The hydraulic press., 1860-07-21
your attentions to Olympia were disagreeable

your attentions to Olympia were disagreeable
to men
"But MarquisAp
"You loved my daughter then, did you
not?"
~ did,"
"And do you continue to love her with the
same devotion 2"
"With all my heart and soul p,
Foscarini eyed Stephen scratinizingly.
81 suspected as much, and stake my daugh.
ter against ten thousand louis I"
At these unnatural words, the guests all
started up.
Is it agreed ?" continued Foscarini, lost to
all sense of shame.
''The heart of Stephen leapt with Joy. A
flush passed over his countenance. He strug-
gled with his emotions. In his embarrass-
ment he made motion to grasp the hand of
the Marquis, but was quickly and Indignantly
repulsed. Even this did not prevent him
from throwing himself at Foscarini's feet and
exclaiming-
"Marquis, if yor will accept me for son,
here on nay knees, before these gentlemen, l
restore you every thing l have won, and
promise you the most dutiful obedience"
"Do you accept the stake ?" thundered the
Marquis, affectingnot to have noted Stephens
appeal, his lip quivering with anger and ex-
citement; "do you accept the stake!"
II do" said Stephen, rising and finging
back the Marquis defiant look. II accept,
and may the fates, in this venture at least,
prove propitious to mer'
There was pause. The four disinterest-
ed parties beheld this scene in dumb amaze
ment
'There is my hand" exclaimed the Mar
quis, tossing down his cards. at contains
three acesr
"And mine,' said Stephen, separating the
cards on the table with his fingers ''mine
exhibits two-three tens, and, yes-and a
fourth of the same denomination !"
Stephen sprang to his feet in the excess of
his delight-not to triumph over his adver-
sary's misfortunes, but to commemorate the
event of his own happiness.
The Marquis cast himself down, with his
face buried in his hands, and wept.
Anticipating a catastrophe, the four wit
nesses of these novel and thrilling proceed
ings, took their hats and quietly withdrew
from the room.
When they were left alone, "Marcuis Fos.
carini," exclaimed Stephen, in voice and
manner now entirely collected s'this is only
an unpleasant dream. You have lost moth
ing-I have gained nothing"
''Lost nothing!' said the Marquis, bitterly.
"Lost nothingl" and casting look of scorn
at Stephen, he strobe haughtily from the
room.
The latter sat down and wrote a note for
Olympia, in pencil, informing her of all that
had transpired, after which he also followed
into the open air.
q.
He saw crowd of people on the street.
They were carrying man in his direction
upon litter. 1t was Foscarini, who had
attempted to drown himself but was again
rescued before life had become extinct
Eight days afterwards, Stephen at midnight
entered his own apartment, and was inform
ed that two persons were awaiting his re-
turn, up stairs. They were Foscarini and
his daughter.
"My visit to this house surprises you,
doubtless, monsieur" said the Marquis. "lt
was necessary, however, sooner or later, that
should come. | am here to redeem my
engagement. You have won my daughter.
Here she is. There is one condition to be
observed. / never shall acknowledge you
as my son-in-law. You can only marry her
when am dead."
Before Stephen and Olympia could recover
from the surprise created by this ominous
speech, the Marquis locked the door and
placed the key in his pocket.
"a game still remains to be played. Here
are two pistols" said the Marquis. ''One is
loaded the other is not. We shall fire across
the table, at the word. If | kill you, my
daughter still remains my property. fyou
should kill me, / leave it to her own sense
of propriety to decide whether she could
wed her fathers assassin p
Stephen endeavored to expostulate. eff
you make step toward, Olympia's life shall
pay the forfeit |" exclaimed the Marquis, ex-
hibiting all the fury of an exasperated de-
mon. He pointed both the weapons at her
head.
Stephen hesitated.
s'Make choice between the pistols, cow
ard I: screamed the Marquis.
III shall certainly kill you,r said Stephen,
with frmness and deliberation which gave
the lie to the Marquis reproach, at the same
time taking hold of the extended weapon.
~ will kill you, but shall not therefore be an
assassin. You have forced this terrible event
upon me, and an inward monitor assures me
you shall be the sufferer in the tragedy. Pre-
pare to fire One !-two-p
There was a Simultaneous discharge of
both pistols. Olympia's screams mingled
with the reports. When the smoke cleared
away, father and daughter were discovered
stretched upon the floor-the brains of the
former blown out-the latter only suffering
from a temporary attack of faintness and
vertigo.
An examination into the private affairs of
the Marquis, revealed the fact that Olympia
was his niece, and not his daughter. The
estates claimed by him, were hers by right,
and came back into her possession. A course
of falsehood and duplicity on his part, to-
wards her and the world at largo, had been
rendered necessary to conceal the evidences
of his guilt.
Stephen in due time became the guardian
of these estates by nearer and dearer title
than that achieved from the Marquis at the
gaming table.
HEENAN's BLows.-The London Sporting
Life says that Heenan is undoubtedly the