The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-06

| energy of the notary alone saved her
| from her sons extravagances.
'All at once it became known that
the vicomte Roland no longer belonged
| to the kings household, and that he
| lad handed in his resignation as
lieutenant in q cavalry regiment. That
| is what was given out, but rumors of d
| different character were afloat. The
| countess no longer appeared in public,
! but confined herself to her hotel. In
| a few weeks she seemed ten years cider.
'The vicomte, after voyage of
! some weeks ia Italy, returned to Paris,
| took apartments in the Rue de la
| Chaussee d'Antin, and lived the life of
an idler on the pension of a thousand
| francs a month allowed him by his
| mother. It would belittle to-day; but
| at that time it enabled man to make
quite a figure in the fashionable world.
He passed his time between love ad-
| ventures, the theatres, and the green
| table. Then little by little his ele-
gance and eccentricities began to be
| talked about. Clubs were not as plen-
tiful as they are now, but the gilded
| youth and the gamesters had q few of
them where lovers of the green cloth
| could amuse themselves.
"One evening when the Vicomte Ro-
| land, after having won a considerable
sum from one of his friends, offered
him his revenge, his opponent rose,
and, pushing away the cards, looked
| at him in a singular manner.
"'Well, no, Roland,' said he; what
with your luck with women and your
luck with cards, you have too much
| luck for one man.
'Roland, though somewhat choleric,
| demanded dno explanation, and content
ed himself with laughing
"Some days after, the Perfect Of Po-
lice announced himself to the general
at his chateau. What passed between
til them do not EpoM 6s rstnrnsd kGoTn to
gether to Paris.
"At eleven O'Clock of the evening fol-
| lowing that interview, the vicomte was
seated at a table playing ecarte. He
| had just won ten successive games from
an Englishman, who, passing through
Paris on his way home, had been in
troduced at the club by one of the
members. Roland had considerable
sum before him. The loser had just
risen, and before leaving the table had
bowed thrice, when an elderly gentle
man approached the table.
"4Will the Vicomte Roland permit
me to take the gentleman's revenge?"
''The young man paled. 1t Was his
father.
:s.As you are bold player, I offer
you bold game. 1t will be useless for
you to say that it is too high. Read
And the general handed him q note
folded twice.
''The vicomte glanced over it, and
shudderel visibly.
"!Do you accept?'
"He bowed. Thegeneral seated him.
self opposite his son, cut Il king, and
dealt the cards He won the first
hand. When it was the vicomete's
deal, he trenlbled slightly and a stran;e
light shone in his eyes; nevertheless he
played on. The general won again.
'tThe vicomte rose, pale as a ghost,
and in a smothered voice said:
''1n an hour, sir, shall have acquit-
ted myself.
s'He left the room without another
word.
"On the following morning the guar
dians of the Bois de Boulogne brought
in the body OF the Vicomte Roland.
His head was blown to pieces, his
hand still grasplng the pistol. In a
portfolio was found and unsigned
scrap of paper, on which were the
words:
ssThe loser will blow out his brains"
''The pretended Englishman was an
accomplished cardsharper, sent by the
project of police. The three bows had
been the sign agreed upon between him
and the general to indicate that the
vicomte had cheated.
'"The game was one for life and death
between father and son. Both were
dishonored-the son by his own act,
the father by the sons. But this dis
honor was a secret, which threatened
to become an open shame. Death
could stifle 1.-THE sons death or the
fathers, for the stern old soldier would
have disgraced his soG had that son
not kept their pact. The price OF the
generals secrecy was his sons life. y
Translated for the Argonaut from the
French of Edouard Siebecker.
GATHERINGS Ride.