Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-05-29
The Gamblers Wife.

Carl % | asked, taking small color
ed picture from among the mass of
papers, pamphlets, wrapping paper,
etc., that covered the table and floor
of the library, and which would have
told plainly enough to all acquaint-
ances that Carl was at home once
more, after this, his longest ramble
in foreign lands, without the cor
roborating 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 beautiful country home of his
childhood, giving the other six to
whatever place or people promised
most entertainment on short notice.
in Paris, so / conjectured the little
gem of art held in my hand was a
French beauty; the pure outlines and
exquisite complexion looking most
life-like as they smiled up at me from
| the tinted card.
But Notwithstanding the great
beauty of contour and feature, there
was frightened, almost haunted
look in the dark eyes that told of
tragedy, or it least anticipated it.
"Who is she, Carl? The eyes af-
feet me strangely, with their wild,
frightened look. There is a reign of
terror in them equal to the one her
ancestors passed through. | almost
see the shadow of the guilotine in
their velvety depths
s'Let me see 'ah, my little sister,
may you never know so hard a fate
as this poor girl encountered and sue
cumbed to. No, she is not French,
"a Russian butmarried to a French
man." And Carl took the picture
from my hand and placed it on a
small easel above his desk.
Il will tell you about her, Louie,
if You have an hour, and | will tell
why | told you.
SIT was while Tom Barnes was
with me last June, and when we left
Versailles for Paris, that [ first saw
Madame Literre-though | think the
name an assumed one. We had to
run to prevent being left, | remem-
Der, and Barnes, out of humor be-
cause of it, plunged his face into his
book and left me to my own re-
sources.
''As soon as / was comfortably
settled l, as usual, began scrutiniz-
ing my travelling companions, and to
try to imagine who and what they
were. There were four besides our
selves in the carriage. One quiet,
middle-aged Englishman who was
soon asleep in his corner. The two
who sat next myself were evidently
husband and wife, though he paid
her but attention and politeness ac-
corded in public, even if dispensed
with privately. He was pale, quiet
man of twenty-five, perhaps, richly
but quietly dressed, and seemingly
taking no notice of any one around
him. The wife, too, was pale, an6
much as she looks there in that little
picture. Her dress though simple
was perfect, and evidently the pro
duction of some first rate artistic
Her whole style proclaimed her a
once to belong to the higher order o
: society.
,, s'She seemed to be suffering, ant
frequently put her hand to her fore
head and observed upon the deli
cately-formed, ungloved hand cost
: ly diamond ring. 1t was beauty
and | enjoyed looking at the flashin:
gems as she caressed small Englis
q dog that often looked up at her wit
affectionate recognition.
The other passenger | could no
Y make out all. He was elderly. CON
y monty dressed, and with scant gra
:, hair and heavy whiskers. His pierc
. ing eyes were frequently placed o
= the silent young married couple, an
then again he seemed as utterly OF
livious of them as they of him. Wha
a was his nationality? Was he wit
a them or stranger like myself?
> could not tell. And the more [ looR
ed the more uncertain | became.
n thought, too, there seemed an effol
- at disguise. He kept his face aver
Il 0u I'LL lie COulu, COuSlSCont Will Ill
: watchfulness of the quiet young hus
v band that he at times eyed so ver
persistently.
u s'We sped along over the beaut
= full road, each absorbed in his ow
|. reflections, broken only by an occ;
a sional low sigh from the lady, an
:. soon arrived at our destination. I'll
d train stopped and as none of N
II companions showed any dispositic
/ to move first, l aroused Barnes fro
= the depths of his romance and "
d left the carriage.
e s'Dinner over, we went to the the
W tre, and afterward, by the persuasic
u of a friend, to a private gamblir
y house. l was greatly surprised {
,e entering, to see my elderly travelir
lie companion seated at the table, b
J. eyes and manner keen as ever, al
e deep in game of rouge ct noir.
u was early yet, and very few peop
were present; but every sound w
'e hushed, and the game went on