Wichita daily eagle., 1885-08-11
STORY OF A DEBT.

| t1ames-Democrat Trans from Jacques Norman6.
/ Tell Us how it is that you do not belong
to any ciubF We asked Count r. the
wealthy Hungarian, 80 well known at Paris
-Al doors are open to you: society would be
delighted TO receive you anywhere: you
would be welcomed with showers Of white
balls; you are even more Of q Pari.ian than
many OF our Parisians; you must really be
one Of US
i will present you {, the Jockey eluh'
Il will introduce you to the Imperial
-And TO the Miriitons"
NO. no. gently replied the count; -it
would be Of no u-e."
Bah, You could como just to read the
papers you would meet some old frien1s;
you could have little chat every day from
8 TO O'Clock about the sensations OF the
Sea on"
-Yes aud the dinner. you know"
And the fencing hail.
"And the billiarj-room
@And . little party, cnce in q whila"
The counts brow cloudei little; and be
answered bru'quely:
Don't persist. pleasel l shall never join
any rlub-never!'
We lookei at each other in aStonishment
That sharp trenchsnt manner wss 50 foreign
10 his u ual manner! None Of Us had ever
seen hi, dreamy, gentle facs-melancboly
with q vague sadness that nothing
| seeme able to di sipAte-wear Q frown be-
ftre
He understood our astonishmen.. and at
once excused himself. with exQuis Be grace.
Il beg your pardon . thou and times"
he exclaimed. -for having allowed myself
TO become vexed like . fool. and for reply
ing so rudely to your kindly proposition. 1t
Iii - II -
you arou-ed-a painful memory. No, my
dear friends ! shall never belong to any
club: and l owe it as duty to tell you, who
take such an interest In me, the reason why.
Then you will understand and excuse my
momentary irritability.
! was p years Old at the time OF the incl
dent am about to tell you. am now
almost S. So the history is an old one,
you see; and nevertheless it has left 50 deep
an impression upon me that remember it
all as If it happened only yesterday.
l had lived very wild life in Paris
from the time Of my 10th year. had
squandered all my own fortune, although it
was very considerable. In order to settle
my gambling debts-gambling WAS my
worst folly-I had been frequently obliged
10 appeal 70 my fatha. He always paid
without saying a word But had suffered
SO much At finding myself compelled to ap-
peal 70 him tnat vowed to myself rever to
do so again. no matter what should happen
Whn all my affairs were settled, there
remained to me some Sc. 600 francs-a mere
nothing l resolved to risk the money in q
last stake. II l should win l would try to
get upon my feet again; il l should lose-I
would take q leap into eternity. Twenty
five years Is an early age to take such leap;
but my resolution was irrevocabiy fixed,
and nothing could have changed it
When l left ths opera that night pro-
cecded on foot to the club houss; for b.
longed then to several clubs. As I came to
the square I saw the lofty windows lighted
up; they seemed to glare at me through
the gloom like great yellow-red eyes
Against the light black silhouttes passed to
and fro
said to myself: There is where play
my last game"
And hurried on
Just as l was about to enter the doorway
almost stumbled over a dark figure lying
upon the sidewalk cloe to the wall
looked
1t was little beggar girl about 10 years
old, pale and sickly. wrapped in a ragged
blanket. and dozin, with her head resting
on step Partly through charity, but
much more through feeling OF supersti-
tion-for l was really about to gamble for
my ife-I took q gold piece from my
pocket, q louis, and slipped 1t into her hand.
Her eyes scarcely opened; she stammered
out vague Thank you," her fingers closed
upon the coin; she folded her arms and sank
70 sleep again
Five minutes later was in the gambling |
room. There was only about ten players |
tnere, but AL OF them enthusiastic game /,
sters.
first my play was very happy. l won |
LOO louis; my charity to the little beggar |
seemed to have brought me good luck. But |
iii httie whiis my luck changed
lou all Know now that Is; You have all
nad more or ie experience Needless there-
lore 70 oescrioo 70 you tne fever which seizes
toe player tne aitefnatlons OF gain or loss
"nicn comes hke nervous shocks the success
SION OF sudden hopes and sudden fears Time
ana humanity may change; but the gambler
remains tne same forever.
AZ O'Clock 10 the morning, l had just
''uV francs !SIt risked them IN ono stake
Eght cards-i thought myself saved
i"e banker .aid down nine-i was lost
rose up. inhy preserving my self-con-
troll; but feeling great sinking at my
"fou must have your revenge to- morrow
they said to me-
Yes. yes, ans wered mechanically, @tO-
morrow
To-moTow!--whers would be to-nor-
rowf
Some one took the seat had vacated
Make your play, genalsmenT exclaimed
the monotonous voice OF the banker.
And the play went on
They gave me my overcoat At the cloak
room As lifted my head in the effort TO
get my arms through the sleeves, l saw my
face reflected in mirror 1t was white as
Q sheet.
Idescended the main stairway, which was
dimly lighted. In the hall three or four
lackeys were doing On the benches; one Of
them rose as l passed; the others never
moved All these things come back to my
now. with singular clearness I
lit a cigar. This 10 the last thought
You seee lived only q few steps away
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