The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-10
WON BY CARDS.
80 For Christine.

TOT OnrlHLlne.
% For Christine " the stranger re-
peated. as he took his place at the table, |
while the old woman, with n ringing !
laugh, shuffled the cards once more, |
and again the game went on.
1t was n wild. wier1 scene, which per
haps could not have been witnessed in
any other part OF the globe.
A group of men, in every description |
of dress, numbering no less than n
hundred, stood looking On-some in
silence, some uttering oaths and handy
ing coarse jokes, as they watched
Madame Dupray, the wickedest woman
IN the colonies, fleece her last victim.
Two weeks before, she had announced
That she should set her daughter up TO
be played for. If the man lost he was
TO pay Madame one hundred pounds; if
he won-Christine was to pass into his
hands, the MRdame's control over her
nt an end
This was MadRm6's latest desperate
game, and in anticipation of this she
had kept her daughter In aeciusiop.
Only few had ever looked upon her
face, and those few raved no about her
beauty that it inhamed the hearts Of
their comrades.
Tonight che had stood before them.
Never had their eyes fallen on such
costly robes but even though sho had
been clad in rags, hcr rich, radiant.
dusky beauty would have bewildered
the eve.
Her beauty infatuated the bebolder,
ana one by one the men advanced, and
hung down their one hundred pound
stake, aD2 one by one they arose, de-
ieated, while Madame's servant swept
the gold away.
Some risked, but the game went on
others played game after game, until
their pockets were cleaned out, before
they would give up.
Madame was exultant; she was reap
Sug "a rich harvest tonight. What "A
lucky thought il had been.
Her skill in cards was something
almost Internal, as many poor fellows
could attest to their sorrow. Hardly n
miner, with his bag of gold, came
down from the mountains whom the
Madame did not lure into her den and
once in the fascInntion would be so
strong that, when they went out, they
uid so ruined. Some had retrieved
their fortunes ; others chad gone to
the dogs " and many poor fellow had
fllod "A suicides grave.
To night but few had intended To
play when they entered, but now the
last victim was sitting down. He kept
bis hat slouched over his eyes no one
knew him. He had dropped in TO look
on he had no intention TO have any
thing TO do with this "hellish game, 4"
as he called it,
Madame played like one possessed,
hut her good luck was leaving her. She
laid down no card her opponent could
not defeat; and, as the game progressed,
stulness reigned, every sound died out
all were absorbed in seeing if, in
deed, Christine Dupray was to be won
tonight.
One card morel Madame threw the
pack on the floor in rage, and tho
stranger arose. saying
" Christine ia mino I"
A wild, deafening cry arose; though
doteated themselves, the men were glad
that some one had won her-ATadame
could not play that game over.
The stranger advanced TO Christine
he saw the wild look OF alright in her
beautiful, duslNy Dyes, and his voice in
tuthyely became softer, as he said
Get your hat. This is no place for
you. You will be- safer with me than
hero, ulanoing around upon the rough,
wild group.
As one IN dream she obeyed him.
and the men parted 20 let them pass
out. Madame said no word of adieu TO
her daughter; she only muttered curses
upon the fellow whose skill was greater
than her own.
The stranger took the girl to a hotel
and carly next morning he took her &" to
parts unknown" to those who had tried
20 win hers but in reality, only TO place
her IN a good boarding. school in one of
the cities.
lie paid for a years tuition in adj
vance. He gave them his address,
wished them To write twice a year and
inform him of her progress and then,
bidding the girl 70 keep 20 herself all
Of her history, he took his departure.
Four years passed away, Christmas
beauty had increased, not diminished.
She had not looked upon her guardians
face (ior as such she spoke of her own
err, but he was ever in her mind, ASSOC
ciatcd with that awful night Even
now, all che swarm Of wild faces swan
before her vision and made her sick at
heart From the little, ignorant, four
teen-yenr-old child, she had developed
into a glowing, educated, refined young
lady Of eighteen, and now letter came
addressed 10 herself. IL read
IL Is four years since / saw You.
Your school days are drawing 10 a close.
am coming 10 ask you 10 be my wife,
and gowith me 90 u home Of your own. F"
There was no word that she belonged
20 HIM, nothing that indicated his own
crship OF her. but she shrank back from
the letter with alright She could not
meet this man She dare not meet
him What must she do
She went out into tho open air. At a
little distance she could sec a steamer at
the wharf, almost ready to leave for the
Australian shore. wild Thought a.
escape came into her mind. She had
beeu lept with moEey which she had
made but little use Of. Perhaps she
had enough now 20 take her far away.
She retul ned % the school, secured her
',,,',-J 81 s'-ss:y, .--,. ...'-s,.,,,' ,iy
boat
She had just time % write note
before the plank was pulled in, and
amid the cA,crs and good-byes the
boat started ON her journey. She
purchased q ticket, making an oNcus,
Tor coming so late that she had JUS
received a letter which summoned hcl
q England.
Two days .ater mr. Hardchhe mad,
his appearance at the school aud aske,
for his ward, Christina The matroI
handed him D scaled envelope. It con
taiuei the note she had scrubbed oI
the moment ~ her departure. Shl