The Shasta courier., 1861-07-06
The Gambler Euchred.

OF large fortune, and a wldOwer, was passing
the summer at Baden. His only child, Hell
en-, young lady of beauty and intelligence,
but of a rather too romantic turn of mind,
being known as great heiress, was, of
course, the centre and cynosure of grand
crowd of fortune-hunters, as well as an OBJ
ject of attention by men of nobler motives,
whom her beauty and agreeability drew
around her. Helen received, with the most
undisguised pleasure, the attentions of the
least worthy of all her admirers. Chevalier
Gaetan Lussac was, it is true, charming
young fellow, with handsome face, distin-
guished air, and great knack at playing
passionate devotion and making love. These
graces were, however, rather overbalanced,
especially in Sir Williams estimation by
the fact that he had all the vices of fast
man; wore a fine name as well as fine
clothes, but had no family that any one knew
of, and was in effect, however elegantly he
generally succeeded in coveringi up his
trade by playing the idler in society, neither
more nor less than professional gambler.
Sir William, having carefully investigated
Gaetan's antecedents, and verified the above
facts, demonstrated with Helen. on her par
tiality for him, and begged her to save him
the trouble of collision with Gaetan Lussac,
by cutting him at once. Helen, however,
firmly refused to believe in any of the stories
told to Gaetans discredit, and continued to
permit and indeed encourage his attentions.
Sir William was one of those men of large
and kind nature who conceal, under an extc-
rior of constant gentleness, an amount of
iron resolution, before which, on great occa-
sions. weaker or less honest natures always
quail Finding remonstrance unavailing, he
threw away no more words, but went into
action-quiet, stern, and efficient as his own
nature.
Gaeton fearing, by instinct, the force of
that nature, and knowing in what detestation
sionate declaration of love- and proposed an
elopement. If she would not consent to efope
| he besought her at least to grant him pri-
vate interview, at the hour when Sir William
was in the habit of taking his evening walk
A rose worn in her belt, at the "Conversa- "
ton House" was to be the signal of consent
Sir William put the intercepted letter in his
pocket. culled the rosebud, and when they
went in the morning to the general gathering
place of Baden, said, carelessly, to Helen,
- Put this in your belt, my child"
Helen laughingly thanked papa for his
| gallantry and wore the rose
After dinner, Sir William took Helen to
visit some friends at the extremity of the
town, and pretending business left her there.
That done, he returned to the house occu-
pied by him on the Lichtenthal road. On
! various errands he then sent all the servants
away, and remained alone
Thoroughly deceived by the signal of the
rose,- at the hour named in his billet -dostr
Gaeton arrived at the rendezvous. climbed
the low garden wall, and finding the door of
the house closed entered by an open window
in the basement story, and sprang up the
stairs to Helen's apartment. Instead Of the
daughter, however, armed with love and
bushes, he found the father, armed with two
| pistols.
Quick as thought, Sir William closed the
door, placed his back to it, and said 90
could kill you'll have the right to do it =
You have entered my house at night by esca-
! lade-n
but, Sir William" cried Gaetan, ' am
not robber !"
Not robber I" coldly replied Sir Will
liam. 'sWhat are you, then? You come to
steal my child, to steal a fortune, which you
love, and not her. Do you see this letter.
| understand your aim in it, and l am pitti-
less. But, sir, to kill you-which would,
like a dog, sooner than see my child betrayed
and ruined by an adventurer-it was not ne
cessary for me to set this trap into which you
have fallen. A duel would have rid me of
you, but / desired to avoid scandal. Even
now, l will only kill you in the last extremi-
| ty. and if you refuse to obey me-"
What do yon exact of me?''
That you shall quit Baden-not in a day
or two, not tomorrow, but instantly. You
/ will not halt until YOU are two hundred
leagues from it, and you will never present
! yourself again where either my daughter or
myself are. As the price of your obedience,
and to pay the expenses of your journey,
will give You twenty thousand francs'
Gaetan attempted to speak.
No reply, sir, cried Sir William, in a
voice of thunder. '' You know me. This
1 pistol covers your heart. never miss
Hesitate minute, and you are dead
man."
:. obey" said Gaeian, in low voice.
You are sensible man. Do you see that
writing desk? Your twenty thousand francs
are in it. Take them''
Gaetan approached, but stopped. '.It is
closed and locked" said he.
Break the lock-
How?''
Break the lock, or blow your brains
OUT
Sir Williams s pistol was again brought in
line with the head of his victim, and his eve
was pittiless. Gaetan obeyed
"'Tis well" said Sir William. "Take
that roll of bank notes which YOU see: they
are yours. Have you pocket-book9"