The Worthington advance., 1882-07-13
A C0QUETTE'S VICTIM.

a hrgo and eplenu1d hall Lit by glist-
c.ing chandeliers, and ornamented with
all the taste and luxury Of artistic skin,
filed with N atmosphere Of light and
perfnme, haunted by groups Of lovely
women and distinguished men, all glori-
fed by that spirit Of pleasure andI splen-
dor that ono finds in such gatherings.
Through the long parlors, hung With
gorgeous draperles, and rare paintings,
beneath the fretted ceilings of blue and
silver, crimson and gold. tloated the
forms OF the proudest and falrest, cladi in
hfrpy robes Of white, or rich, fustliny
brocsdes. chatting, flirting and dancing
in,thcNague tremulous glitter tfthe light
that made the place ono blaze of On
chantment.
Soft, dreamy music swellca on the air.
its rhythm marked by the light step of
dancers, yet snbdued and rendered in
distinct by the constant hum Of sweet
voices everywhere. Couples passed to
apd fro, or fingered about ths doorways,
talking Of love, Of pleasure and of the
sceae before them. -
staid diplomats and rulers sat ut the
card tables playing diynitied whist with
stately natrOns-thc bellies of past gen
Grafton. Others in an adjoining saloon
discussed 4 magnificent collation..
The iurthest of these parlols opened
into large conservatory, where long
and graceful airpjlnts ira led downward
from t heir NOISY baskets, 0d the dark
green loaves Of the lemon trees exhaled
a grateful aroma. Strange tropical plants,
with bfond yii,icgated leaves, grew rank
and fibrous In marble vases along tho
balnstrahe; heavy vines clambcred I'D
their trelQSes, with pendant bells OF
;'zrrs, sold.or crimson showing bright
amid the feathery foliage. A soft light,
dim and roseate, fell upon these lcaty
faint pink hue, scdtterel here and
there among the eyersreena.
No place could have been more fitting
and appropriate to the pursuit of the
divine social e-hirtation-thulo
this same conservatory. In cozv alcoycs,
whore the orange and magnolia trees
were enlbowereI ]'y the tracerv Of the
ivy vine, were placed rustic seats Of curl
Ously joined branches aal here, in the
heavy fragrance Of the blossoms,' one
might sit with ones partner and whis-
per the cntantlllages Of love without fear
Of reproacks
In one of these alcoves-tllo most Sc
clnde'l of all-surrounded by the thick
and odurous leat:l:c Of the trees and
vines, sat zee Baston and Maggie Lowell.
as usual, she was weaving her web Of
1asclnatlon-honeyin her words, mod
ulatin9,her exquisite voice, flashing her
brilliant glafces from underneath her
long dropping lashcs, artlessly towing
witt, the watch chain Or eyeglasses oI
her cavalier, and excrting ali those little
blandishmcnts,, seeming innocent
enough in. themselves, but Which
tighten each moment the atlamant
tetters Of PASSIONS slavery about tho vic
TINS seQses.
Lee Baston-younS, talented, wealthy,
was an excellent object fus the con-
s,llnmatc skill of this coouctte. More
and more inclined to admire her at each
meeting, be had been inscnsibly drawn
on from one step to another until this
night, when the dance, the wine, the mu-
SIC, the lights, the gayety, the brilliancy
OF Rll surroundings had somewhat be-
Wildered him with sweet and volupfu-
ous delirium.
Then the cool retirement of the con.
servatory with its shadowy recesses, its
ceasless pln5hing of falling waters, its ar
onatlc aQd nguor-insprlng oIors, and
and its vague rcverberations of the fes
tlvtles within invited only the dreams
and thoughts Of love.
a half hours conversation, hoyeri,r,
nearcr and nearer to the dangerous top,
lc. q silent but doubly eloquent pause. q
:ew burning, impassioned words OF de-
cl.ratlon, and Maggie LovelIs empty
triumph Was attained. She laughed u
low, musical, but metallic laugh.
MY friend," she said, "do not talk in
that stran-1 shall fancy you are in ear
nest"
"My God! in earnest. Do YOU not be-
lievc me, then: Oh, Maggie, IsWear it!
l lovo you wholly! l."
There Was 4 husky intol,a,iou in his
voice, and he stopped without finishing
his sentence.
"No-1 do not know what you mean.
l--1-indeed I do not understand YOU.
YOU surely! cannot bo serious! You
{rghten ncW
He dropped the delicate, white -eloved
hand he had been holding, and looked
long and earnestly into her eyes.
do hear yosrsri gltn'
Yes; l must go now. l am very,
very sorry you have misunderstood me.
Never refer to this scene again. It has
been as painful for me as l;)r YOU"
and this is the end"
Yes. / pity you Good night"
"Htr purple velvet rustled against the
ahr,bbery, und Baston WAS alone.
"Plty me! Great heaven, | had rather
sho had iaushsd in my f;u:o:"
The Conversation Hous of Dadcn-Ba
aen ls one OF the "-Pecular institutions
room, a theater, = restaurant, aIlbr9rX.
a readin1g-room, dressing rooms, and,
'asuyy; though most prominent of all
gaIndbhn2 salons of infinite splendor'
where millions change hands every
year.
Day and mig ht, from tho weeks end to
the weeks end, sit silent rows Of mer
'nd Wonlcn-rich and poor, young and
old, gentle and simplc-around the in
1ernal but fascinating gaming tables Of
this strange house, Tho laborer hesi-
tantly lays down his few coins-tha
fruit, it may be, St 11ng and weary toll ::
the prince drops his ruuleau of Napo.
leans on his favoritc card or color: tho
professional player, with the cold crayity
q his class, speculates RAPIDLY but care
fully, and deposits his much oy little w;th
perfect nonchalance.
At tho end Of one Of these tables sat
Lee Baston~ Everybody knew him at
Baden Baden. For the entire SEASON be
had ia ken that same place at noon. and
stolidly won orlost until 5 or 6 in tn.
afternoon of every day. Sometimes his
fortune was good, and he gained enor-
NOUS sums; at other times fate frowned
and bis losses were startling.
1t made not a particle of difference
how his luck ran, however. He saw the
croupieI's shovel pass out shining car
go, or his rake remove glit,ering vim
row OF louis d 'odors with the same va
can't expression and apathetic mien. lie
was seeking excitement, poor fellow!
put neither, the huctuating changes Of
roulette and rouee-et-noir, nor the gob- b.
let's of brandy thai the walters broi1rl1t
him from time to time seemed to satisfy
his craving Simply, whenever tho
croupier' rake or shovel diminished or
increased his pile ofrouleaux, he finished
his brandy at drauOht o,,I 49, 80