The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-12-13
THE GAMBLERissWIFE.

"What new beauty have we here,
CARL" asked, taking small colored
picture from among the mass Of pa.
pers, pamphlets, ,wfapping-paper, etc.
that covered the table and floor Of the
library, and which would have told
plainly enough to all acquaintance
that Carl was at home once more, af.
ter this his longest ramble in foreign
lands, without the corroborating tes.
timony of cigar smoke, or the loung.
ing 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.
The last three months had been spent
in Paris, so | conjectured the little
gem Of art l held in my hand was q
French beauty; the pure outlines and
exquisite complexion looking most
lifelike as they smiled up at
me from the tinted card. But
Notwithstanding the great beauty Of
contour and feature, there was a
frightened, almost hunted look in
the dark eyes that told Of tragedy, OF
at least anticipated it.
"Who is she, Carl2 The eyes af
feet me strangely, with their wild
frightened look. There is reign OF
terror in them equal to the one her
ancestors passed through. l almost
Sc the shadow of the guillotine in
their velvety depths"
"Let me see; ah, my little sister,
may you never know SO hard fate
as this poor girl encountered and
succumbed to. No, she is not French
"a Russian but married to a French
man." And Carl took the picture
from my hand and placed it on a
small easel above his desk. ~ will
tell you about her, Louie, if you have
an hour, and l will tell why l told
you.
at was while Totn Barnes was
with me last June, and when We left
Versailles for Paris, that I first saw
Madam Literre-though l think the
name an assumed one. We had to
run to prevent being left, l 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.
GAS soon as l was comfortably set.
tied, |, as usual, began scrutinizing
my travelling COMPANIONS, and try.
ing 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 be paie
her none of the attention and polite
ness usually accorded in public, ever
if dispensed with privately. He wa'
a pale, quiet man of twenty-five, per
haps, richly but quietly dressed, ant
seemingly taking no notice Of any
one around him. The wife, too, wa'
pale, and much as she looks there il
that little picture.
"She seemed to be suffering, ant
frequently put her hand TO her tore
head; and | observed upon the deli
cately.formed, ungloved hand a costly
diamond. 1t was a beauty; and
enjoyed looking at the flashing gen
as she caressed small English dog
that often looked up at her with af
fectionate recognition.
1.-THE other passenger l could no
make out at all. He was elderly
commonly dressed, and with scan
gray hair and heavy whiskers. Hi
piercing eyes were frequently placet
on the silent young married couple
and then he seemed as utterly obliv
ious of them as they Of him. Wha
was his nationality? Was he will
them, or stranger like myself2
could not tell. And the more
looked the more uncertain | became
thought, too, there seemed an ef
fort at disguise. He kept his fac
averted all he could, consistent will
his watchfulness of the quiet younI
husband that he at times eyed S,
! very persis,cntly.