Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-04-14

and Florence; all his villas at the foot Of
Mount NcSuvius and his property in the Cam
pagnia at Rome; his gold, diamonds, horses
all
The day broke through the creyccS of the
shutters through the double curtains the day
light east its pale beam, which made that of
the expiring wax light Of the red glare which
we fancy an eninatiUn from the Internal re-
giOnS.
OF the six intrepid players, four Of them
looked like statutes. The immense losses of
their host the piles Of money and o Us
placed before them, had pctriiicd them. Only
two men there found words or movement
Those were FoScarini and Stephen The for.
mer was searching in all hi>pockcts for some
thing more whcrcwith to gamble, and found
nothing. Never before had a man in this
world such phyeiognomy as that one.
At last h" advanced two flaming eyes close
to the others face, aud in low voice which
seemed to roll in his bosom like distant and
threatening thunder. hc said
"MOn-icur, all that possess is yours; !;
what those other gentlemen won is triil",
but you-at this present moment, you might
say to me, 'OId man, leave my house."
;" Marquis :. exclaimed Stephen.
" Let me continue" the other cried, inter
ruptng him. 1--WE met at the Pyrmont; at
the casino Of Naples, also. Young nan, do
you recollcct that twice told You that your
attentions 10 my daughter were displeasinS To
me-"
"But marquis"
"You loved my daughter then, and had
the right Of showing you the door. But you
loved her, did you not!"
eyes"
"Do you love her still? Say, do you?"
al do, with my whole heart and soul"
"Wcll, then, I'll stake her."
At these horrible words all the other gam
blcrS started up, ctcc;fiticIi and SrccclicSS; !;
but with claspcd hands raised toward Stephen,
and by the expression Of their faces, imploring
him to refuse. But he: y fash of heavenly
joy lit up his cOuntenance. lie cndcavorcd TO
clasp the hand Of the marquis, but hc was
coldly pushed back and seeing that play had
made mortal enemy Of that man, he drew
himself up with nobility of feeling, to which
his antagonist was a stranger, and said in a
solemn tone
marquis, if you will accept me for your
son-in-aw, here, before these gentlemen, on
my knees implore yoti to take back al you
have lost But fcarit will be useless hoping"
"Pcrltctly" replied the marquis, in tone
of rage.
"Well, them" answered Stephen, codly,
81 accept your proposal It's for you to fix
what shall lose if you win"
The spectators uttered a cry of horror.
Foscarini looked at them, from one to the
other with a smile Of contempt, and replied
to Stephens last words with
"What you please"
There was terrible pause.
~ play your daughter" said the young
officer Of TrcbanS, "againSt all that possess,
both here and at home, against my paternal
inheritance, my name, my position, honor
all"
"'TiS WELL" replied the marquis, and he
flung three cards on the table.
They were three aces.
Stephen, without looking at his own, turn
cd them up.
They were three tens, and the fourth of that
number also.
"Four tens" exclaimed the naval officer,
in terror
"Four tens !" responded the two planters
and the Partisan banker. And as all forcSaw
some fearful catastrophe they picked up their
hats, collected their winnings, and prepared
to depart but as they were saying goodbye
to the marquis, the ruthless gamblers were af.
fcctcd by the cOuntcnance of the father who
had lost his child, whose face was bathcd in
tears; that millionaire, who was reduced to
bcggary, seemed to ask mercy of the young
man who had won all.
Marquis Foscarini," exclaimed Stephen
advancing towards him, and speaking iu a
trembling voice, this is horrible dream :;
you have lost nothing, | have gained moth
ing"
81 have lost nothng!" cried the old man,
with bitterness; task those who have gone
away laden with my gold if have lost moth
ing If my countcnancc and my tears say
that, my face and tears he"
Thus saying, he disappeared before any one
could stop him. Shortly afterwards Stephen
found himself alone in the apartment
1t was eleven in the morning.
The Young officer picked up the papers, the
cngagcmeltS, and the q Us scattered about,
and4hhg tkcm into the fire He wrote to tell
Olympia what had passed, and then he quilted
the hotel.
Fifty steps from it he saw crowd of people
advancing. On litter they were carrying n
man who had just been taken out Of the water
1t was FoScarini. He had been Just saved in
time to preserve life
Eight days afterwards Stephen, at atmidnight,
entered his own apartment. and WAS informed
that two persons were aHniting his return up
stairs. They were Foscaiini and his daugh-
ter.
"My visit at this hour surprises YOU doubt.
less, monsieur said the marquis slowly !;
nevertheless, soon or late it was necessary
that | should come. | am here to redeem nv
engagement. You have won my daughter;
here she is. bring her to you. lhavc used
10 force to accomplish it She has followed me
willingly. Is is not so Olympia =
lie asked this with bitter smile, and then
continued
~ have now no daughter; but you have
not wife yet, Monsieur Stephen. will never
acknowledge y0u as my SUn-n.law. You are
not noble enough for that. Olympia can never
be your wife until after my death nevcrlhe-
less, she is yours. You see, then, monsieur
whether there remains anything to play for"
And while those gloomy words left tho two
lovers petritied, with the feeling ofimpendinS
evil. in the midst Of the room, he quietly shut
the door, and placed the key in his pocket.
My revenge, them" he cried, in low
voice, taking two pistols from his bosom
"See, they arc both unloadcd, and pairs. l
will charge one, and you shall have the first
choice. If | kill you, my daughter will be
mine; if you kill me, Olympia will be free
and then she can hest judge whether her faith,
crs assassin can become her husbandl"
Stephen endeavOred to expostulate.
"lf you take a step forwOrd-if you utter
a cry" exclaimed the exaSperatcd old man,
81 will discharge the pistol at her!"
And as he spoke, he pointed the weapon he
had charged, while speaking, at her head.