of us must
die for an offense against Maximilian by
.Juarez9' said CapouI and Monteith, ris-
ing.
''Such are my orders, but know not
which of you to select
LET the gentlemen play a game for the
chance, the loser to die, - suggested the
young Frenchman.
"A good idea, monsieur. Gentlemen,
observe you were playing a game Of
draughts when we entered, so set to work
and play three games, the one who wins
two of them to escape, the other to die"
"When is this execution to be2'' asked
Garnet.
within the hour"
''Very we'll Capoul, am ready for the
game of life and death. "
81, too, ready, " said Monteith, and
the two friends sat down.
Ten minutes passed, 20, and the game
was won by Capoul
The second game, too, was won by him.
"Great heavenl Garnetl OLD fellow, I
feel for you from my hearth cried the
winner, the tears starting to his eyes.
Garnet pressed his friends hand as he
said quietly:
Il was ever a poor, unlucl1y dog, Ca
poul; but, my friend, when L am dead,
look in my saddle roll, hanging there, and
the papers you find please deliver to the
proper address, and - and - Capcul, say
TOTO Miss Mabel left a farewell for her.
Gentlemen, 1 am ready -
Half distracted with grief CapouI Mon
teith paced his tent, his thoughts whirling
and his brain on fire
An hour passed, and the American OIL
Ger stood before him.
''Wel?'' said CapouL
He is dead. .
''Heaven have mercy upon hirnP'
groaned the sorrowing friend.
Yes, Captain MOnteith, he is dead, and,
though have seen many men die, never
saw one face death with such perfectly
calm Indifference as did your friend
He gave the order to the platoon to fire
and fell instantly, but ere he died he wrote
this note to you" And the American i'm
perialist handed slip of paper to Capoul
and turning left the tent.
In Garnets bold hand was written:
81 could have won those two games
/ but 1 gave my life away to save you, for
loved Mabel too d. arly ever to let her
brother die where L could be sacrificed in
stead
II dare tell you this now, for I stand on
the brink of my open grave FAREWELL
Three years passed, and one pleasant
evening a horseman was riding slowly
along highway traversing fertile Eng
lish valley.
Three years had added more dignity to
the face and perhaps saddened it, but 9th
erwise change had come over Capoul
Monteith' 5 fine features.
Upon his right hand setting back from
the road, was pretty farmhouse, sur
rounded by fertile fields, and, the sight
promising well for nights lodging for
man and beast, CapOul turned in at the
white gateway, rode up to the front door
and dismounted.
The owner of the house descended the
steps to gree5 him, and Capoul Monteith
stood face to face with Garnet Westonl
Great heaven, has the grave given up
its dead?" cried Capoul in dismay.
mo, old fellow You find me flesh and
blood, ready and willing to give you a
hearty welcome to this my home, left me
by an old bachelor uncle a few months
since. But come in viii tell you all %
Around a well spread table that evening
he heard how Garnet had been carried
forth to be most bunglingly executed, how
a squadron of Juarezs S cavalry had ap-
peared and frightened of his executiOners
ere the first platoon had retired and how
watchful ranchero had seized him and
borne him to his ranch, where, after
months of suffering, he recovered
But old fellow, why did you not write
to me?" asked Capoul
IL did write to my old law partner, and
he said you had moved away, none knew
whithe-.'s
True. Poor Mabel failed in health,
and 1 took her to the continent, but We
soon returned Mabel is contented if not
happy"
''She married"-
''She married? Fiddlesticksl No; she
never had any idea of marrying any man
excepting yourself, and you went of to
Mexico and nearly broke her heart. '-H1z-