Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-06
EDGEFIELD rs, LAY 6, 1852.

separate In different directions. Consid
erable sums of money had changed hands
that night, and the winners and losers
were easily distinguishable by the variec
expressions which they wore. This was
not the case, however, with De sNervel
who had lost more than any one else pre-
sent His countenance was indeed dead.
ly pale, but h ghastly smile played around
the mouth, the character of which was
difficult to define. He asked Lioni which
way he was going, regretted that his ho-
tel lay In an opposite quarter, and having
demanded his revenge on the following
night, they parted on the Boulevards.
Owing to the violence of the storm,
there was no conveyance in sight, so Ii.
oni was obliged to proceed on foot to his
lddgius in the Faubourgh st. Germain.
Folding his cloak tightly around him, and
slouching his cap over his eyes to shade
off the dazzling glare of the lightning, he
hurried through the conflicting elements
towards Pont Neuf.
Not a humah being was visible in his
forsaken path, yet he carefully kept the
middle Of the road In order to guard
against surprise. Nothing, however,
seemed abroad save the tempest and the
shivering gamester. He now threaded
the principle streets which led to the riv.
er; before him loomed the tridge,beneath
rolled the dark waters Of the Seine, and
the elements ragged with double fury in
the open space. The rain beat upon him
like the blows Of n hammer; the wind
howled through his ganhants as if to
warn him back, but still he bore on with
dogged perseverance. Two thirds. of the
bridge were passed, when suddenly a
heavy blow struck him from behind-he
fell into the arms Of an assassin.
. A sudden movement hau avertcd in
some degree the weight of the stroke,
which would otherwise have ielled him
to the ground, and he Immediately closed
with his adversary in the instructive
knowledge Of despair. Graphing him
like a vice Lioni pinioned his rivals arms,
and thus they swayed to and fro like one
solid mass, now lowering on the vergesof
the Tpavetnent, anon iIf terrible proximity
= LIZ, proctedeu,
u dark figure appeared from sheltered
nook aud crept$stealtlily towards them.
1t Was one ofthose wreiched beings who
haunt the Parisian bridges at night, aud
whose life is sustained by robbery, and
the. casual reward gained by rescuing
corpse from the river. He clung closer.
and closer until within a few yards, and
then crouched again into the shadow.
The combatauts were both men Of 81
gantic personal strength, and the struggle
of life and death was one that called forth
all their. power. As they writhcd and
twisted in 'inextricable fight the wind
lulled an instant, and q broad sheet of
flame lit up the heavens, revealing to Ii
.oni the features of De Nervel, his antag.
ouist.
"What would you havc?" gaspcd the for
mer, in terror and surprise.
Money! said De Ncrvel, and his
dark eyes flashed even through the mid
night darkness. "My money-it was
not won fairly-tle devil must have al,
ded you, or the dice were false; / will
wiring it backp
"Liar and cut.throat, exclaimed Lioni
unloose your grasp-leave me, say, and
your losses shall be relieved!
"Money~ cried De Nervel again, and
as he spoke, the lurking figure glided
nearer 10 the scene of strife; "cast down
your purse at my feet, or perish"
"Neverl we will die together firstp
shouted Lioni, with deadly rage.
Throwing his whole strength into one
supernatural exertion, he drove his enemy
headlong against the parapet. Part of
the blow fell on himself, but the brunt Of
it fell on De Nervel. Slightly relaxing
his gripe, he gasped out the exclamation,
"Ah Christip' and the blood spurted from
his nose and eyes in binding drops. Ii
oni was about to release his tottering foe,
when De Nervel, summoning his expiring
energies, darted in upon him once more.
They leaned over the masonry Of the
ridge, they hung balanced SO nearly that
feather might have turned the scale,
when another flash Of lightning shone
upon their struggle. De Nerveps dress
was loosened, and from the torn folds of
his shirt hung small amulet entwined
with hair Lioni's eye fell upon it for
an instant, and the heavens echoed with
shrek of dread"
1t was too late. De Nervel, who was
almost insensible, did not catch the words,
but dizzy in sight and sense, continued to
press or.
"Andrea shrieked Lioni again in ago
-nizing tones, edo you know mea For
the sake of God, for the memory of Bea.
trice, hold!
Beatricew cried De Nervel, "then il
is he-O heaven, my father," A long
loud cry of unutterable despair escaped
him; he strove to recover his balance
but in vain. Before another minute tbeil
struggling forms, clasped in q last ,em
brace, were flying through the air, ane
the man who had silently beheld theil
contest then hurried with the heetness O
L.. - H. C,ot sc tha br;Jra rutt;no