American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-05
Extracted from che "Midshipman, written by Prof 4
II, lngraham.
THE LAST RD;

THE LAST CARD;
Or the Fate ofthe beautiful BankresS o. .Marseilles
A THRILLING SKETCH.
[coNCLuDED.l
Frank had now before him on the table fifty
thousand francs, or something more than ten
thousand dollars! He paused moment, while
murmurs of surprise ran among the spectators,
not at the sum won, for it was not large for
that place, but at the surprising uniformity of
the winners good fortune. Twelve successive
winnings were without parallel.
"The game waits Monsieur" said the bank
ress in deep tone that drew every eye upon
her. But the tone was all. Her face was ra-
diant as ever-her smile as winnNag-her eye
as glorious in its beauty. These, outward ex-
pressions she could re-assume; but her voice
was beyond her control, and its depths betray-
ed the emotions which she experienced. ''Will
Monsieur s.ake?" she said, with q winning
smile.
ely frou her, for the sake of Heavcn!''
cried Ellis hoarsely in his ear. "You are well
off now!'
~ mean to be better mean to break
the bank!' said Winter in low determined
voice.
"You will be ruined"
"You will be the sufferer if l.au," he an
swered with slight sheer as he turned away
from him.
s'IfI don't humble this fellow S kaughtness,
then | am mistaken in the character of my
own spirit. &1e has his words now, and they
are free enough; but | do not mean to bear
them always. will keep quiet and bear with
him for the present, for lie is Of service to me;
that is, so long as he has money. But will
repay him yet for his insults. There will day
come when shall he avenged upon him! |
- 1vi
gentleman's reflections were interrupted by
general shout of surprise, and the exclamation,
"La treizimef"
'.Monsieur est acide," she said, as she handed
him bank note for the fifty thousand francs
he had won.
ga hundred thousand francs in allt' cried
Ellis, forgetting his sullenness in his delighted
surprise. "Play no more"
''Does Monsieur playa" asked the bankress
eagerly, her passion rising up from within,
and darkening, IKE the shadow of "a storm
cloud upon fair landscape, the beautiful fea-
lures.
"Ou, RIadcmo;selle," answered Winter,
with an air singulaIly composed. She~smled,
but it was like the lightning from the cloud.
"What will Monsieur stake?"
"The pile before ME, he answered calmly.
at is impossible there should be quater-
zleille,' exclaimed wv vi llllec young TeHOH-
men by Franks side. .....
"You are fool if you venture the whole
sum again on single chance" cried an Eng
lishman who had watched the play with in
terest.
'sWhat does Monsieur please to betE" asked
the bankress, raising her voice and sending
displeased glance around the table.
'sI'he stake is there, Madame" answered
Frank firmly.
She took the gold box .cf cards up in her
hands. Her lovely cheek was colorless. her
hand nervously clasped the lid. With a slow,
vet still in an elegant and graceful manner, she
told off the little parti-coloEed messengers of
Fortune. The spectators looked on and watch
ed the turn of each card with breathless sus-
pense.
Ellis gazed with his teeth set and his hands
clenched, for he looked upon bis friend as
beggar again, and of course he would be one
also; for his own fortunes rose and fell upon the
ebb and flow of his friends purse Winter was
the only one perfectly calm. The eyes OF the
bankress fairly blazed with exultlng anticlpa-
ton! for who could believe it possible that
there should be qusatorsieme! Fourteen sue,
cessive winnings at faro had never been known!
"La quatorzieme!" cried dozen voices in
the strongest accents of surprise and gratlflca-
ton
Monsieur is winner" she repeated in hus-
ky tone of voice, and counting out notes for a
hundred thousand francs, she placed them in
his hand "Prsnez garde pour uad autre Jois'
she said, nenacingly, in low half-tone to her
self, as she shutf1ed and replaced the pack in
the box. Winters success won their admra-
ton and respect 1t was the first time the En-
chantress had been foied, but he remained per-
fectly selfpossessed.