Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-10

NO. 29l.
ales ano Skrttbes.
THREE, SEVEN. ACE.
lCon,inuca from YESTERDAY.


guessed that il was hel had small tor-
tune. hu, ioran officer. was poor. In or
der 10 preserve himself from debt. he had
resolutcly determined no, 10 play. and
lived within his income. He was very am
hitiouS and very taciinrn. Under his re-
serve, however. smnnldered the most vio-
lent passions. lie possessed greaY self,
control. and. though horn gambler, he
never touched card, lie often passed
fcverish nights beE,rc the green table. de- I
voured by the passion for play. but never
indulged in il. The story of the Comte
de Sain,Germain'> three cards had made
n vivid impression upon his mind. lie
could 'hink of nothing else.
"Ah. he said to himself. iii the old
countess would only tell me her secret---
il she would but tell me the names of the
three winning cards, | must he present
cd to her. | mus, gain her confidence
She is ei-hty-seven years old--eighty-
seven? She might die this week--she
might die n.mnrrow-and her secret with
her?" Aud he dug his nails into the
palms of his hands as he thought of Il.
But he was man OF iron will. and did
not falter in his determination To possess
himself of the secret. He observed the
pretty young girl who acted as companion
To the countess and resolved To use her AZ
tool to further his ends Not for mo-
ment did the thought of the misery he
might cause her make him falter. He
used every means to open "A correspond
encc with her. lie bribed the servants.
He contided notes To the modistes who
waited upon the Countess for orders. Al
length his perseverance was rewarded.
Lisabeta answered him. Her first letter
was a somewhat cold note. chiding him
for his rash persistence. .--Rut the ice was
broken His protcstations oi love were
soon reciprocated. and AT last she consent-
ed TO a RENDEZVOUS. With the rashncss
which timid women sometimes have She
appointed the couniess' for the place. In
her letter she said:
This evening there is to be = ball at
the German Ambassadors. We will re-
main there until o'clock. As soon "a
we start Tor the hall. which will he about
IL. the servants will imm idiately retire
to their quarters. But one will remain.
the iootman at the door. ard he probably
will he asleep. Enter rs SION rs YOU see
us leave, and 60 upstairs. II YOU find
any one in the ante chamber ask IL the
Countess is at home the answer will he
that she is not. and you must resign your
will meet any one, however. When YOU
are in the tc-chambcr take the door 10
the lett. and You will find yourself in the
Countess boudoir. There, behind Il tall
screen. YOU will see two doors-one opens
into a closet. the other upon starwav,
which leads to-
lIermaun's eyes glarcd like those Of a
beast OF prey as he read the note. Already
he saw dancing before his eyes the heap
ed-up gold and bank notes. the cards. the
the green cloth oi the gaming table. He
awaited with iryeriSh impatience the
arrival OF the hour.
At II o'clock he WAS waiting In from, of
the Countess door. The night was stormy
the wind moancd flifully: the lamps gave
forth an uncertain flicker upon the falling
snow and deserted street. From time io
time the football of n be,ated passer-b,
sounded upon the stones. But Hermann
felt neither wind nor SNOW. At last the
carriage appeared Two lackeys deposited
the mufiled form of the Countess within
it. and following her came the 1.-the figure
of Lisabetta as she sprang upon the step.
The slam oi the door smotc her ear. aud
the dull sound of the wheels -. they rolled
over the snowy street The footman shut
the carriage rate. the windows became
dark and silence soon hung over the
household
Hermann approached a street lamp. and
by il, feeble .limmer examined his watch
Twenty minutes after eleven; II was past
the hour. lie opened the gate and entered
the yes,ibnle---no iootman there. With n
firm step hc mounted the grand stairway
and found himself in the anti-chamber
IN the floor lay y snoring servant. Passing
Quick, by him Hermann entered the
Countess room.
Before little altar in the corner. cover
ed with images. burned perfnmed lamp
Of gold. On the walls hung portraits.
attircd IN the fashion Of fifty years before.
One-inat of - handsome man IN uniform
seemed to follow him with its cold. grey
ewes. as hc moved about the room.
Hermann resented the look inyoluntarily.
and then smiled ai his folly. On fhr
mantle stood the porcelain vase and J,
marble rlnh. About the room were
scattered ca,rtle~, jewels. He passed
behind screen ~ on. side OF the r'mm
there were the doors lie opened the
one 90 the right it was the staircase whicl
led 10 the room nf the poor girl wh.
loved him He opened the one TO left a
closet revealed itself into which he stepped
house was profoundly silent. The grea
clock in the hall struck twelve. and IL
echoes died away. Hermann waited. On,
; O'Clock. lii pulse beat slowly he wa
- calm. Txo o'clock. Silence. Thet
came the distant rollingoi carriage wheels
For the first time he fclt some Sigh
emotion The carriage rapidly approach
ed, and the servants. warned by the SCUM
FASTENED to receive their mistress. Thre
. maids entered and lighted up the bour
doir: a moment after the Countess ap
peared. preceded and followed by laekey
.e with lights.
m Hermann eagerly watched what wa
r.. passing through the slightly opened door
Sc The old lady fell into an easy chair. an
the maids began to remove her ornament
re. Then Lisabeta passed Immediately in iron
al Of him. lie could have touched her q
d she went by He heard her door close
For momentjhc lelt something which i
another man would have been fcn0fSe
but he siified it. His heart was stone
Tie maids continued t1 remove til
Countess ball dress. When they ha
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