The daily gazette., 1878-03-16
THE WAGER.
BY A. G..

| So"ho iiohii Ies ilSSartS was CAV and
,ashionaDie young man, who, without
| TO please by his amiable manners and his
air disttnJue. His fortune and his nave
| caused him to be received in the most
arlstocratic circles, over which he presid-
ed with royal power.
1t was in the month of Februarv and
the saloons of Madame Delaunev were
brilliantly lighted.
An the gay and beautiful had assembl-
gu, con Versatlon was becoming more and
iiloio ~ animated, when servant announc-
ed Count Des Essarts. AT this maoic
| name all eyes were turned to,vard III, 4 ~
| door. The ladies' cast hurried ,,Ionre
upon their toiletts, the gentlemen iook.d Il
at tlelr partners, and soon the Count
entered. After going through the usual
courteSies he took the arm of n voung
friend, and both were soon lost in The
crowd. Finding a retired corner. they
| commenced an earnest conversation in
their habitual manner.
| upon my word, Count" said the
young man, "you have arrived Just in
GLOW SOP" asked Henri DEG Essarts
ITO be witness of your success. Eman-
uel? But l never doubted that"
| no, TO sustain your reputation"
| inueeu' lt Is challenge. then?"
| lt ls, There are among the many
beauties who crowd these rooms n vounp
glrl whose timid air attracts the attention
Oh al her name is Athenas Duyiyier,
ana her father died at Waterloo. Her
nother hopes that her face will WIN her
fortune and Madame Delauney has
presented her tonight for the first time u
"Sho is tinid, you say?"
"As boarding-school miss"
| "And handsome ?u
"As the head of Raphael"
ell, OF course you have already
spoken to her, and what can do after
you?"
"None of your fiattery, | pray you. !
nave spoken to her and danced with her
but the place is well projected Hei
mother Is continually by her side, and
besides, lhe poor girl does not seem even
to understand the meaning of compli
ments."
And because you have ran around
you will
Lay wager that YOU willal There
are some unimpressible women"
81 doubt il" said the Count.
Give me proof, them" replied
Emanuel.
"You wish it. Well, conduct me to the
young lady"
"Yes, but must have a proof of hei
coquetry, When will you bring it tc
Ime?n
"In fortnight She wears a bracelet
of course?"
"Yes."
."Well, that bracelet will be my we'd
ding ring."
agreed" continued Emanuel, laugh.
ing; "but if you do not succeed, | will
| relate the adventure"
"You will be at liberty to do so. But
the waltz is about to begin; let us go
back"
They re-entered the ballroom, and the
Count invited the lovely Athenais to
whom he was introduced by Emanuel, to
the first waltz.
She was handsome brunette, and al.
though lively and brilliant in conversa-
ton, she bore an air of melancholy
which gave immense interest to her eX-
lpreSsion. Her very soul seemed to beam
through her features. Henri, even in
waltzing, had spoken to her in those ele.
lgant phrases which he alone could say
with so much grace; and when she re.
turned to her mother the Count, instead
of leaving her, seated himself by hel
lside; he conversed upon music, the
drama and the fashions, then approach
ing Madame Duvivler, he wept with hei
over the loss of the Empire, and spoke
of many disasters of Waterloo The
dance again commenced; he watched
every look Of Athenais through the
waltz and carefully studied their mean
ing he saw that it was necessary that
this young girl should have a friend who
might be one day something dearer tc
her, and he offered himself. When the
ball was over he requested the honor te
accompany them to their residence, and
after gaining permission to be received
rs one of their visitors he left then
with the full assurance that the bracelet
would be his.
Two days had elapsed since the even
ing of the ball, and Athenais had, il
lspite of herself, thought often of tha
young man so true, SO sincere, so win
ming. Besides Madame Duvivier, who
had cherished many hopes, had spoken
OF the Count to her daughter, and thu
young girl, hearing his name so ofter
repeated, began to wonder why he die
not come. Henri at last presented him
self to Madame Duvivier. He was re
ceived with much pleasure. Poo
Mother! Poor childl He found NJ
trouble in whispering soft words in tn
ears of Anthenais, and in the same even
ing to be ut the feet of Madame Du
vivier.
Among the acquaintance of Madam
Duvivier was young artist, the mos
constant of all in his visits. Complais
ant toward the mother, and atfable tow
ard the daughter, he soon gained tn
friendship of the house, and seemed Ii k
: one of the family. He came one even
ing and found himself face to face wit
the Count Des Essarts. This man al
noyed him. He had heard him ofte
mentioned, and his presence in thi
house astonlshed him
"The eagle with the dove" said h
to himself, alt is time L should b.
here
The Count paid him little attention
: and the young artist saw every NOV,
ia ment, while the unconscious mother su.
d pected nothing. He saw the intluenc
E. which this man exercised over the youn
d and impressive mind he telt the dange
ID and after the Count left found an oppo
T, tunity to say to Athenais:
a 81 wish to speak with you alone"
e. "For what reason, Jules 2" demande
1t the young girl.
"Silence| whispered he.
lie When they were alone, for tho cont
y dence of Madome Duvivier had bee
y - wisely placed in Jules, the young ma
. took between his own one of the snow
hands of Athenais, saying:
"Athenais, a great danger threaten
you"
"What danger, Jules? You frighte