The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-22
NO CARDS.

MY dear countess, sad Il assure
you | never gamble beyond my means.
and lose neither head nor temper, which.
ever way luck goes. | play for amusc.
ment iu II town where all play men aud
woncn--'
Not at all sir broke in my compan.
ion, curling her pretty lips with disdain
not unminged with irritation. Il and
many here never do 50 simply to kill time
You seem to forget what a pleasure to
you may bc death 10 Others
Cards were always a source Of contcn.
ton between the charming Countess Col.
lini and myself, Travelling through Italy
L had made her acquaintance at VI -. a
small town, the inhabitants Of which were
much given to games OF chance. had
found the countess so charming that | in-
staatIy pitched my tent there TO enjoy
her society, and, as | said. for amusement
often dropped into the casino for an hour
or so during the evening Being a. Rome,
| did as Rome did, that was all but it
brought down on me the CO, ntess' wrath.
She had lived much in England, spoke
the language perfectly, and had go acquir.
cd our manners that she appeared but
half Italian. She was very beautiful,
but looked most so when she was excited.
The subject Of gambling always rendered
her so, end | own to seishly indulgiug
my admiration by frequently bringing il
upon the tapis
Il really must give it up repentant-
Iy said, ono evening, after more than
usually hot passage at arms. Il don't
care about it and she is evidently more
annoyed than she even confessed, and |
wouldn't seriously vex her for the world.
! The game was just commencing |
carclessly put down my staka won,
| left the yra and what it had gained on
tho color, and went again and again
Indeed tide of luck had set in my favor.
People crowed around inc, but my at.
tention was most attracted by a man.
shabbiy attircd opposite me lie was an
italian, sallow, black. haired, black nous.
tached, thin and haggard. lie staked
small sums, invariably lost i'll luck pur
sued.
noticed him from the avidlty with
which he watched tho heap of gold and
notes ever increasing before me.
Indifferent to success, put down ye
more recklessly. Still | won, until tn,
game stopped. had broken the bank
was placing my heavy gains safel,
away in my breast coat pocket when
voice addressed me
You have been fortunate 10 night sig
nor Englishmen always are.
| turned, it was the Italian A Chast
y smile was on his brow and stranc
wildness on his countenancc.
Yes, signor,' | answered you shoul,
have backed my play, then | might hav
returned the compliment
Back such play, he muttered 1T wa
the evil ones luck
'Signor, you played lecklessly'
\ friend coming up, the Italian move
away; but | saw with some anxiety h
kept his glance furtiyely fixed on me.
That mans dangerous = | though
Its hardly safe, | fancy, for me to carr
this money But gave a sharp looL
B. out on my way home, and reached m
apartments in safety.
1t was late in the afternoon when, nes
day, called on the countess.
We'll Signor Melville She said iu
mediatel y aceosting me. SO you brol
the bank last night .
Then the news has reached you :?
1T always travels fast she rcspondC
: d'yly.
began selfextenuation as usual ,wh,
she stopped me.
Stay Let US say no more on II
subject just now, have visit to max
Will you act as my cavalier ?
accepted the offer, and tho counte
retired. She soon came back, dress,
for walking, when we set forth. As '
went | perceived something had eyider
ly gone wrong with my companion. s.
was grave, and talked but little Nv