The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-01-21
A Night of Peril.
TcoNcLuDED |

Heavens, what princely bridal pres.
ent for Angela! None of the toll of
years for this, No reckless expenditure
of that which had brought gray hairs
and weariness of spirit to my ancestors !!
Fifty thousand dollars on the turning of
. card.
/ stretched forth my hand to take up
the glittering bauhles. Angela's eyes
would grow almost as bright as these
costly gems. at sight of them Not one
thought of those that would be dimmed
with tears at so great loss, marred the
delight felt so Sudden and splendid an
acquisition of fortune.
Oh you! Let them alone!"
hissed Brakeman, 6ercely, half drawing
pistol. .No man living shall have
them. My wife beaned upon US mad. y
"Have you taken the start of her p
said Montalembert, angrily, but with
deliberate emphasis, while he laid his
hand heavily On Blakeman's shoulder.
1T was a fair stake, explicitly made,
and Won know the rules of this house.
They are as inviolable as the laws OF
the Meries and Persians. The gentle
man must have the Jewels"
Blakeman's breath came heavy and
hard, like that of man in severe pain,
but his hands dropped to his side as
though he had been paralyzed.
II know that every law of honor will
decide them to be yours. 1 should un-
hesitatingly have taken your money had
l won it, But Darrill Livingstone, I
warn you now, You were never in 80
grea. danger in your life as you will be
when you leave this house with those
diamonds in your possession"
"a Livingstone has yet to know an
impulse of fear,'' / rejoined hanghtily,
while I labored to keep back the angry
flush that mounted to my brow. "But
to prove to you that they are equally
removed from the avarice of the miser,
or the greed of the gambler, / shall
make, perhaps, novel proposition to
you. The bank refuses to lend you
more money. | will stake what i have
won against your diamonds for the sec
ond time, Ii you win even now, with
nothing at stake, you shall have back
the jewels. If I am successful, they
will be simply my own, as they already
are. / have nothing to gain,as you see,
but stand every chance of losing 6fty
thousand dollars. Shall we take our
seats p
i believe the bystanders thought me
mad, I was sstonished at myself, hut
I made the offer deliberately and was
determined to abide by it,
"For shame, Blakemanr' some one
cried. "The Livingstone generosity is
|pffhcely, but insulting to the divinity Of
good luck. A game is never xon twice.
What can you offer in return, if he
loses I"
Nothing" answered the man dog
gedlY.
"And ! expect nothingw I exclaimed,
as | turned to waiter and tossed of
my sixth glass of Via de Bordeaur -
$50 let us make the venture at once, for
/ am quite overcome with weariness =
! myself had grown suddenly quite
passive, bat never in bull fight, horse
race, or any other contingent hazard
have seen as much interest as was
manifested by every looker-on here
Respiration itself seemed suspended foi
the time Every one felt assured tha
Brakeman would be victorious now.
had heard various epithets about me as
| took my sest. 'fWhat fool p "Ht
is assuredly drunk or mad," and the
like. But fancied myself as collected
as ever was in my life. uttered al
irrepressible yawn during the turning
of the cards.
"1MiNe tonneres." The exclamation
came from Montalembert
had won again.
"By heavens, Livingstone, you ough
to be alarmed. Doesn't that wine tast,
of goldl Yuh must be second Midas
But word, mon ami, if yon bore witt
you the secret Of perpetual life yo,
would not be in' greater danger thar
you will tie with those diamonds abou
your person. will bear you eompan,
back to your hotel if you wish. Z.
The sugge stion came from a Taluet
friend. but l was a little offended.
"Thank you, Maurice" ] returned
coldly s'The man who cannot protec
his own life deserves to lose it. ] shal
feel no apprehensions, think"
took up the beautiful casket, closet
tit, saw that It was secure, and buttonet
it in my bosom. Then bowiDg with
satirical smile to Brakeman, who hat
Indeed the ,ook Of tiger about t.
Isrrjnu uaon AN adSerSary that had wor