American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-05

energies were aroused. oIC Gust dSiue Tie dlts
of beauty and the powers of fascination, which
had been the most potent weapons against the
success of others. She felt that the young man
before her was npenetrable. She gathered her
energies and her strength. Her soul was on
fire. Her brow contracted with a fierce scowl.
Her lips were compressed and the color had
fled from them. Her cheeks were flushed and
her eyes distended with blood. The veins OF
her temples we're swollen, and her arms, lately
SO rounded and beauteous, were uneven with
the strong sinews, interrupting the harmony OF
the moulded surface as she grasped the cards
with nervous energy. Her eye burned with
fierce light, and the spirit Of avarice, fear and
angry disappointment sat upon her features,
now no longer beautiful, but hideous and re-
voting.
All gazed upon her with surprise and OF
without awe. Winter saw and smiled with
proud defiance. She would have closed the
bank, but in her heart she was sure there could
not be a seizieme'
Slowly she arranged the cards, and was about
to place them in the box, when one Of the bank
ers who had been drawn to the table, said to
her in whisper,
MADAME, take new pack"
On the instant she dashed the cards beneath
her feet and placed a new pack beneath TIE
TIC. DIG lIlCll lOOhCu up, ana WIFI HcICc
look of defiance, met the eyes Of her antagonist.
There was something devilish in the expression
she fixed upon him; and Ellis, with the super
stition of the sailor, was positive the spirit of
+ the devil inhabited her beauty, like that of an
angel, next deformity like that ofhel. But it
was not needlul to go TO superstition to account
/ for this change. 1t was founded in the depth
| of human passion; the good and tine evil lie
! equal in the unsanctfed heart.
"Does Monsieur bet again. she demanded
I sternly, with look that told her confidence in
winning. For who, unless aided by an evil
spirit, could win the Seizieme."
"The two hundred thousand" coolly an
swered Winter, placing Napoleon to repre-
sent the large sum upon single card.
| A murmur of surprise went round the circle,
followed by breathless silence. No sound could
be heard but the sharp click of .he cards, as one
after another she turned them from the top of
the box
ala siezieme" exclaimed the bankress, SPRING
| ing to her feet, with face as black as mid
night.
ola sEIzIEME!" Numbered the spectators,
and loud applause filled the saloon.
Ellis stood by in silent astoniehment, perfectly
confounded He said not word. Every eve
rested on the winner with wonder and curiosity.
''El diable!"
".MephiStophole!"
''H EST adrnirabie!"
"Esi incroyabte!'
These and other expression, of surprise flew
from lip to lip. By this time all the persons
in the hall were surrounding the green table,
and scanning Winter with deep interest. No
one really beiVed him to be the devil, though
they wondered how, except by his assistance,
he could thus, sirteeen times IN. succession, com
mand the infinite chances in Numbers.
/ The expression upon the face of the bankress
was fearful. She made no effort to disguise her
emotion and furious disappointment, In a
loud tone she called for wine, and filling large
goblet, she drank it off, and once more took
! her place at the board. The expressions of
satisfaction, visible upon the faces of all, except
those of the other bankers, did not concilate
her feelings of rage and disappointment. The
trial over her was felt as personal victory by
all the gentlemen present, scarcely one of
whom had not been in more or less degree her
victim.
A crisis had now arrived in the play, and the
interest of the spectators became intense and
feverish. There were dark faces with fierce
mustaches and glitterng eyes thrust towards
tie table, nervous hands moving in rapid ges-
tculations, and deep murmuring voices! The
bankress sat silent and motoness as statue of
marble; her eyes fixed upon the calm counte-
nance of young Winter. A concentrated light
burned in her eyes, and stern defiance min
gled with fear, was stamped upon her rigid fea-
lures. Who could he be who had thus hum
bled her power? What might was his who
could thus control the fate of chance. To her
mind he seemed a supernatural person, sent to
punish her avarce which had slain so many a
noble youth like himself She sat silent, lean
ing upon her silver wand. The calm, unmov-
ed face of Winter, presented striking contrast
to her own. 1t wore look of dignity, and
the possession which such extraordinary sue
cess distinctively gave to him, and there was an
expression of calm decision about his mouth
which told that he felt within him confidence
and power. 1t is success that begets success.
The murmurs of surprise had not yet sub
eided which followed his last winning, when he
Iaised his eyes and fixed them firmly upon the
pale aspect of the bankress, who was regarding
him with look as if she felt that he had her
destiny in his hand.
even tone that was singularly marked amid the
buzz of those around him; for each player had
now got to feel the affair to be his own, and to
take en- absorbing interest in every step that
should now be taken. Every young man had
his ''reyenges," and Winter seemed to them
the chosen instrument. But all trembled for
the result; now that single false bet would
restore to the bank all it had lost. They saw
that he was bold, resolute and cool, and that he
would stake the whole four hundred thousand
francs as he had done before. The excitement
of their feelings therefore rose IN proportion to
the enormous risk he was about to make. One
spoke and advised him to play but half anoth-
err to stake but fourth of the sum; third coun-
selled him to cease playing, for he had suffi-
GENTLY avenged his predecessors.
"Messeurs," said Winter, turning round to
them with bland smile, 81 am obliged to you
for your interest in my playing; but / beg you
will leave the game to my own hands PAS
sure you, you will not regret the issue"