The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-09
A LADY,S STRATACEM.

A LADY's sTRATACEM.
The Boston Atlas translates the follow
ing story from the Paris Steele. II Is
good story enough, but VIC would not ID.
wise the reader to be very pertinacious in
believing il:
One ot thu dangers nj Os,end most TO be
guarded against are the protested gamblers.
During the seasons Of the Carnival aud
Lent. these knights Of the green cloth keep
themselves at Paris; but when summer
comes they scatter themselves nil over Eu-
rope. This year these birds Of prey have
spresd in large numbers over Belgium
They have already made some great strokes
they speak ofa Russian who was pillaged,
in . single night, oftwo hundred thousand
francs, aud who paid il the next day, apol-
ogising for having made them wait. IL
these watering places, where the hells are
under no restraint, the inexperienced arc
necessarily exposed to being plnndcrcd by
sharpers. Two or three have been taken
this year in the vcrs act. They have bcen
driven away, but there arc enough left IL
hover over the shpwrcckcd in the storm,
nights of lansqucnet. Ono 81 these Greeks
has recently been tho hero, OF rather the
instrument, in a recent adventure at Os-
tend. Just AZ the commencement al the
bathing season there arrived an English la
dy, mature in nge, and possessed OF n gres,
fortune.
Her wealth had come Ia her late, md
that explains how il CHANGED she was no,
married. But she sought TO mako up for
tho lost time by marrying according to the
wishes Of her henrt, which had inclined To-
wards young gentleman OF twenty-five
All the aspirants hid been discardcd--
thanked. but dismissed The mature young
lady war only willing 10 listen Is the youth
ful aud handsome Sir Edward. Bat unfnr-
tunatcly tho youthful and handsome Sir
Edward would have nothing To say 10 her,
and little suspected the fame he had kim
died. How could nc suppose that n Miss Of
Is wished to have him for husband?
The fortune of the lady did not tempt
him, for he had recently inherited ten thou
sand pounds sterling, and he felt rich
enough to pass his youth in gaiety and free
dom, prepared to enlist only under the ban
ners Of Hymcn when he reached the ngc Of
reason or the end Of his ten thousand
pounds. Ills frugal and economical habits
drove the aged Miss Anna to dcspair--for
she would have been glad to see him ruined
and poor, ss in that case more likely 10 be
tempted by her wealth. She had come 1
Ostend because she knew that Sir Edward
was there. Her attacks, however, met
with no more success than they had %,
London, Bath. Newmarket. Brighton, and
oil the other places where she had followed
the Indifferent youth. She could obtain
from him nothing but cold polieness. She
in vain display cd before his e,es the riches
she possessed. His manner seemed 10 sa, i.
what do ] carc--l am satisfied with my
present ease.
Seeing that ordinary means met with no
success, Miss Anna resolved TO have re-
course 10 somewhat eccentric cxpedicni.
She was lady ofspirt; she WITS possessed
both Of audaci,y aud Imagination. The ca
pcdicnt could not tail.
These things took place a month ago.
There CHANGED 10 be Greek here ia Os-
tend, one ofthc heroes Of that nation--n
clever chief of,he Hellenic confederation.
lie was master oi masters, nm irresistible
player, winning whenever aud whatever
he chose. Nothing had occurred to bcira,
his true character, and O.icnd considered
him nm honest player, when our English Ia
dy found him and said 10 him:--"l know
who you are; have received positive let.
leIs in regard to you. Here are copies Of
them. You see can ruin you"
The black-leg turned palc-he saw that
he was at tho mercy oitbe lady, but at the
same time the cunning knnvc saw that she
had something TO demand Of him, and was
lrying 10 frigh,cn him into granting it
II can ruin YOU" resumed the marrying
lady, "but will sp.re you il YOU vii! con-
Dent 10 do me service" The fellow had
this. but he was delighted with
The commencement. ''Speak, madame"
raid be, ..lnwait your orders.n 'Do YOU
know Sir Edward7" ayes, madume.'--
sfIc does not often play, but he does not
dislike il. You must make him plays 81
should like nothing BETTER .Wil! you
then 70 TO the Hotel DIES Bains. where he
b. dimes; there &c, upn discussion wherein
you shall be in tho wrong; propose n wa
ger of some bottles OF wine which ,on shall
lose; make Sir Edward drink, mud when
bic head il heated, you shall lend him OF 10
D gnme." ..1hat is our usual way of pro-
ceeding," replied the sharper. "Ymi must
then win all his money; Won mnst induce
him TO play upon his word Of honor, md
lead him on until he has lost his whole for
tune, ten thousand pounds"
The black-leg was Supplied. lie renec-
ted moment and said: IL understand,
will win his ten thousand and then share