New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-11-22
THE GAMBLERS WIFE,
BY IMPRIN1ATUR.

Carl!" asked, taking small cOlored
picture from among the mass of papers,
pamphlets, wrapping-paper ETC.. that
covered the table and floor of the libra
ry, and which would have told plainly
enough to all acquaintance that Carl
was at home once more, after this his
longest ramble in foreign lands, with
out the corroborating testimony of cigar
smoke, or the lounging figure in the Old
rocking chair.
For this brother of mine never spent
over six months of the year in the beau
tiful country home of his childhood,
giving the other six to whatever place
or people promised most entertainment
on short notice. The last three months
had been spent in Paris, so I conject-
ured the little gem of art held in nv
hand was q French beauty; the pure
outlines and exquisite complexion look
ing most lifelike as they smiled up at
ME from the tinted card. But notwith-
standing the great beauty of contour
and feature, there was frightened, al
most hunted look in the dark eyes that
told Of tragedy, or atleast anticipated it.
'Who is she, Carl? The eyes affect
me strangely, with their wild, frighten-
ed look. There is reign of terror in
them equal to the one her ancestors
passed through. I almost see the
shadow of the guillotine in their velvety
depths
'Let me see; ah, my little sister, may
you never know so hard q fate as this
poor girl encountered and succumbed
to. No, she is not French-a Russian,
but married to a Frenchman." And
Carl took the picture from my hand and
placed it on small easel above his
desk. II will tell you about her, Louie,
if you have an hour, and will tell WHY
l told you.
ut was while Tom Barnes was with
me last June, and when we left Yer
sailles for Paris, that first saw Madam
Litterre- though I think the name an
assumed one. We had to run to pre-
vent being left, I remember, and
Barnes, out of humor because of il,
plunged his face into his book and left
me to my own resources.
''As soon as was comfortably set
tied I, as usual, began scrutinizing my
travelling companions, and trying to
imagine who and what they were.
There were four besides ourselves in the
carriage. One quiet, middle-aged
Englishman, who was soon asleep in
his corner. The two who sat next my
self were evidently husband and wife,
though he paid her none of the atten-
ton and politeness usually accorded in
public, even if dispensed with privately.
He was a pale, quiet man of twenty
five, perhaps, richly but quietly dress
ed, and seemingly taking no notice of
any one around him. The wife, too,
was pale, and much as she looks there
in that little picture.
''She seemed to be suffering, and fire.
quently put her hand to her forehead;
and I observed upon the delicately-
formed, ungloved hand a costly dia-
mond. It was beauty; and l enjoyed
looking at the flashing gem as she ca
ressed a small English dog that often
looked up at her with affectionate rec
ognition.
'.The other passenger 1 could not
make out at all. He was elderly, COM
monty dressed. and with scant gray
hair and heavy whiskers. His piercing
eyes were frequently placed on the 81
lent young married couple, and then he
seemed as utterly oblivious of them as
they of him. What was his nationalityP
Was he with them, or stranger like
myself l could not tell. And the
more / looked the more uncertain be-
came. l thought, too, there seemed an
effort at disguise. He kept his face
averted all he could, consistent with his
watchfulness of the quiet young hus-
band that he at times eyed so very per-
sistently.
1--WE sped along over the beautiful
road, each absorbed in his own refec-
tons, broken only by an occasional low
sigh from the lady, and soon arrived at
our destination. The train stopped,
and as none of my companions showed
any disposition to move first, aroused
Barnes from the depths of his romance,
and we left the carriage.
Dinner over, we went to the thea
tire, and afterward, by the persuasion Of
9 friend, to a private gambling house.
I was greatly surprised on entering to
see my elderly travelling companion.
seated at the table, his eyes and man
ner keen as ever, and deep in game
Of rouge-et-noir. It was early yet, and
very few people were present; but ev-
cry sound was hushed, and the game
went on in dead silence. broken only by
the voices of the dealers calling the re-
suit of the games, and the rafting Of
the gold as it was raked from one to an
other. The old man seemed in luck for
the time being, and won every game.