The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-10
A Wife Lost.

GAMBLING FOR WIFE-THROWING
DICE--A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOL
LARS AGAINST A LADY'S HAND.
A Louisville (Kentucky) correspon-
dent tells the following story:
There lived on street, in an
nnpretending establishment, surround
ed by trees and flowers, a young lady
who was celebrated for her beauty and
accomplishments. She was blonde,
with blue eyes, white teeth, and a
heavenly smile-had the prettiest hand
and foot that ever we're secn--and was
tall, hlithe, and elegant. Her wit was
delicate, pointed, and sparkling, and
her mind as superior rs her person was
lovely. The town was at her feet, and
her suit0rs were as iinportunate, if not
as many, as Penelopn's, like whom she
| was continually wooed aud never yet
won. In the midst of her successes
came the war, the end of which found
her family impoverished, and herself
reduced to want for the neccssaries of
life.
But she was still the proud, imperi-
GUS mistress of hearts us before, and she
refused in quick succession the many
offers of marriage tina: were now made
to her. She had not thought OF matri-
mony as resource, but had other
totally different prospects in view.
She proposed, III fact to teach school.
A fellow t"wnsniaB, a gentleman of
wealth and position, and a bachelor,
had long been a silent worsllipper Of
her shrine. He had houses and lands
- estates in the country and i"ts in the
city, stocks, interests and investments
wherever they would pay, and his pri
vate establishment oD -- street was
simple palatial. Seeing how the case
stood with her whom he had loved with
his whole soul, he resolved, after many
self-communings and much reflections
to ask her 10 be his wife.
"Sir,n said she, III answer to his pro-
posal, 81 do not love you, and cannot
marry YOU"
"Think the matter over ms DEAR"
said he, "and in one week from to-day
give me your answer"
Upon his return ON the day set, she
J said to him:
"Sir, you have wealth and l lam poor
you live in palace, and as you see
in a cottage, you are DESTROYS Of lav-
: ing my hand, and l would like to be
I rich. will make y0n q proposition.
l will throw dice Will, yon-my hand
against hundred thousand dollars! Is
it bargain 7"
t st is" said he. And t!ereupOn they
pledged to each other their words to
+ bide the hazard.
1t was arranged that but three per.
SONS should be let into tile secret that
i. each one should select q friend; aud
| that the two select friends where tc
choose the third. Miss - named til.
Hon. Mr.. -, prominent member Of
the bar, as her friend; Mr.. - chose
u the Rev. Mr.. -, pastor of the 5asion
e able church on - street.. as his an(
these two made choice OF Dr.. -, a,
eminent professor in the Medical Col
, iege, as the friend of both parties. By
: these gentlemen the preliminaries were
I arranged, and the programme wa'
f this:
. Tie doctor was to give a party a: hi
house ON a certain specified F,ida,
9 evening, at which were to be presen
d all the best people of louisville; thu
It Hon. Mr.. - was to have license il
blank, ready to be filed at a moment
warning, and was to hold Mr.. -
Il check for 100000; and the Rev. Mr.
$ - was to he in waiting to perform
Y the marriage ceremony if called on 81
to do. The dice were to lie thrown il
: Hon. Mr.. - study, whence TIL
: vuintette were to proceed to the party
d where, if Miss - lost, they were 4
celebrate the wedding. and. if she won
: they were to mingle with the guest
without remark.
:. At precisely nine o'clock ON the even
d ing the players and their friends met il
# the Hon. Mr.. Is study. By agree
: meht Oi the parties themselves, the.
were TO throw poker dice, and to Gu
cards for the first throw. The gentle
= man cut ii queen and the ladya jack
1t and now came the ting Of war. He wa
cool, calm. and pale; she was statue
que, impe,iOus. and collected. Iii
lips were compressed; hers were from
ed into an extended arcspanning til
y whole mouth and completing tn
q bow.
Is The twain sat on opposite sides of
e small table, and the umplres stOo'
;. overlooking them.
=. The tlic.-box being setbef"re him, b
u placed his fingers over the top, an
,, with the thumb clasping the side. b
q gave it shake and threw two four
= and two dences. Putting aside til
fouls he threw again and threw a""the
10 four. Then, witt, the two remainin
l. dice he threw two fives, He had thrown
IF therefore, fnll-three tours and tw
IA fives.
And now came her turn. 1t was
70 thrilling moment, and the rustic of he
" silk dress in the stiffness Of that roor
h sounded like the. tree tops in the wine
h. She begun by drawing off her rigl
- glove, exposing hand Of exqnisit
" beauty and delicacy, on the foretinge
ia of which sparkled a diamond. The
$, taking mp the box quickly she g've 1T
Of long shake in the air and turning
, down upon the table she threw notl
ing! A cloud tlereupon passed over ht
is face, and the arc of her lips assumed
" still more bow like curvature. Blu
re nothing danntea, she at once re-to0