The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-09-28
Selfrt Stnry.
The Gamester's Stake.

The Marquis Angelo Foscarini had
been travelling throughout Europe for
several years sanitary measures inducing
him to visit Paris. To the gay metrop
oils he was accompanied by his daugh
ter, the beautiful Olympia, she being the
only issue of three unhappy marriages.
The disappointment of Foscarini's
life had been in not having an heir. He
would have given his fortune, almost his
life, for son-one who could perpetu
ate the noble name of Foscarini. His
life was passed in orgies and every sort
of dissipation. He loved Olympia, not
as father should love his daughter, but
rather because she was beautiful aud one
of the most precious of his possessions.
He kept her always with him, and had
refused her hand in marriage to some of
the most distinguished noblemen in Aus
tria and Italy.
"Remain with me-" he said "you will
have plenty of time to marry when / am
dead"
After a night of excitement and dissi-
patton it was his habit to take bath in
the Seine, in order to revive his exhaust
ed energies.
One day, while bathing, he was seized
with cramp, and had not some one rush
ed to his rescue be would have been
drowned. In his preserver he recogniz-
ed an officer of the Tra5ans, one whom
he had met first at Piedmont, and after
! ward at Vienna, and whose assiduities to
Olympia had given him some uneasi-.
ness. a ~ @
The young officer, on discovering that
the mans life he had saved was no other
thanlhe Marquis Foscarini, at once re-
quested permission to call upon himself
and daughter. ID g a' ~ ~
To this request the Marquis very cold
ly acquiesced, it being impossible under
the circumstances to venture refusal.
Stephen LIE Roy at once embraced the
advantage afforded by the position, and
within month after the accident the
Marquis aud LIE Roy were inseparable.
LIE Roy was deeply in love with Olym
pia, bnt now wisely and cautiously re-
pressed any manifestation of his feelings
moreover had expressed himself to
the Marquis as being entirely cured of
his very extravagant passion.
| He addressed Olympia without any
apparent trembling or embarrassment,
paying her only the ordinary comph-
ments permitted by society The Mar
quis, feeling entirely reassured, and hav-
ling perfect confidence, made lie Roy his
friend and con6dant. While the old
nobleman was niisied, the young people
nevertheless understood each other, and
in all respects Olympia assisted her lov;;
er in his scheme. !.
Thus LIE Roy was enabled to pass
every evening at the hotel of the Mar.
quis, and in order to humor the noble
man became devoted gambler. In one
month he had lost two months pay and
all he could borrow
| Olympia had advised him to play in
order to ingratiate himself with her IA
ther. She lent him gold which he lost,
and the more he lost the more fond the
old Marquis became, for he knew Of no
emotion save in play, no happiness ex
cept that which he derived from gain
At length the luck turned in favor of Ls
Roy-night after night be won, The
Marquis was devoted to bouillotte; this
game he had taught Stephen, who, al
though Indifferent to its merits, never
theless expressed admiration for the
game
One evening LIE Roy came half al
hour earlier to the hutel than was hi;
custom. On this occasion he brough
, with him the sum of fifty louis. 1t wa:
the only money Olympia had still in hel
, possession. LIE Roy was without means
, and was obliged to yield to circumstan
ces, as failure to play would have callet
forth the ill-will of the Marquis and de
prived them of meeting.
"This is all that remains" said Olym
pia, sadly. @ .
. "Should lose it, this life OF decep
. ton must end" responded LIE Roy =
!, will then 90 to the Marquis and reques
! your hand in marriage s. :
o "And it refused p replied the youn:
girl. gaa
Al "Taen I will blow out my brains,
was the quiet rejoiuder.
Olympia shuddered at the words, 70
she knew that LIE Roy would keep hi
f VOW faithfully aaI .sliat
"There is happiness in life" she mul
+ INJURED. .e sai..s t.t}
\ .sYes, there is happiness in life, if tha
!. life be shared with you," he responded
e "But deprived of-that hope, ! refuse t
4 live" I Gav.lla55 ,
i "And death! Have you no fear Q
!. death 7"
e "No, Olympia" he replied thoughi
fully. 81 do not fear. / believe in
s great power. We of this word are fore
| ed into life, not of our own free will, ,bu
e through the will OF others. This exis
ence with its suffering, its hopes an
d fears, is our punishment; its disappoint
d ments our curse. This is the life of tb
l. flesh, that which is corruptible; beyon
,s lies the life of the SOUL
"But what may the soul suffer in th
hereafter? What may it not endure? r
j "Nothing, except it be happiness, rs
.e sponded L. Roy. 'Our misery is here
Is our peace is beyond the grave
& "And the grave p inquired the gi
% with shudder
lis what we mortals most dread, b.
Is cause it possesses horror. The herea
% ter is an unknown land; but let US forge
g this for the present. Whether lose G
rt win, this night am determined to speal
le We have too long yielded to deception
% Let the issue be what it will, am II
: solved to solve il; if happiness is to b
as ours, we will thank heaven for the bool
ef if not we will say farewell" 'o 1e
N At this instant the Marquis Foscaril
. entered the room, and LIE Roy accomp'
4 MED him to the table. where they seate
g. themselves to play, Others heing assen
o. bled. At the gaming tsble there was
'e Paris banker, Captain of an Englis
III vessel, and two planters from Havann
all absorbed in the chances of the gam
l. Ie Roy commenced by throwing dow
= ten louis, then ten ore,and so on uni
he had lost nearly all. As he pushe
the money aside he shivercd, and h