The Penn's Grove record., 1882-12-30
A Gamblers Wife.

A Gamblers Wife.
"What new beauty have we kere
Carl? l asked, taking a 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 acquain-
tances that Carl was at home once
more, after this, his longest ramble
in foreign lands, without the eorrobo-
rating testimony OF cigar SMOKE, or
the lounging figure in the rocking
chair.
Fer this brother of mine never spent
over six months of the year in the
beautiful country home of his child
hood, giving the other six to whatever
place or people promised most enter
tainment on short notice. The last
three months had been spent in Paris,
so | co%njectured the little gem of art l
heiu Nv hand was a French
beauty the pure ouVRnes ahu S"a
site complexion looking most me-
like as they smiled up at me from the
tinted card. But Notwithstanding
the great beauty of contour aud fea-
tare there was q frightened, almost
hunted look in the dark eyes that told
of tragedy, or at least anticipated it.
nWho Is sheaC1rl? Tha~sXes affect
me OpsgeIyi with their wild fright
ened look. There Is a reign OF terror
in them equal to the one her ancestors
passed through. l almost see the
shadow of the guillotine in their vel
yety depths"
"Let me see ah, my little sister,
may you never know so hard a fate rs
this poor girl encountered and sue
combed to. No, she Is not Fceneh-a
Russian-but married to q French
man" And Carl took the picture
from my hand aud placed it on a
small easel above his desk. 81 will tell
you about her, Louie, If you have an
hour, and / will you why | told you.
at 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, | remember,
and Barnes, out of humor because OF
1t, plunged his face into his book and
left me to my w resources.
"As soon as l vas comfortably set
tied I, as usual, began scrutlnizing
my travelling companions, and to try
to imagine who and what they were
Th.re were four besides ourselves In
the carriage. One u quiet, middle
aged Englishmsn, who was SOON
asleep in his corner. The two who
sat next myself were evidently mar
and wife, though he paid Der none oil
the attention and politeness usually
accorded in public, even if dispensed
with privately.
HE was a 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, and much as she looks Ia tina
little picture. Her dress, though sim
pie, was perfect, and evidently th'
production of some first.rate artist
Her whole style frooiaimed her a
once TO be.ong W the hish1I u U
society.
.sSte seemed to be suffering anO
frequently pat her hand to her lors
head; and l observed upon the deii
catelv.formed, ungloved hand a COST!
diamond, 1t was q beauty ; and en-
loved looking at the fl tshins gems a
sbe caressed q small English dog Una
often looked up at her with tfecuo
ate recognition.
"The othshI. He was elderly. com
@aDiy dressed, and with scant gra,
hsirsnd heavy whiskers. HIS pierre
ing eyes were frequently placed OF
the nient young married couple. AND
then he seemed rs utterly oblivious O.
them rs they of him. What was hi.
nationality Was ne with them or 8
stranger like myself? I could mo-
iell. And tho ruore L looked the NOR,
uncertain | became. / thought. too,
there seemed an effort at disguise.
be kept bis face sverted all he could,
consistent with his w~atehfulness OF
the quiet young husband whom he
eyed al times so persistently.
I'VE sped along over the beautiful
road, each absorbed In his own refee.
tions, broken only by an occasional
low sigh from the lady, and soon ar.
rived OF u destination. The train
stopped, and, as none Of my eompan-
ions showed any disposiLiorfst to move
first, l aroused Barnes from the depths