The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-11-16

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
persistently.
1--WE sped along over the beautiful
road, each absorbed in his own reflec-
tions, 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 1 aroused
Barnes from the depths of his romance
and we left the carriage.
DINNER over, we went to the thea
tre, and afterward, by the persuasion
of a friend, to private gambling
house. was greatly surprised on en-
tering to see my elderly travelling COM
panion seated at the table, his eyes
and manner keen as ever, and deep in
a game of rouge ct noir. 1t was early.
yet and very few people were present;
but every sound was hushed, and the
game went on IN dead silence, broken
only by the voices of the dealers call
ing the result of the games, and the
rattling of the gold as it was raked
from one to another. The old man
seemed in luck for the time being and
won every game. thought gleam
of satisfaction shone over his face as
the door opened and our other travel
ing acquaintance from Versailles-the
quiet, careless husband-entered and
sat down to play.
"I did not play that night, and my
whole attention was given to those
two. The young man lost from the
first deal. Rouleau after rouleau was
swept from the table by his watchful
old opponent; but still he played on.
The large sums he lost and his pale,
excited face deeply interested me, and
1 stayed on and watched him until late
at night, when he left the room, his
last Napoleon gone.
"After supping at a coffee-house I
went back to my room at the hotel,
but for some cause could not sleep.
The heat was oppressive and my room
small besides, the game I had been
watching had excited me strangely,
and I only fell into troubled sleep
near morning.
81 was awakened about daylight by
voices in the adjoining room-those of
a man and woman, evidently. The
mans voice was low and pleading,
and the woman seemed to be crying.
I could hear enough to understand
that she was refusing him some re-
quest, for his tones became loud and
threatening, and at last I heard him
say:
"If you refuse me, you seal my
ruin and your own. I have no more
gold, and I must have the diamonds to
retrieve myself
"Hysterical sobs were the only
answer he received, and he continued:
"'Something tells me shall win
tonight, and 1 must have the ring
"'Never, Charles 1 cannot give
it up. 1t is all 1 have left. 1t was
my mothers and will not let it leave
me-
"The mans voice was so choked
with passion that his words were in
articulate, but with a burst of wild
anger he left, slamming the door after
him. The woman's sobs became lower,
her crying ceased. and I fell into
another nap, not waking until near 10
o'clock.
81 saw neither of my gambling &C
quaintances that day, and the night
found me again in Monsieur Carlos
rooms. The old man was again on
hand-not satisfied, 1 thought, with
his winnings of the night beforehand
again 1 saw gleam of satisfaction
cross his face rs his victim of the pre-
vious evening came in and got ready to
play.
"Malle your game-the game is
made up!' cried the dealer, and was
about to deal the cards when the young
man who had just entered called out
in a loud voice:
Fifty Napoleons upon the red!'
"Seeing he placed no money upon
the table, the croupier paused a mo-
ment, then said:
"Sir, you must stake the money
"The gambler started and turned
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