South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-04-23
w o N BY CAR DS
For Christine 7,


again the game went on.
1t was n wild, weird 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 hum
dred, stood looking on-some in silence,
some uttering oaths and bandying coarse
jokes, as they watched Madam Dupray.
the wickedest woman in the Colonies,
fleece her last victim.
Two weeks before, she had announc-
ed that she should set her daughter up
TO be played for. III the man lost he
was to pay madam one hundred pounds :;
if he won-Christine was to pass into
his hands; the madam's control over
her ut an end
This was the madam's latest despe.
rate game. and in anticipation of this
she had kept her daughter in seclusion.
Only n few had ever looked upon her
face, and those few raved SO about her
beauty that it infiamed the hearts of
their comrades.
Tonight she had stood before them.
Never had their eyes fallen on such
loneliness. Madam arrayed her i'm cost
ly robes; but even though she had been
clad in rags, her rich, radiant, duskv
beauty would have bewildered the eve.
Her beauty infatuated the beholder,
and one by one the men advanced and
flung down their hundred pound stake,
and one by one they arose, defeated,
while madam'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.
Madam was exultant; she was reap
ing rich harvest tonight. What a
lucky thought it had been
Her skill in cards was something al
most 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 madam
did not lure into the den; and once in,
the fascination would be so strong that.
when they went out, they did so ruined
Some had retrieved their fortunes 9TH
ers had gone to the dogs" and many
| poor fellow had filed n suicides grave
Tonight but few had intended to play
when they entered, but now the last vic
tim was sitting down. He kept his hat
siouched over his eyes; no one knew
him. He dropped in to look on; he
had no intention to have anything to do
with this ''helish game rs he called it.
Madam played like one possessed.
but her good luck was leaving her. She
laid down no card that her opponent
could not defeat; and, rs the game pro-
crossed, stiffness reigned, every sound
oil
if, indeed, Christine Dupray was to be
won tonight.
One card more! Madam threw the
pack on the floor in n rage, and the
stranger arose, saying:
Christine is mine :"
a wild. deafening cry arose; although
defeated themselves, the men were glad
that some one had won her-madam
| could not play that game over.
The stranger advanced to Christine ::
he saw the wild look of alright in her
beautiful dusl<y eyes, and his voice in
tuitively became softer as he said:
Get your hat. This is no place for
you. You will be safer with me than
here" CHANGING around upon the rough
wild group.
AS one in n dream she obeyed him,
and the men parted to let them pass out.
Madam said no word Of adieu TO her
daughter; she only muttered curses up
on the fellow whose skill was greater
than her own.
The stranger took the girl to n hotel.
and early next morning he took her TO
parts unknown TO those who had tried
10 win her; but in reality only to place
her in a good boarding-school in one Of
the ciliC9.
lie paid for q years tuition in advance
IL gave them bis address, and wished
them to write twice year AMI inform
him of her progress and then. bidding
the girl 90 keep to herself all her histo.
~, he took his departure.
-Four years passed away. Christmas
beauty had increased, not diminished.
She had not looked upon her guardians
face for az such she spoke Of her own
err but he was ever in her mind. assoc
ciated with that awful night Even
now, all the swarm Of wild faces swain
before Der vision and made her sick OF
heart. From the little ignorant fourteen
year-old child she had developed in n
glowing. educated, refined young lady
Of eighteen and now letter came. al.
dressed TO herself it read:
1T is four years since I saw you
Your school-dayS orc drawing 20 close.
/ am coming TO ask YOU 10 be my wife.
and 90 with me 90 n home Of your own"
There was no word that she belonged
% 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 do2
She went out into the open air At n
little distance she could see n steamer
at the wharf, almost ready 20 leave for
the Australian shore. A wild thought
Of escape came into her mind She had
been kept well supplied with money
which she had made bus little use Of