The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-11
AN UNMASKED SHARPER.
A STORY FROM THE FRENCH.

They were discus sing the latest scan
dial. young man of good connections
had been ANONYMOUSLY expelled from a
club. Playing in collision with pro
fessionai gambler, he had cheated at
cards and in few months had won Il
considerable sum.
And has he killed HIMSELF" asked
some one.
"Bahw replied another. $40 men
kill themselves for so little NOWADAYS:
1t was different in the good old times. ="
''In the good old times, as YOU call
them, - said old General Roy. those who
adopted the card sharper's profession
killed themselves no more than do those
of the present time. A few exceptions
there may have been among those who
were detected at the outset. But if the
first attempt succeeded, they did as they
do today they quickly accuStom them
selves to their degradation. All. it is so
easy! When respect for his own good
name will not restrain man at the first
step, it is entirely dead within him, and
even a scandal will not revive it, BY
the way, can tell you of a curious case
in point, where the hero blew out his
u.
strange Us it may sound, it was not a
suicide. Listen:
ut was some fifty years ago. The
press of that time was not the terrible
gossip that it is to-day, and sensational
news never passed certain bounds. There
were not fewer scandals, but the scan
dals were less known. In fact, think
there were rather more. Not that we
are more virtuous, but the fear of pub
llcity is certainly great check.
Among the elegant young fellows,
he gilded youth of those days, who fur
nished the greater part of the scandal
Gus gossip by their eccentricties and
duels, was young gentleman attached
to the liiuG's household. | shall call him
the Vicomtc Roland. The name was
not an illustrous one; in fact, the vi
comte was the fruit of one of those
mixed marriages introduced by Napoleon
!. General Comtc Roland, whose heavy
cavalry charges are matters Of history,
had married the daughter of the Marquis
de Bransac, a member of one Of the
wcalthicst and most powerful families OF
France His son was then about TWEEN
ty six years Of age. lie had not the re-
bust, plebcian beauty of his father, who
had been one of the handsomest men in
the army. His was rather the delicate
and distinguished grace of his mother,
whose idol he was. Having loved hei
husband passionately, TIE countess was
now wrapped up in her son.
"The extrayagant life led by the sor
had caused a quarrel between the parents
The countess lived in the Bransac Hotel
of ha in h, =.
German, while the general, secludlng
himself in little chateau in the forest OF
Senart, passed his time III the pleasure,
of the chase. They say he had i'll treat
ed his wife, but it was utterly untrue
The fact is that there had been between
the general and his wife two terribl,
scenes.
''Thc first was caused by an idea which
took possession of the countess. Sh
found this name Roland too plebian 70
her sou, and tormented her husband I,
obtain the kings authority to add to i
that of DeBransac. The general ener
gelically refused.
"'My name has sufficed for me. sal,
he, for me who have made it famous
1t will do for this fine gentleman. IN
son. If he does not find it brillan
enough, let him try to add to its luster
THE second scene was brought abou
by the Yicomte abductiug a bale
dancer, and 10y duel and debt whic
were the consequences of this little at
fair. The general brought the son be
fore his mother and roughly reprove
him for his folly. Instead of supporting
her husband, The countess made excuse
for her son. Women always arc indul
gent toward the man in love scrapl
AS the general told his son that h;
fortune was not sufficient to maintai
such scandalous absurdities, the cour
tess unhappily INTERCEPTED;
"'Oh, the fortune of the DE BransaC
will amply suffice for him