The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-09-25


lie pulls her sleeve gently and whispers !
her ear. See how qcickly her elbow flies u,
the sharp angle Of it directed towards h;
walstcoat, and in what fdgety, vexed mar
ner she has changed her position. Whs
does it mean9 She bets on. losing, still los
Ing. He makes another unsuccessful attemn
TO draw her away; but no not until the nil
OF gold and silver which lies before her is a
merged into one Of the enormous piles be
tore the bankers. She now turns to leave
but look. those eyes, which in woman sl.oul
ever be calm and beautiful, are set in tba
countenance like a threatening cloud whic)
passes along the horizon, frightening til
husbandman, but shedding no cool, refresh
ing drops to sparkle in the returning sun
shine
Observe that old gentleman opposite. H
is more adept at concealing these tumultuou
tides throbbing tot.and from his Iheart, bu
their pulsatlons must show a little. Tn,
top Of his bald head is red, the edge of hi
noStrils slightly tinged white. He bets will
nothing bat gold, and that by handfuls.-
That very young man at his side, e,-can he b,
his son? They occasionally exchange ;
whisper which, from the earnest expression
and gesture accompanying the same, is moi
commonplace; and he seems equally inter.
ested. The old,gen'leman is in luck tonight
lie has just laid handful of gold upon an
unusual chance land coquettish fortune smiles
lie wins. See what pile of gold Blu,
the banker does not deign to look at him
although he is giving his place to another
now. H knows he viii gamble it back
some other night. Possibly be will return
asain to night; such is tie ,trangr intatua-
ton. Should he not do e:thel, he knows
tha; his SUCCESS viii stimula,e o;ner victims
with Increased certainty to their bind ruin.
Look now at that Accomplished young
lady sitting at cur right a fragile f9Ner ot
English soil. The occasional hack" anG
the deep carnatIon on her cheek. tel toe
plainly why sde cane to Baden Baden. And
yet here she IS, under intense excitement
her fingers trembling. lips white and large
burning eye dil2ted as though il 0ult bur,t I
CAV bling away that which is more to he.
than money-hrr VERY life.
In contrast wi,h her, mari, that .ay stand
N at he's SIDE. lIow tg.uughant she is
How thoroughly "rickled. :" and be-: woman
~ sersiLihtieS must show il. q. fair ard
fral daughter Of Eve, ;hongn Thy hear. !,
truer, and the chords about it deeper ar4
stronger than man., ye. The ,ntt.rg surface
hetlays the varying shadows over !. ike \
happy summer stream Her lips are closed
ti4htly, but She is laughing al over her fac,
and every time she wins, q n0,, her heed
rolls swimming y 10 the -. her pref : shou
der. Her impatient hand can scarcely Nai'
the apportioDment Of tne game, so c.Eer.y
would she lay her money down again. She
bets with silver only; bu, see what pile sht
| has That has all been won from the frs
horia laid down. That gentleman Just ne
yond her has grown desperate. Last righ
he enjoyed run Of good luck tonight h,
suffers the reverse, but he has made up hi
mind to make Or break" Observe tn,
large VEINS on his forehead how red he IS
and teverish, and how the hot breath passe
over his parched lips like dry wind over tn
baked earth lie lays two rolls of Napoleon
on II ID. These rolls contain at least fiy
thousand francs. lie does not breathe Will
the little ball slackens its speed fer the fina
leap. He has lost. But down again on l.
/ d. Three rolls Of gold this time. iiesose
again,-bets again every time two or thre
long rolls of gold, and every time on II i
The man is infatuated; he must have dream
ed Of that number. Five times he has be,
and now again. His all is gone; We ma
know it from his unmeaning stare as tn
, inexorable rake rolls it greediIy into tn
bank, where lie his other treasures H
turns away, and strikes his Land franticall
upon his forehead now his head drops ur
on his breast. Is the man mad Why
not people notice his strange actions {
/ It's nothing A common scene; pantC
. mime played too often to be novel. But h
: returns again he has found two or tire
stray francs in his pocket. H will bet then
aud again on - d. He puts them dow
, fUriously. So unsteady and trembling in h
hand they scatter Over the table; but ii
5 banker places !henl on the desired yet fat
t mark. The eccert1ic little ball leaps into II
a place. He has lost; and row he rusht
1 nadly 10 the door. We will follow him ],
r further, for We Go not delight in scores
| horror. and before the solemn hours of Il
= night have PASSED We might hear from tho.
y pale and quivefing lips dying moan. al
e behold the appsi-ing subject Of violen
self-immoiated death, the ghastly shape
e which would intrude upon cur dreams i
f months. That gentleman dressed in spt
i good taste, at ;'a lower end of the tabl-,
4 apparently sensible man. His high, bros
!. forshe... ard arched brow indicate intelle
: ,uality, and those curved lines at the e
!. ,remity of his eyes, sociebiIity and hume
e Bu, now he is terribly excited: his ears a
}. purple, his eye forboding, bis courtenan
n sullen. Keep dear of him. sor Satan go