Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-09

given to wealthy blackleg'-anS he nointe,
scornfully to the table, where. as usuai. Law
mass OF baDk.notes and gold
1eit the blood mount to my head as h,
uttered these words, but made a grand ef
fort to be calm eAN Vi
"' Ny dear sir replied, / know Won dic
not WISH to add insult to my other misfor
tunes, am therefore L attribute thess harsh
expressions entirely to misapprehension.
never was gambler. L have no wish 20 den,
or even extenuate my many transgressions
but solemnly assure you that never was ,
gambler. Let me know the name of yeur in
fOrmant, and he shall either eat his own word
or bite the dust before another day is over. :
The count shook his head, and pointed t
the heap of gold"
swear that am ignorant how that money
came into this room.'
The count still shook bis head, and smiled
ironically.
"'ln the name of God, here on my bended
Knees, repeat that oath; and as soldier and
man OF honor, L pledge my life that what
| have sworn is true
The count still shook bis hesd, and hi.
lips wore the same increduIous smile.
| II, SIR, you neither believe my oath as a
christian, nor my word as a gentleman, said
l, rlslrg indignantly, have nothing further
ID add, save, merely, this-that ad any other
man but the Count Won S. insulted me in
this manner, his conduct should not have
passed with impunity. For your daughters $
sake, for the deep love L shall ever bear to-
wards her, L an content to suffer this indig-
nlIy uhavenged, and L rang the bell for the
servant to open the door.
ou renounce all pretension to my dauph-
'ers hand = said the count, perfectly 1n-
| moved.
q Never - cried L passionately-"n never at
the bidding of tickle and remorseless ty.
| rant never until she herself renounces me
She tas done so - calmly replied nv Wis
ltcr, opening his pocket-bOok and delivering
| 20 me letter.
81 clutched the paper franticaIly in nv
hahd-l fastened my eyes on the well-known
characters. 1t was too true-she discarded
me- In a few calm but decisive sentences
blotted with tears, but not otherwise evincing
| any grief, she acquainted me with my doom
The missive fell like stone from my grasp,
and an icy chill shot into my heart.
"'You no longer refuse my request?' asked
the count, moving across the room
= i do not, SIR replied L, with great eff
tort at self-control, all my pride coming 10 nv
temporary assistance. willingly renoupce
every claim to your daug hter's hand and hone
she may enjoy the happiness she SO fully de-
serves. With the greatest imaginable pleas
ure, count, fenounce your frtendsktp, and
trust that your chivalrous conduct on this oc.
casion will ever continue to be subject Of
self graduation. L have the honor to wish
you very good morning, Count Won s.
and so saying, L most courteously attended
my visitor to the door.
when he had gone, L staggered back to
my chamber, and fell almost senseless into the
armchair. How long L continued there, 1
cannot say. The hours passed without nv
taking the slightest heed of their rapid flight.
Breakfast was brought to me and ate it
the same with dinner and supper; I ate them
heartily, believe, but without the slightest
appetite. 1 smoked, drank wine, but all
| mechanically, as it were, without enjoyment.
and yet L was not positively ill. One single
thought, the thought of my mysteriOusIy- ac-
quired wealth, preyed upon my mind with the
morbid tenacity peculiar to an overstrung
nervous system. 1t haunted me like a spec.
tire, that heap of gold and would have will
lingly given the whole of it to learn by what
stealthy means it came into my possession.
But fruitless were my endeavors to re solve
the enigma and 1 finally determined, by
way of quieting my mind, and at the same
time convincing the count Of the injustice he
had done me, to state the entire case to the
| municipal authorities, intrust the money to
their care, for the benefit Of the poor-in case
| no one claimed il within a certain period-and
! then to leave the place. After forming this
| resolution, / felt much relieved, and took up
| my hat for a stroll. 1t was a lovely evening,
| and groups of gay promenaders were out en-
jOying the balmy summer air; and at a short
distance from the village, met the count, his
daughter, and an elderly gentleman, who was
talking to his companions in an unusually
grave manner. As Il approached, the stranger
gazed at me with much apparent interest the
| others passing by with a very slight mark of
| recognition. L observed, however, that the
poor girl looked pale and much detected; and
cut to the quick by the spectacle Of her un-
happiness, yet smarting under a sense of her
| cruel conduct, returned home, fully resolved
! to depart in the coarse of the following day.
and by active employment in some forei IN
country, endeavOr to forget my past misery.
'.To my infinite surprise, however, was
| awakened next morning by loud rapping at
| the door, and on opening it was warmly en-
| braced by the count, who, with many apollo
| gies for his harsh conduct, begged that would
dismiss all recollection of it from my mind.
"I started back, rubbed my eyes, and stared
at my companion in perfect amazement. Was
he mad or was dreaming? or were we, both
Of US, a couple of lunatics? L felt my hea
| wander, and knew not what to say.
"' Forgive me, ny dear boy. said he, press
ing my hand. forgive me for my unjust sus-
picions yesterday; and if you can So far forget
what then transpired, my daughter may live
| to be happy woman. Here he gave me a
letter from her, full Of repentance, Of joy at
| nv innocence, and of passionate love.
| 81 was more amazed than ever. The usual
| heap of rOukeoRC and bank notes, my fairy
| gift, lay on tho dressing table; nothing was
| altered; whence then this violent change in
| the counts conduct? began to suspect that
| his mind was slightly disordered, and that this
! was The real cause Of his eccentric behavior.
He evidently guessed at my thoughts, for he
| said, with quiet smile
g. No, 10, my boy; it is not so; but will
| at once explain this strange story. After you
| left ", my daughters health appeared to
| be in danger Of breaking down; and hearing
| Colonel Won Stein speak so favorably of your
| character, L determined on waving all further
objections to your union but no sooner had
arrived in Hamburg, than 1 heard every one
! talking of the extraordinary luck of q young
Austrian officer, who had for the last week
been nightly visitor and large gamer at
the rouge ct noir table. 1 listened attentive
| ly, struck by the resemblance this young
officer bore to yourself; and on further inquiry,