The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-13

laugh that caused Albert to raise his head with
movement of sudden indignation.
81 have not deserved this treatment at youl
hands, Baron Bohendorf," he said, turning
away toward the window "Your position as
the father of one whom ! dearly love protects
you from the satisfaction | might demand; but
| trust the time will come when you will recog-
Mise and acknowledge your injustice to me-
''What effrontery! You forget then, that it
is in my power to confront you with the proof
of your vice; nay, at this instant to confound
and convict you. What gold is this?'
And the old gentleman, whose eyes had al
ready detected the glimmer of the coin beneath
the coat, extended his hand, and lifted the gar
ment away upon the end of his walking stick.
The lover turned pale, and could not speak,
"Der teufel! for poor man who have, it
seems, we'll filed purse for travelling! All!
you never gamble!"
Never, sir
"Indeed? Pray then if, your gold be not
the fruit of the gaming table, whence comes
it?''
81 know not. You will not believe me,
am aware, but l swear speak the truth. This
gold comes here, | know not how. This is the
fourth time have found it upon my table. l
can discover nothing of the source from whence
it arrives. know not why it is here, who briggs
it, OF how it is brought. By my honor as gen
tleman and sodier-by all my hopes of hap
pness in this life or the next | am utterly
ignorant of everything about it"
"This is too muchH' cried the baron, furi-
ously. 'sDo you take me for an idiot or do
tard? Good morning to you, sir, and hope l.
may never see your face again!'
And he slammered the door violently behind
him, and went away down the stairs, leaving
poor Won Steinberg utterly overwhelmed and
broken hearted. fCursed gold!'' he exclaimed
dashing it upon the floor in his anger, 'what
brought thee here, and why dost thou torment
mel" Then the poor fellow thought of Emma,
and Of how his last chance was wrecked, and
he was so miserable that he actually threw
himself upon his bed, and wept bitterly. All
at once he remembered that the baron had
sister at ngeuschwalbach; she perhaps, would
believe him, would intercede for him! He
started resolved to 90 thither at once; hastily
gathered together the scattered pieces of money;
locked them up in the drawer with the rest; ran
down straightto the neighboring carriage stand;
hired vehicle to convey him to the railway
station, and in less than haitian hour he was on
his way. In about three hours he arrived. He
passed nearly the whole day in trying to dis
cover the lady's address, and when he had
found it, was told that she had been for the last
two months at Vienna. 1t was foolish jour
ney, with disappointment at the end of it! He
came back quite late in the evening to Ems, and
entered his own room, utterly broken down by
anxiety and fatigue.
In the meantime, the baron, crimson with
rage, had returned to his hotel, and told all the
circumstances to his daughter. She could not
believe in the guilt of her lover.
''He gamblerr' she exclaimed. 'It is i'm
possible?''
.tBut saw the gold upon his table"
''He says he knows nothing of it, and he
never told an untruth in his life. 1t will all be
explained by and-by."
But l saw him playing at the tables"
"It was some other who resembles him"
"Will YOU believe it,if you see him yourself?'
Il will, my father, and | will renounce him
forever; but not till then"
"Then you shall be convinced this evening"
The evening came, and the rooms were more
than usually crowded There was a ball in the
salon de danse; refreshments in the ante-room;
gaming, as usual, in the third apartment The
baron Von Hohendorf was there with his daugh-
ter and some friends They made their way to
the tables, but he whom they sought vas not
there. Eager faces enough were there around
the board faces of pale, dissipated boys scarce
old enough, one would have thought, to care
for any games but those of the school ground !;
faces of hardened, COOL determined gamblers;
faces of girls, young and beautiful, aud of men,
old and feeble Strange table, around which
youth and beauty, and age, and deformity, and
vice, should congregate together, and meet on
equal ground!
Suddenly there was a movement at the fur
ther end of the room; whisper vent round,
the spectators made way, and the player drew
aside for one who now approached and took bis
stand amongst them. This Difference is shown
only to those who play high, and play frequent
ly Who is this noted gambler? Albert Won
Steinberg.
4 cry Of agony breaks from the pale lips of
young girl at the other end of 1he room, as
she clings to the arm of an elderly gentleman
beside her, and leans wildly forward to be sure
that it is really he, Alasi it is nc error-it is
Albert! He neither hears nor heeds anything
around him. lie does not even look toward
where she stands. He seats himself very quietly
as matter of course, takes some roudeaux Of
gold, and packet Of notes from his pocket,
stakes large sum, and begins to play with all
the cool audacity of one whose faith in his own
luck is unshakeable, and who is perfect master
of the game. Beside this, he carried bis self
command to that point which is only attained
by years Of practice. 1t was splendid to see
him so impassive His features were fixed and
as those of a statue; the steady
earnestness of his gaze was almost terrible; his
very movements were those Of man liable to
human fraiIties and human emotions; and the
right hand which he staked and swept up the
gold. was stiff and mechanical as that Of the
in Don Giovanni
The baron could contain his indignation no
longer Leaving his daughter to the care of
her friends, he made his way round the table, !
and approached the young mans chair. He
extended his hand TO touch the players arm,
when his own was forcibly seized and held back.
He turned, and saw one of the most celebrated
physicians Of Germany standing beside him.
''StcpP' he exclaimed, do not speak to that
young man, it might injure himl''
That is exactly what | wish. ! will disturb
his calculations, the hypocrt."