The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-07
THEE AND HERO.

] 'ifG rNfHb fiEROs
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 almost
exclaimed
II was young man of some D or .
years Of age. whom I knew by sight. L
! was very much interested in him, for his
father had fought courageously at Ma
Senta and had been killed on the field OF
battle, leaving his widow and son by no
means well provided for. The young man
came very rarely 10 the club and I had
never seen him touch a card before.
was stupefied, therefore. 10 see him hold
/ ing the bank, and a good bank it was
/ TOO, Tor there were plenty of notes and
1 gold coins heaped UP in front Of him.
How much?" called out one Of the
| players.
OH laughed wealthy farmer, M
de Mertene is in lucks way. He can
! safely keep his bank open.
L noticed that the young mans face
was dreadfully pale and there was an
excited look in his eyes.
Open bank he said. And 1t seemed
as though the very words changed the
luck.
Ten times running Mertens lost, and
IN quarter OF an hour his bank was
cleared. Another man took his place and
/ the play went on. got so excited that
1, too, was fascinated and Joined in.
There was no room TO sit down ar the
table, so L continued standing. holding
my hat in my hand and throwing my
winnings into it. I had run of luck
and went on playing in the most excited
way until 1 was startled by someone
calling out: you are being robbed, Cap
taiu,'
Il started and instinctiveiy seized
hand which had knocked against mine
through my sudden movement. II was
VI. de Merten's hand, and he held the $40
note which ne had Just taken out of my
hat The wretched mans face was con-
Yulsed with emotion. our eyes met. HIS
were dilated with terror. and there was
look in them that seemed to hold me spell
bound.
" II. de Mertens is my partner said,
| hauShtily to the man who had warned
/ me, and I am surprised that YOU should
dare TO bring such an accusation against
d gentleman.
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 seeing another player
put his hand into my hat it was very
natural that the man should have thought
It his duty 10 warn me. On hearing my
explanation he apologized most humbly
10 NJ. de Mertens, and several of the
acquaintances Of the latter gathered
around and expressed their regret that
such an insult should have been offered
him.
1--WE then continued our play, and NJ.
de Mertens soon after left the club.
Three days passed. and / heard nothing
more OF the young man. In shielding him
&c had 4,
OF his father, and 1 had determined to
save from disgrace the name of the
brave soldier of Magenta. Of course l
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.
One evening, however, Just as I was
going to pay some visits, my orderly in
formed me that lady wished to see me.
went into the drawing room, and there
l found woman OF about 10 years Of
age. She was very dignified looking, and
there was an open, honest expression
about her face which fascinated me-
1 am Nine. de Mertens, she said
simply. My son told me everything
about the affair at the club, and [ have
come to thank you with all my heart for
having preserved for us intact the honor
of our name
Madame'-I began; but she interrupt
ed me in her emotion and nervousness.
My son had got entangIed in vari-
Gus ways, and in desperation had taken
TO play. 1t appears he had lost every
penny he possessed, that night. You know
the rest, alasr
Il felt much embarrassed, for the poor
mothers grief was terrible to witness.
He is young, madame. You must
not take it TO heart So 1 stammered. Tt
was just moments weakness 1 will
see your son. and
No. Captain she said, shaking her
head sadly, he is no longer here. -
He has enlisted and is already on his way
with the regiment
We had all been listening attentively to
Captain Jouberts story, and when he
stopped speaking there was silence for a
few minutes.
And what happened to NJ. Mertens,
Captain?'
He is dead. Six months ago I
received a letter from Kelung-a pitiful
little letter-written in very pale ink and
on sheet of paper that was all crumpled
and yellow with age. There were only
few lines for me 10 read. know them
by heart. They were as follows:
L am MORALLY wounded. The colonel
(CourbeD has just brought me the cross:
but / am dying. 1 am sending it
to you, my poor cross for you
saved me, and I should like you to wear
it.
This IS why, my friends, instead OF
wearing the decoration which I received
from the chancellor. you always see me
with the sergeants cross which Mertens
sent me. Poor boy! To think that he
started as a thief and died a hero death
at Kelung. From the French.