Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-09
less in his grasp. He approached and


examined her face by the light of the
fading fire. A look of naughty deter
mination was upon the withered face,
of Fedotovna was cold and dead.
Three days after this scene the obse-
quies of the countess were celebrated in
the Cathedral of Vasili Blazhennoi.
Hermann entered the church. Although
he felt no remorse, he could not deny
to himself that he was her assassin.
Faith he had none-superstition had
forced him there. He fancied that the
dead woman would exercise malign in
fuence over his life if he did not appease
her spirit by assisting at the funeral.
The cathedral was crowded. The body
lay upon an imposing catafalque under
o velvet canopy. Around the bier were
gathered the three generations of the
family. No one wept-tears would have
been considered an affectation. The
countess was SO old that her death had
long been regarded as probable at any
moment.
After the funeral grafton the relatives
and friends defleu slowly around the
bier to look upon the features of the
dead woman. Hermann also advanced.
He reached the catafalque, mounted it's
steps and bent over the coffin. He re-
coiled with stihed cry. He fancied he
had seen movement of the eyes of the
corpse and hooking smile play over it's
cold lips.
All the rest of the day he felt most
extraordinary uneasinesss. At the res
taurant where here took his solitary din
ner he drank deeply, contrary 70 his
habit, in the hope of shaking off the
gloom that oppressed him. It was all in
vain. The wine only infamed his imag-
nation, and gave new activity to his
working brain. He walked the streets
of the city until he was exhausted, and
then returned to his quarters. He threw
himself upon the bed fully dressed, and
in few minutes leaden slumber fell
upon him..
When he woke a food of moonlight
streamed from the window to his bed.
He looked at his watch. It was half
past three. He could sleep no longer.
He began to think of his failure to obtain
the secret, and of the escape of the old
countess to the other world, bearing her
secret with her.
Suddenly he looked up. He thought
the door was moving. Could it be his
servant? No, not at that hour. The
door slowly opened and he could dimly
distinguish in the background of dark
ness figure In white. The figure adj
vanced toward him with gliding mo-
ton. 1t reached the yellow line of moon
light. Hermann's hair rose upon his
head. 1t was the countess
come against my will, )" the appari-
ton said slowly, "but by your will it is
that am forced to come. Three, seven,
ace, played one after the other; these are
the cards. Farewell? ?"
The figure glided toward the door.
AS it reached the threshold it turned,
and Hermann fancied he could discern in
the darkness in the hooking smile.
"Three, seven, ace! Three, seven,
ace This was the secret. The words
were branded upon Hermann's brain.
He could think of nothing else. The
cards appeared in a myriad of mystic
forms. He saw vast forests whose nod
ding branches wove themselves into
threes. Mighty cities reared themselves
before him, whose gothic gates were
strangely like to sevens. Monstrous
aces dangled from the skies like spider
webs. The clock licked "Three. seven,
ace"
There was at Moscow famous faro
bank, frequented only by the rich. The
bankers name was Tchekalinski. His
lite had been passed at play, and he had
amassed an immense fortune. His
magnificent house, his excellent wines,
his elegant manners had succeeded in at
tracing to his doors the fashionable
youth of Moscow. They deserted the
ball room for the gambling hell; they
neglected the smiles of beauty for those
of the tickle goddess, Fortune.
Naroumoff was in the habit of fire.
quenting this place, and Hermann re-
quested him to conduct him there.
They passed through a number of
rooms filed with obseouious servants.
All were crowded. Generals and diplo-
matists were playing at whist Young
men were extended upon divans smok-
ing Turkish pipes. At last they
reached the main room. Tchekalinski
was seated in the center of long table
dealing faro, surrounded by a score of
i players. He was man of go, with q
noble head, crowned with snow-white
hair. His countenance shone with good
humor and with good living. During a
pause in the play Naroumof presented
his friend. The banker greeted him
with charming smile, babe him not to
stand upon ceremony, and began an
other deal. The bets were numerous.
The deal lasted long, At it's close
Tchekalinski began shutting new pack
for fresh deal.
Hermann deposited check upon the
table.
"What!' exclaimed Naroumoff,
laughingly; sat last; oh! man of iron,
you have yielded to the temptation.
Well, wish you good luck. !"
elbow much?' said the banker peer
ing at the check. So beg your pardon,
but cannot see the figures"
Fifty thousand roubles,'' replied
Hermann.
At these words all eyes were fixed upon
the young officer
"He is mad, thought Naroumof.
| Allow mo tO observe sir - said