The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1879-03-13
An Agreeable Surprise.

There resided in Bordeaux / young,
rich and handsome widow, who had
for fix months necessarily lamented
the bSs of her husband, tenderly be-
loved. A fatal storm had wrecked the
vessel in which he had embarked and
ever! soul on board Was supposed to
have peTished. The young widow,
though surrounded by admirers, OBJ
served scrupulOusly the rules of de-
cOrwn. At length, however, the per
suaSOns of her friends had effect, and
she Once more threw OpOn her doors to
receive company.
Madame st. Amere had one foible-
she loved to play TO excess; and this
fOibe alone threatened to involve her
in much trouble. On the evening of
her first .tete, tall, graceful figure,
MASKED, followed her, paying her in
Vulnerable silent attentions. To rid
herself of his opportunities she sat
down at 4 card table and WAS SUCCESS
full for about an hour.
The mask who had fixed himself be
hind her chair then solicited the honor
of PLAYING with her, which she grant
ed and renewed the game with fresh
spirit, though not with equal good for
tune. Madame WAS piqued ut the su-
periOr skill Of the impertinent mask,
and staked to an immense amount.
Still the stranger WIS triumphant, and
pulling from his pocket large purse
of gold, tduntingly dared her to risk a
like amount. Although absolute ruin
might have been the consequence of
her imprudence Madame would not re-
cede, but anxiety and YeNatiOn dis
turled her countenRHce.
For some time the game WIS doubt
full; 1t length the malignant dgity de
cided against her, and the rash widow
found her fortune destroyed by enc
nights folly. Her anguish could not
be concealed; she rose abruptly from
the card-table, when the mask, in an
insinuating tone of voice, limited To her
that she need not put herself to any III
convenience to make up this debt of
honor, as he could wait or compromise
it some other way, with more pleasure
to himself and less embarrassment to
her.
She darted on him 4 look of rage and
contempt.
"Who are you, wretch she cx-
claimed; "whO dareSt thus to insult
Inc in my own hOuse?"
softly; madame" replied the mask;
Il am no gambler or needy advemturer
there are ladies who would not be
for such an accJmm0ll-
ton"
Madame burst into tears.
Good heavens, must | endure this
insOlenee? Quit my house, sir: and if
you are a gentleman. make good your
claim tomorrow.
~No, madame, will net quiz your
house tonight; my claim is on your
fortune or yourself, and | will make it
good let who Will dispute IL.
With these words he removed the
mask, when madame uttered shrek
of joyful surprise, and. tainted in his
arms.
The company crowded round. They
We're chiefly relations who Immediate
ly recognized the Cheyelier ST. Amere.
The rapture OF Madame may be easily
when OH recovering, her mus
band informed her that he hal been
saved from the wreck by Il brave sal
lOr, who had taken him i'm his own
ship, which WAS bound to Peru; that
he remained there until a convenient
offered for his return, and
having been fortunate enough tOI
lmass considerable portion of wealth
had meditated this agreeable surprise,
in hope of curing her of 4 destructive
habit, the consequences OF which lac
had long dreaded. e.
Madame embraced him with trans
port, and assured him she wOLld never
again yield to temptations, or continue
q practice of which she now SAW the
in glaring cOlOrs.
Having received the congratulations
Of their friends, the amuSements OF the
evening. which had been 50 strangely
were again renewed, and
Lhe adventure was for many months
the talk throughout Bordeaux.