Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-24
WATCHING A FAIR PLAYERS GAME.

"zers, a Slsry of Monte Carlo" in Temple b@'
In the second gaming room the
crowd was at its height. The atmos'
nbere was fetid. The heavy ornamen'
tation and Moorish tracery on ~alis
and ceiling seemed dulled with the
haze of human breath. For perVadlng
sounds there were the subdued hum Oh
voices. the tramp of feet upon the par
ouet. the chink Of coin, the whirling OF
the cylinder and the rafting OF the
marble, all rolling into low, indefinite
roar, broken at intervals by the monoto-
nous calls OF the croupiers.
Nowhere than ut Monte Carlo does
the sea present u more CLASSY surface.
There is something grotesque and re-
voting in the outward serenity. II
resen bles the deadly quietude OF beast
living in wait, or tue Ireacherous smootn,
n. SIS of q quicksaud when 1t has closed
over i;E prey. A.
Whatever horrors TEEN below, the
uniuitiated observer behOld5 only stole
al Indifference or light frivoiIty-a
show i'll which the performers seem
srtuat9d by 10 more intense purpose
han aimless search for Amusement, or
lie IhraIl of habit which has become
boredom. Ii needs tue magnltylng
rlass of 4 yiyiiivd consciousness TO show
forth the greed, sensual!ty, uBappeaSa'
bic craving for stimulus to jaded sensa-
ton, depravity Of spirit, aud deep de.
srair, concealed under tense muscles,
r.,i,,,,d cheeks and artificial smiles.
All this WAS but vaguely felt. II
affected me somewhat in the same
manner as the sight Of an Eastern
.piu,u den, in which oil, drugged into
unnatural calm, in respective stages oi
uueasiress OF bea titUdts, tread an imag-
mary path leading to a fictitious goal
of bliss, and are Indifferent to every
actually of life save the poisoned infiu-
ence of the hour.
Lines three or four deep, OF almost
every variety of the social creature,
pressed thickly round the roulette table.
A Russian Prince flung down his notes
royalty upon the cOiors, side % size
with a frtsh-iaced OXonian, VINO rue
fully beheld one small pile after another
swept away from the dozens. An Eng
fish Countess, the patrician calm OF her
delicate face married by an expression
of unlovely trilmph, gathered IN ner
winnings over the shoulder OF be-
rouged, bejeweled bag, whose bony I'M
gers were in their turn occupied in
iudicious placing of lous upon various
numbers. An innocent, fair-hatred grl,
leaning over her husbands CHAIR,
touched shoulders with a Partisan
c0cOttc. An elderly Duchess, ford OF
face, broad Of proportions. looking
"business" in tight.iitting cloth cos
tune, and with a wsll.5tutfed retlcule
at her belt, imperlously directed the
lean, sallow-faced, high bred looking
man who accompanied her where to
law the notes which she lavishly sup
plied. Seated before her, the lowest
type of sharper -unshorn, unshorn,
Gaggard, and hlear.eyed-carefully
pricked his card, playing cautiously
ana pucketing fair portion OF ms
gailis, while he threw an occasional
anct of contempt toward an ems'
lated, WORKOUT libertine opposite,
whose trembling hands and reckless
,lay indicated the stage of desperation.
Nine. Fano was silently and lntently
watching the game. The withdrawal
from the table of now pennies gam,
Der created a rift in the crowd and
brought me to her side. Without NOV
ing a muscle, she reemed to become
aware of my proximity, and, after q
moment, turned upon me glance OF
inquiry. For an instant she hesitated !;
then, in silvery. nc utral tones, addressed
me in French:
"Would Monsieur have the great
kindness to place this stake upon n"-
nero trci2c"
She held toward me rouleau of gold.
II was the maximum allowed on any
single number. -.
| replied in English, with cold polite
ucss, "With pleasure, Madame"
leaned forward and put down the gold
as had been directed. There was faint
N. urmur among the players, and several
pairs of eyes wandered around until
thew rested upon Nine: Fano's face. An
intense excitement caused my pulse to
tiugle. The moment had become dra-
matte. | felt that here was the instru-
menl Of fate.
The wheel revolvei, the ball ratified
into its compartment. "Rcta ne CaS
piuS,n was uttered in the croupler's
automatic monotone "a moment
"TrCi.c. NOR. Impair CT Narque."
Many eyes turned again toward the
fair player. She was looking at me,
and stood perfectly quiet, very pale, and
with lips tightly pressed together. She
did not appear embarrassed by the at.
tention she excited. Three or four of
the habitues smiled significantly,
shrugged their shoulders, and became
again absorbed in calculation, while
several of those standing watching her
with quickened interest, evidently pre-
pared, should she continue playing, to
follow her lead. Her cool venture
seemed to betOken invincible luck or
all infallible system which placed her
above the sport of chance.
was ashamed Of my agitation
ashamed of the pleasurable triumph
with which placed little mass of gold
~ q several crisp notes in Madsne's
" bite hand. | had fancied that smile
at least would reward my success; but,
to my disappointment, she bestowed
a. on me no such mark OF gratitude.
Her eyes did not even meet mine Is IN
a lew. formal phrases she expressed her
cold thanks. With a stately bow she
moved away, and after few moments
| saw both mother and daughter pass
out into the vestibule. Presumably,
l 4 4 - attNn