The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-07-29
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Misfellauy.
LEND ME A FLORIN.
RY LADY JACKSON.

even the fierce rays of the summer
midday sun cannot penetrate the dense
shade of those leafy bowers. Rustic
seats have been placed i'm some OF
them, as if to invite the solitary or
weary-footed rambler, who, perchance,
has strOlled up from the gsyer and
more frequented gardens of the Kur-
hans, to linger there and rest awhile
after his walk up the steep street, and
along the pathways cut in the high
and wooded banks of the little lake.
The air, too, is deliciously soft and cool;
and its balmy purity has so singularly
soothing an effect on the senses, that
the fevered and agitated spirit is irresis-
tibly subdued by its gentle influence
into harmony with the calmness and
repose that reign around. The only
sounds which, now and then, break the
all-pervading stiffness are the sharp
clicking cry of the squirrels as they
leap through the rustling leaves from
branch to branch, the loud tapI ing of
the woodpeckers, the varied notes of
joyous birds, or the gurgling of the rap
id streamlet over its pebbly bed be-
meath the dark shadow of the Wild
spreading outrageous trees. Distant
voices, borne by the zephyrs, fall soft
ly on the ear in gentle, defined muir
murs; and the ivy-covered tower of the
picturesque old schloss, rising above
the tall chestnut trees that surround it,
is the only sign of human habitation
you can there obtain a glimpse of.
One afternoon in August, two ladies,
apparently unnoticed by, and unknown
70 9th fnA in In
secluded of those shady retreats. One
of them was accompanied by a little
hoy of about three years of age, who
was clasping the arm and looking up
with an expression of wonder and un-
easiness, to the face of his fair young
mother. She was absorbed in deep
reverie, and neither spoke to or saw
the child; and his playfulness was far
ther checked by the solemn quietude
of the place. Occasionally he glanced
stealthily round at the other lady, who
sat at tie extreme end of the bench,
her head reclining on one hand, while
with the other she grasped her dress
with fitful, nervous agitation. At
times broken sentence escaped her
lips in a low, unconscious whisper.
Her countenance was interesting, and
of the blonde German type of beauty.
But what can have occasiOned that dis
turbed state of mind, for she is evil
IDENTIFY veryyoung?
Suddenly she exclaimed with great
earnestness, 1.-THE flOrin would have
saved her! l feel sure it would have
saved her! A fiorin will save me, too,
and 1 will ask him to lend it."
l,n Sfa Ind fn
sciousness by the sound of her own
voice, and the lady with the child was
reused by it from her meditations.
"a form? Did you ask me for flo
rim. mademoiselle ?" she inquired with
much surprise.
90, no, madame. Pardon me for
disturbing you. was little excited /;
for i was thinking of the poor woman
who was removed this morning to
Frankfort, some people say to a lunat-
ic asylum. Perhaps you were at the
Kursaal lastnight, or have heard the
story ?"
~ was not at the Kursaal-what has
happened thereY
"I will tell you, madame. The wo-
man l spoke of is a widow, left few
months since with a large family to
support, and it appears, had recently
had some heavy losses in her business
at Frankfort. A short time ago she
dreamt, as she told friend, that she
came over to Homburg, and won very
large sum at roulette. This dream was
constantly in her thoughts; she be-
Ieved that it was sent to suggest to her
a means of releasing herself from her
embarrassments Her faith in it in
duced her to borrow, on the security of
her house and furniture, five thousand
fiorins; and this sum she brought to
the roulette table. She won trifie the
first evening-lost all she possessed the
second. was there, as lOOker-on,
and saw her place fifty florins on two
numbers-15 ON 35, 35 on 15. 1t was
her last hOpe-her last chance. Her
anxiety was painful to witness-the
short interval of suspense must have
seemed an age to her. Her eager eyes
were fixed with intensity upon the
numbers she had chosen, as if she
looked for salvation from them; but
they brought the final blow. She lost,
and was irretrievably ruined. o, what
blank despair, what mental agony, was
in that pale death like! Then, for a
moment, a ray of hope seemed to cross
her mind; for her eyes flashed bright
ly as she turned to shOwily-dressed
woman by her side, who had piles of
gold and notes before her, and said,
grasping her hand, and in imploring
accents, " You will lend me florin, l
know?" Her neighbor shook her off,
as though her very touch were to be
dreaded, and answered harshly, 81
will not lend you q fiorin, for will not
pass my luck over to you-to you WHO
have staked, and played, and lost your
all with the recklessness of mad wO-
man. / have no pity for yOu-you are
rightly served for your folly. Go back
to Frankfort and attend to your busi-
uess." Poor thing! She heaved a
deep sigh, suppressed wall of despair,
and her head sank upon the table.
"Go, go, good woman; you are in the
way" said a man who wished to take
her place. She rose from her seat.
wildly raised her clasped hands, fell up
on her knees, and i'm tones whose thrill
ling agony yet rings in my ears, cried
out: "My children o, my poor
children!n She was Immediately sur
rounded by the attendants, carried
from the saloon, and removed to her
lodging in frantic, raving state. A
physician, l am told, was sent for, and
this morning she was taken back to
Frankfort.
at is indeed a sad story" said the
lady; "her folly and infatuation may
end in madness. 1 suppose there was
no more play last evenings"
Zone would naturally suppose so
at least by those who were not the reg
ular hdbHucs-but it was otherwise.
There was a temporary interruption at
the roulette-table, and a few angry in
quiries at the trcntc ct Q,tdrante, as to
what was the matter with that raving
woman? Why was there so much de-
lay i'm putting her out ?''-but in five
minutes afterwards all was forgotten in
the absorbing interest of the tdpis Ce,t.
| must confess that / too, remained,
and to my own surprise and vexatiOn,
felt a stronger desire to join in the play.
l tried to overcome it, left roulette, and
looked OH at the other tables. re-
solved to go home, but stayed on my
attention was particularly attracted by
the great success of one of the players,
a Spaniard, as have since learned,
generally known here as Don Fernan-
dez. His winnings were immense, his
losses trifling. Evidently he played
according to some regular and success.
full system. l was fascinated by it
took card, and for a full hour /
watched, marked off his gains and
losses. fancied / discovered some
thing of his plan-.hat at least l had
gained an insight which might guide
me-"
"You intend playing, then?'