The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-07-27

"nere ne found her in despair. In two
words she explained her case to him rela.
ting her misfortune, and her husband,
cruelty, and adding that she had no hone
left save in his friendship and kindness.
After few moments reflection" the
count said, 81 could easily advance Won
the money you require, but know that
you never would be easy until YOU maid
me, and | do not wish that YOU sbould
extricate yourself from one embarrassment
to involve yourself in another. There is
another way of getting out Of this difficult
TWIN the money back again"
but my dear count" replied nv grand
mother, II have already told YOU that 7
havnt another pistole left"
There is no occasion for money!" re-
tuaned st. German, "only listen to me.r
lie then whispered secret TO her
which every one of you, am sure, would
give good deal to know"
All the young officers listened atten.
lively to Ton ski, who stopped to light his
pipe, and then continued
lhe same evening my grandmother
went to Versailles, and played at the
queens table, where the Duke of Orleans
kept the bank. She invented some excuse
for not Immediately acqutting herself of
her debt, and then began to play. She
chose three cards she won on the first.
doubled her stake on the second doubled
that again on the third; and finally car
ried off an immense sum, which enabled
her to pay the duke, and still be a great
winner"
at was all luck !" said one of the young
officers.
"What strange story!" exclaimed
Hermann.
They were marked cards !" observed a
third.
Il am not Of that opinion" gravely
answered Tomski.
"Ihe deuce" cried Naroumoff. "you
have grandmother who knows three
winning cards, and havn't yet got her TO
.-n - =. L;Si. 'nry are!
"Ah, there's the trouble Of it n replied
Tomski. "She had four sons, one Of whom
was my father. Three of them were de
termined gamblers, and neither of them
could win the secret from her, though it
would have done them good deal of
good, and me also. But listen to what
my uncle, Count Ivan Hitch, told mel
have his word Of honor for the truth of
the story. Tchaplitzki-you know who
mean he who died in extreme want af.
ter having spent millions-wcll, once,
when he was a very Young man, he lost
three hundred thousand roubles ut play
with Ioritch. lie was in despair. Nv
grandmother, who was seldom inlulgent
to the faults of youth, made know not
why-an exception in favor OF TclIaplitzk.
She gave him three cards to play. one AZ
ter the other, exactine from him his word
o: honor never TO play again in his life
Tchaplitzki promised, and then went to
Zortich, and asked for his revenge. lie
put fifty thousand roubles on the first card
won doubled his stake; and at the
third COUP, repeated my grandmother's
luck. But there's six o'clock striking: its
time to go to bed."
Every one emptied his glass, and the
party broke up.
The old Countess Ann Fedotovna was
seated before a glass in her dressing room.
Three waiting-maids surrounded her one
offered pot Of rouge, another box Of
black pins, third held an enormous lace
cap with flame colored ribbons. The
countess had no longer the pretension to
beauty, but she preserved all the habits
Of her youth, lrsssed in the fashion Of fifty
years before, and gave TO her toilet all the
time and ceremony bestowed upon it by a
petite n,ditresse Of the last century. Her
deDaoiselie de eompognie sat working in the
recess Of a window.
"Good morning, grandmamma," said
young officer, entering the room. "Good
morning, Mademoisele Lse. Grand
mamma, have a request to make.n
"What is il, Pauli"
"Will you allow me to present one of
my friends to you, and ask you also for
an invitation for him to your ball Z"
"Bring him to the ball you can pres
ent him them. Did you go yesterday TO
the Princess Dolgorouski's 7"
"Of course. II was delightful! We
danced till daylight. Mademoiselle Eletz-
ki was charming"
"Upon my word, my dear, you are not
difficult TO please. IL you speak Of beau
ty, you ought to see her grandmother, the
4 Astto CttoNuAs Dut tell Tie,
the Princess Daria Petreyna must be get
ting old, Trs,sy ."
"Wbat do you mean by old 7" exclaim-
ed Tomski, hastily; "she has been dead
these seven years"
The demoiselle dc compagnis raised
Der head, and made sign TO the young
officer. He then recollected that Il was
an understood thing always TO conceal
from the countess the death Of any Of her
contemporaries. He bit his lips; but the
countess did not appear 10 take the news
Of the death Of her most intimate friend
much 70 heart, for she replied, Dead, Is
shei had never heard Of il. We were
appointed maids Of honor on the same
day; and when we were presented, the
empress And here the old countess
related fos the hundredth time an anec
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