The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-25
THE GAnIIsLEIs'S WIFE.

"What new beauty have we here,
CarlP" asked, taking q small colored
picture from among the mass of papers,
pamphlets, wrapping paper, etc., that
covered the table and floor Of the libra.
~, md which would have told plainly
enough to oil acquaintances that Carl
was at home once more, after this his
longest rRmble in foreign lands, with
out tho corrOborating testimony of Cigar
smoke, or the lounglng figure in the old
rocking chair. .... be-. -. -.
For this brother of mino never spent
over six months Of the year in the beau
tiful 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, 30 I conject-
ured the little gem OF art + held iii my
hand was French beauty; the pure
outlines and exquisite complexion look
ing most lifelike as they smiled up at
me from the tinted card. But notwlth-
standing the great beauty of contour
end feature, there was q frightened, al
most hunted look in the dark eyes that
told Of tragedy, or ut least anticipated
it.
"Who is she, Carl? The eyes affect
me strangely, with their wild, frighten-
ed look. There is reign OF terror III
them equal to the one her ancestors
passed through. I almost sec the
shadow of the guillotine in their velvety
depths"
''Let mo see ; all, my little sister, may
you never know so hard fate as this
poor girl encountered and succunlbed
to. No, she is not French-a Russian
but married to d Frenchman." And
Carl took Tho picture frou my hand md
placed IL ona small easel above his
desk. 81 will tell you about her, Louie,
if you have an hour, and will tell why
l told you.
sit was while Tom Barnes was with
me last June, and when we left Versail-
les for Paris, that first saw Madam
Litterre-though think the name an
assumed one. We had to run to pre-
vent being left, Iremember, and Barnes.
out of humor because Of it, plunged
his face into his book and left me to my
own resources.
GAS soon as I was comfortably set
tied I, as usual, began sc1utinizing my
ira. cling companions, and trying to
imagine who and what they were. There
were four besides ourselves in the car
riage. One quiet, middle-aged Eng
lishman, who was soon asleep in his
corner. The two VINO sat next myself
wero evidently husband and wife,
though he paid her none Of the atten-
ton and politeness usually accorded i'll
public, even ii dispensed with privately.
He WAS Il pale, quiet man Of twenty
five, perhaps, richly but quietly. dress
cd. and seemingly taking no notice. of
any one around him. The wife, too,
was pale, and much rs she looks there
in thut little picture.
''She seemed to be suffering, and fro.
quently put her hand to her forehead
anu observed upon the delicately-
formed, ungloved hand costly diamond.
1t WAS eauty and 1 enjoyed looking
at the flashing gem rs she caressed a
small English dog that often looked up
at her with aliectlonate recognition.
"The other passenger / could not
make out at all. He WAS elderly, com
monty dressed, and with scant gray halr
and heavy whiskers. His piercing eyes
were frequently placed on the silent
young married couple, and then he
seemed IN utterly obllvious Of them as
they of him. What was his nationality?
Was he with them, or q stranger like
myself? L could not toll. And the more
looked the moro uncertain L became.
thought, too, there seemed an effort
at disguise. He kept his face averted
all he could, consistent with his watch
fulness Of the quiet young husband that
no ut times eyed 80 very perslstently.
"We sped along over the beautiful
a1N lie
tons, 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 , move first, l aroused
Barnes from the depths OF his romance,
and we lett the carriage. ...t'.. ...
Dinner over, we went to tho theatre,
and afterward, by the persuasion OF q
friend, to private gambling-houso.
was greatly surprised on entering to
see my elderly travelling companion
seated at the table, his eyes and man-
ner Keen as ever. and deep in game OF
rOugc-ct noir. 1t was curly yet, and
very tew people were present ; but ev-
cry sound wns hushed, and the game
went on in dead silence, broken only by
the veices OF the dealers calling tho re-
suit OF tho games, and tho ratLllng OF
the gold IS it was raked from ono to an.
other. Tho cid man seemed, III luck
for the time being, and won every game,
thought gleam OF salisfutlon sllone
oyer his face MS the door opened and
our other travelling acquaintance from
VersaiIles-the quiet, careless husband
entered and sat down to play.
II dld 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
tho table by his watchful old opponent
but still he played on. The large sums
ne lost, and his pale, excited face, deep
~ Interested me, and stayed OH and
watched him until late at night. when
ne left, his last Napoleon gone.
After supping at a cotfee.holise.