The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-20

demand Olympia again in marriage from her
father, endeavor by other means TO win him
from his love Of gambling. II she were
to refuse him, he felt oil the desperation
would seizo upon him which was natural to
q young man like himself, who had vainly
sought the one he loved 20 long.
Foscarini and Stephen were seated opposite
to each other. At their loo table there was
q Partisan banker. an English naval officer,
and two planters from the Havana. Strikes
were immense, Stephen commenced by ten
louis, then ten more, again the same and then
the same. All were lost. He trembled.-I
Foscarini laughed at the smallness Of his
stakes. With hand which appeared In.
stinctively to draw back, Stephen placed his
last ten louis before him no held three
deuces in his hand, and gained hundred
louis from the Partisan banker.
At FIVE in tho morning he bad won two
hundred thousand piastrcs. the banker reighty-
four thousand, the naval officer twenty thou
mnd, and the other two -horo than thirty
thousand.
It was Foscarini who had lost all that.
The gamblers drunk glass of punch, and
amcably gave each other rendezvous for the
evening.
Evening came and the play Of the one pre-
ceding had been that ola child in comparison
with it. Angelo Marquis Of Foscarini lost
all that he possessed-all his palaces ut
Naples and Florence all his villas Mt the
foot of Mount Vesuyius, and his property IN
the Campagna at Rome; his gold, diamonds,
horscs-all.
The day broke through the crevices of the
shutters through the double curtains the
daylight cast its pale light. the red glare Of
which we fancy IN cmanation from tho in
fernal regions.
Ofthe six intrepid players, four Of them
looked like statues. The immense Losses of
their host, the piles Of money and ! o us
placed before them had pctriied them. Only
two men there found words or movements
These were Foscarini and Stephen. The for
was searching in all his pockets for some
thing moro whcrcwith to gamble, and he
found nothing. Never before had q man in
this world such physiognomy as that one
At last he advanced two flaming eyes close
to the Others face and in low voice seemed
to roll in his bosom like distant and threaten |
ing thunder, he said
Monsieur, ,all that possess Is your; what
those other gentlemen won is is trhe, but
you-at this present moment, you might say
to Inc, 'Old man, leave my house
'Marquis!' exclaimed Stephen.
Let me continue the other cried, inter-
rupting him. we met at Pyrmont ut the
casino of Naples, also. Young man, do you
recollect that twice told you that your ut
tentions to my daughter were displeasing to
me?'
But marquis-'
You loved my daughter then, and I had
the right of showing you the door. But you
loved her, did you nOtg
Yes
DO you love her still? Say, do your
Il do, with my whole heart and soul!'
We'll, then, 81 stake her
At those horrible words oil the other gam |
blers started up, electrified and speechless
but with clasped hands raised toward Stephen,
and by the expression Of their faces, implor-
ing him to refuse. But he? A flash Of
heavenly joy lit up his countenance. He
endcavored to clasp the hand of the marquis,
but he was coldly pushed back; and seeing |
that play had made "a mortal enemy Of that
man, he drew himself up with nobility OF
feeling, to which his antagonist was stran-
ger, and said in solemn tone:
Marquis, IL you will accept mo for your
son.in-law here before these gentlemen, on
my knees implorc you to take back oil you
have lost. But ] fear 1t will bc useless hop
ing ..-..
Perfectly = replied the Marquis, in tone
of rage.
well, thcn,' answered Stephen, cold!y;
u accept your proposal; tits for you to Tx
what shall lose II you win.'
The spectators uttered u cry Of horror.
Foscarini looked at them, from ono to
tho other with smile Of contempt, and re-
piled to Stephens last words with
Whatever you please
There was terrible pause.
Il play your daughter said the young
officer of Trebans, against all that l possess,
both here and at home, against my paternal
inheritance, my name, my position, honor
all' -.....
'Tis WE'LL replied tho marquis, and he
flung three cards on the table.
They were three aces.
Stephen, without looking ut his own, turn.
ed them up.
They were three items, 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 fore
saw 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 gam
bers even were affected by the countenance
Al. ca Skn- ,I,,>h haI Loaf Nbt
face was bathed in tears; that millionaire,
who was reduced to bcggary, seemed to ask
mercy Of tho young man who had won
oil.
'Aiarqujs Foscarini,' exclaimed Stephen,
advancing towards him, and speaking in o
trembling voice, 'this Is q horrible dream
you have lost nothing, have gained moth
ingr
Il have lost nothing cried the old man,
with bitterness; 'ask those who have gone
away laden with gold II have lost nothing
If my countenance and my tears say that,
my f,co and tears lie"
Thus saving, he disappeared before any ono
could stop him. Shortly afterwards Stephen
found himself alone in the apartment.
Il was eleven in the morning.
The Young officer picked up tho papers,
the engagements, and the o Us scattered
about, and flung them into the. FIRE: He
wrote to tell Olympia what had passed, and
then he quilted the hotel. p
Fifty steps from Il he aw crowd OF
peoplc advancing. On litter they were
carving man Who had just been taken out
Of the water.
A.. l,c, L
Eight days afterwards Stephen, at mid
might. entered his own apartment, and was
informed that two persons were then awaiting
his rctum up stairs. They were Foscarini