Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-06


it came; he raised his head loftily, an
turned his eyes upon the fire with tn
look of scornful pride that was habitua
to him.
Giacd,no Lioni had passed his yout
amid all the riotous license in whic
Italy is so fertile. The moderate patri
mony inherited at his fathers death soo1
vanished before the pursuits Of on
whose hand turned to nothing but tn
dice.box. Nights spent in gaming ant
debauch, and days in continual brawl
rendered him at last so infamously noto
rious that even his friends became dis
tant, his enemies noisy in his condemna
ton, and the authorities themselves grew
more implacable as the wealth, which hac
purchased immunity, dWiudled away. Tc
fly the scenes Of his follies was at length
his only resource; and he would have re-
sorted to this long before, had not tic
Of a tenderer nature bound him to his
native home. He had formed a connec.
ton, scarcely Judged criminal in the
leuient south, with beautiful Florentine
uaued Beatrice, and son was the off.
spring of their love. The possession Of
this child, whom he christened Andrea
Lioni, had a softening influence upon his
wild spirit; and as the infant sprung into
the boy, he made many a vow of refor-
nation, which, unfortunately for the ex-
ample it conveyed to Andrea, was quickly
broken. Still he loved the mother, and
watched over her welfare, and the ad-
vancement of their sons might have ar.
rested his wayward mode Of life, had not
an event occurred that was fatal to ALL
A midnight debaueh led to quarrel in
the streets Of Florence, during which
Lioni stabbed his companion to the
heart. The friends Of the dead gamester
were powerful, and the murderer was
compelled to fly that very night, leaving
his mistress and son unprotected. AS soon
as lie had crossed the frontier, he paused
in his flight to wait tidings Of those whom
he had left behind. Upwards Of three
months elapsed in beggaEy and fainines
iiissrs "a al
distress doubly bitter Beatrice had died
hearted 1.-The boy Andreasllad fled,
no one. .knewswhither. From, that time,
years passed over Liuul, tt1arked by the
ricissitudes of the gamblers
fate, until suddenly the death of a rich
relation once more elevated him to luxu-
rious, independence, The efforts he had
hitherto made to recover his deserted son
were then redoubled. . but in vain. Whether
they were bafflcd by the object Of his
search having changed his name, or
whether he still survived, was not known,
but the link between Lioni and Andrea
seemed snapped forever.
So here, ten. years after his flight, sat
in an apartment Of the famous -, :,
in the Boulevard des Italiens, the wan.
derer Giacomo Lioni. Manhood had
confirmed his youthful thirst for play, and
the vice that had first been his ruin and
thenhis support, was now necessary
excitement. While he gazed upon the
fire in mood unusually pensive, the door
re.opened, and fresh arrivals were an.
nounced. His brow Immediately cleared,
and he entered into conversation on the
light topics of the day with the consum'
mate address of the man Of the world.
1t was not long before the real object OF
the meeting became evident. Fresh wine
was ordered, the tables were drawn out
and box of unused cards having been
placed before them, they were speedily
immersed in the fierce delight Of gaming
Loudly roared the storm without, but
what was that to the hazard of the die
In angry floods fell the rain; the light.
ming crossed the easement in vivid sheets
vet hour after hour sat the players un
moved by ali, save the one devourine
passion. Night waned, and their check:
grew wan, their hands ieverish, but still
wine spurred on their tagging powers
and the gold chinkled, the dice ratified
and their eyes glared wildly with suspense
aud fear.
Lioni's opponent was stranger, "
Nervel, whose olive complexion ant
raven moustache would have appeared tt
indicate southern origin, had not hi
faultless pronunciation marked him to b
a Frenchman.
at first, fortune wavered between then
in an impartial balance, but as they con
tinued to play, a bewildering surpris
dawned upon the mind of Lioni, and h
soon after turned it to stream ofsuccess
Their game was one of skill, in whicl
the willy Italian, by dint Of long study
had formed secret method Of his owl
TO his astonishment, De Nervel attempt
ed the very same ruse de guerre!! Con
cealing his wonder at a contretemps tina
had never occurred before, Lioni altere
his tactics, and met the unexpected wea
pom with foil. The result soon prove
that De Nervel was unable to cope wit
his subtle adversary. Tie grew excite
and doubled the stakes, while Lion
artful and unimpassioned, batled him a
every turn, until the two piles Of gol
which had risen on opposite sides of tn
table were merged into a single hea
beside the Italian. De Nervel then ros
declaring he would play no more.
As the rest Of the players had relir
I ou;sbad tho tables. thew now began