Year: 1874

explained to the painter what had tsker
place.


I The Meridos we're one of the oldest


and proudest families of Mexico. Be


ing very wealthy, they had for a Ions


period been numerously represented il
| government positions. They exercised


a great deal of power in certain way,
and to be a foe of the Meridos was


equivalent to knowing misfortune. On


the second day after Angel Merido's


death his body was committed to the


tomb with degree of quietness that
was not often witnessed among the in
tiuential families of the country but
there were reasons why there should be


no ostentation, and chief among them


was the desire to have as little publicity
as possible about the manner of Angels
/ death. BY this means they hoped to
luli Dnrand into a fancied security,


that he might more easily compass his


ruin. They little supposed when they


we're lowering the body of their relative
into the grave that Charles Durand was


at that moment entering Vera Cruz in
Disguise and seeking TO escape from the
country. When they really did dis
cover the fact, their fury was un-


bounded, and they swore that some


body must die. As Durand WAS safe
beyond their reach, they turned their


hatred upon Louis Chaubert. His
daughter had been the innocent cause
of Merido's death, but beyond this she
was in no way responsible for what had
occurred. Mons. Chaubert had the
respect of the community generally,


but that would not insure him repose if
the Meridos desired to persecute him
and his family, and as their animosity
became more and more evident, Mons.
Chaubert was forced to seek the pro-
lection of the French Minister and get
away from the city. He set out for
Vera Cruz, and followed by The next
coach, for although, singularly enough,
my name had not been mentioned, /
thought it better to leave ere attention
was directed to me. When L got to
Vera Cruz, the vessel that bore the
Chauberts to France was yet in sight
with her white sails spread to the wind.


Ten years had passed away. and /
was one day standing on the Battery,
watching the ships coming and going
on New York Bay, when felt a hand
laid upon my shoulder, and on tnrning
round stood face to face with Charles
Durand, who was holding a boy of
about eight years of age by the hand.
OF course my surprise was great and
my happiness very sincere in meeting
him. He had married Genevieve, and
this was his son. Mons. Chaubert had
died soon after his return to France,
and Durand had been living in the city
with me for couple of years, and L
never knew it until met him. L went
with him directly to his house, and the
surprise of Madame Durand and her
aunt at again beholding me was some
thing L shall never forget. l have had
many hearty greetings in my day, but
nothing like that l received from my
French friends. / found madame but
little changed. She was still very
beautiful but trifie too stout, Mile
Chaubert never should have recog-
nized. Her hair had become perfectly
white, and very little of it was left her.
She had grown very thin, and her eye-
sight failing her, she now wore specta-
cles.


Some time after the renewal of our
acquaintance, Icalled at Durand's house
and found him questioning Genevieve,
who had been crying.


"You are just at the right moment"
cried Durand, addressing me. "My
little Louis is quite sick; on one or
two occasions there has come to this
neighborhood a man who has en-
deavored to coax my child to walk with ]
him. Failing to accomplish his pur-
pose, he gave him today box of
GonJons. The boy ate them and was
taken iii. We sent for physician and
the child is ont OF danger but what do
you think my wife says? The other /
day as she was out shopping. she no.
ticed after awhile that man had been |
following her from place to place. and
she declares it was one of the Meridos."


''I'm sure of it, exclaimed Madame |
Durand. ''He is the image of that
dreadful man that my husband"


"Yes, understand" / replied, as i
noticed her hesitate to finish the SEN
tence. "But madam, this is bad
place for any one to practice such acts
as you fear; make yourself comfort
able. Ii you are correct in your suspi |
cions | think / can make your mind |
easy. i know the hotel where those
speaking the Spanish tongue resort. If
any of the Meridos are i'll the city they
have been to the house in question.
will investigate the matter"


1t was eleven o'clock that night when |
I left Durand's, and on my way home l
stopped at the Hotel Barcelona, As /
approached the door l saw there was
some excitement in the house. A few
words with gentleman l knew ex-
planned the cause. A Mexican by the |
name of Antonio Merido had been
knocked down by stage on Broadway
and run over. He had just been car
ried into the house with his head fear |
fully crushed. Before morning he died. !