THE MYSTERIOUS COACHMAN.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1119, 30 November 1883, Page 4

THE MYSTERIOUS COACHMAN.

LITERATURE.

( Continued.)

1 All yon see,’ said he, ‘belongs to the; unfortunate Muller. He .gained them >by distinguished -services, anil has lost; them by a fault -which ho has now so severely expatiated, and it will; be - an' enlogium upon his memory to acquaint; ; you. with all the- particulars. "Muller, was the Count de Y., my elder brother,' His career in arms had been glorious-. 1 and his promotion rapid, when all became blasted. Wounded in a skirmish he was sent to Carlsbad ,to drink the waters, and found himself in company with a number of our countrymen, the' possessors of large fortunes. You ; icnow with what a frenzy the passion of gambling is carried ,oh iri such pi aces, where men go rather ’to gratify their passion s and[ display their luxury, than to recover their health. My brother forgot that he had no fortune, but his pay, and was weak enough to vie with those who were a-great deal, richer and much less honest' Ihiih himself. Hb was soon mined, and incurred debts—debts ..of honour,. as they arc' called—but debts; ‘which,bn. the contrary, are tlie very reverse Of honour. : If my brother hail hot believed that it whs of actual

necessity.torepay those debts > within a few days, he would not have committed “a crime for the reparation of a fault. Rendered desperate bylns: position - he counterfeited my father’s signature to bills,.for enormous “ amounts ; and his name, possessing great, credit with the bankers, of Germany, l the mppey was easily raised, andJh.Q creditors satisfied. No sooner had he come to his senses, thap ho felt, the, fall-disgrace his conduct had brought upon him ; and unable to endure it, he .sought for some weeks’ leave of absence, and quittedi Germany. My father, having no suspicion of the transaction, whetf apprised of the nnmerons bills which'had become due, used very means to detect the forger. This became no difficnlt'iftatter; and you may imagine his despair on finding that his own son wag; the criminal," and W own name tlis hononredby the rigorous inquiries he had set s oh 'Toot. My father sacrificed his fortune'to meet the demands, and even felt disposed to forgive his son; but notwithstanding nib the search that was made, he could nowhere be found. Pretended explanations of the, debts were inserted in the newspapers, so as to conceal from the public the nature of my brotherV crime; am! every means __ resorted to to intimate to him , the his family felt, for his return. However, we could neyer hear any • tidings of him, and fully believed thatjhe had pint an end to his life. ; You will remember; iny astonishment at meeting With him at your house.. I used '’every 1 , endeavour to induce him tq "return home, assnring hiui that .the belief in’, his. death .had -banished seyery: feeling ; of resentment from his blather’s heart,, and? that the knowledge sof ? tbeAsclLpnhishraehti he‘hadtendured would preyedt ‘ ■ 'this being' rekindled ‘*HB ’was* entriafieS; arid' The

resolution was, unshaken never to ‘ rc- '' sume the nathe'He had.so dishonoured.; •All vain; .arid .'He even demanded the promise of .me . that I would not/ by^reyealmg; ;^he . secret of -his. exvstence, ! revive those Cruel:,recollections in my.

father’s breast, which time bad softened/ ’1 did promise him; and now I speak to °fbu> upon ; this painful,subject, it is to* present fiuthiy .inquiries being, made,which would doahtlesespdnerorlater come Jojny poor father’s ears, and embitter the remainder of hisrexistence,’’ .. ,«tj -J!. \> '*■ A i