The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-11
Red ins.

1t was the croupicrs hoarsoE cry, again
and again reiterated, only diversified with
that of cred loses!' which broke the still
ness IN the suporbly-appoincd room at
liomburg, with the gaming table in its cen
ire, round which were gathered its eager
votaries, behind whom were the scarcely
less interested groups Of lookcrs-on. j.
"Comc away, my dear" said verylovh-
~ woman among the spectators, iu whis-
per to her husband. 81 am sorry that We
came. This Is no place for Pearl" intlicat-
ing with nod of the head, as she spoke,
au cxQuisitcly beautiful girl, scarcely more
than child, of some twelve or tlairccn
summers, who stood beside them.
"Come, Pearl the father said
But the girl stood cntranced, her eyes
fixed upon mans face seated at the fur
thest end Of the table. 1t was strikingly
handsome face, even when wearing, as it
now did, an expression of calm, born of
desperation. No tingc of color was in either
checks or lips. M.s VI ~
Ills eyes shonc with a strange and hard
glitter, and were fixed upon the balls as
they swung round, rs though on the color
uppcrmost hung his hope of life Or death.
And 30 it was. He had sat down pos
scsscd of fortune; he arose bcggar!
Fate had steadily pursued him with mock.
ing hopelessncss, until he had placed his
last stake, only to sec 1t mcrcilcssly swept
from him.
He half arose from the table. What
more was to be done, save to go out some
where into the still night air and send
bullet through his heart or brain.
1t was at this moment the girl, with
flushed checks and half parted lips, dartcd
up to his side.
"Take this" she pleaded, ''fer my
sake" and pressed gold piece into his
cold hand.
Tie turned. TO his excited Imagination
she seemed scarcely mortal in her puW,
childlikc lovclincss. His first impulse was
to return her ,otfering-hc was not yet an
alms-takcr-but again iang out the croupicr's
cry of command to place the stakes.
The child stood breat thlesss inghcr, eager
expectancy, her eyes burning with fcvcrish
interest.
A sudden impulse ovcrmastcrcd him.
Without speaking a word, he placcd the
gold upon tho table. ,~
The next minute small pile Of gold was
at his elbow, lie stakcd il all again. Again
he won. A bright spot Of scarlet replaced
the pallor in his check, which spread and
dcepcncd MS Dame Fortune, who had so
pcrsistentlyf frowhcdA upon him, now re-
served for him only her smiles. ~
Morning was breaking when he rose from
the tables, no longer desperate man, but
After his first winning he had turned to
return to the child her offering, but she had
vanished. Should he ever find her, ever
repay the debt? Hc knew not; but, stand
ing at last out under the clear blue sky,
with great weight lifted from his heart
and brain, Harold Clayton vowed that It
should be his life-search, but that the lesson
taught him should never be forgotten, and
the gaming tables should know him never
more. ma44., n
DIX years passed, and Harold Clayton
was winning name and fame in his own
land, In his profession as an artist
Standing one night Ill crowded assem-
bly,, some one III passing touched him light
ly on the arm with her fan, and glancing
around, he met The smiling face of his hos
tess. 81 ht2S "a ~
"Come," she said, tI want to present
you to my belle. y If you can prevail upon
her to give YOU II sitting and transfer lct
coloring to canvass, you will render your
self immortal" ,,,v.s,,.e,,,,.sese,s.,,., .,v
sis she, then, so beautiful2" lie question
ed.
Judge for yourself { she lightly rejoi,I
ed, leading him to o little group doing
homage 70 the fair girl In Its centre.
tSJhTfoa Rauhnry. Mr. Nlor ,,a.o 4 I,