The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-10-14


were the consequences Of this little af-
fair. The general brought the son be.
fore his mother and roughly reproved
him for his folly Instead Of supporting
her husband, the countess made excuses
Tor her son. Women always are indul-
gent toward the man in love scrape.
AS the general told his son that his
fortune was not sufficient to maintain
such scandalous absurdities, the coun-
tess unhappily interjected:
''Oh, the fortune of the De Bransacs
will amply suffice for him.
''She had not calculated the effect of
her speech. An hour later the general
lett the hotel and went to his chateau /;
at the end Of week the family notary
informed the countess that her entire
personal fortune was at her disposal.
The separation was complete, and the
general lived alone on the fifteen thou
sand francs which constituted the rev.
enue he received from his own fortune.
"The son made ducks and brakes of
her fortune. At the end of six months
the countess was half ruined, and the
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 no
had handed in his resignation as lieu
tenant in cavalry regiment. That is
what was given out. but rumors of diff
ferent character were aioat. The coun-
tess no longer appeared in public, but
confined herself to her hotel. In few
weeks she seemed ten years older.
"The vicomte, after voyage of some
weeks in 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 thousand francs month
allowed him by his mother. 1t would
be little to day; but at that time it en-.
ablcd man to make quite figure in
the fashionable world. He passed his
time between love adventures, the
theatres, and the green table. Then
little by little his elegance and his
eccentricities began to be talked about.
Clubs were not as plentiful as they are
now, but the gilded youth and the
gamesters had few of them where lovers
of the green cloth could amuse them
selves.
Zone evening when the Vicomte
Roland, 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 no explanation, and contented
himself with laughing.
"Some days after, the prefect OF
police announced himself to the general
at his chateau. What passed between
them do not know. All that is known
Of the affair is that they returned together
to Paris.
"At 1 o'clock of the evening following
that interview, the vicomte was seated at
a atable playing ecarte. He had just won
ten successive games from an English
man, who, passing through Paris on his
way home, had been introduced at the
club by one of the members. Roland
had q considerable sum before him. The
loser had just risen. and before leaving
the table had bowed thrice, when an ell
derly gentleman approached the table.
will the Nicomte Roland permit me
to take the gentIeman's revengeg
The young man paled. 1t was his
father.
"'As you are bold player, offer you
bold game. 1t will be useless for you
to say that it is too high. Read And
the general handed him a note folded
twice.
"The vicomte glanced over it and
shuddered visibly.
"'Do you acceptQ
"He bowed. The general seated him
self opposite his son, cut king, and
dealt the cards. He won the first hand.
When it was the vicomte's deal, he
trembled slightly and strange light
shone in his eyes; nevertheless he played
on. The general won again.
''The vicomte rose, pale as a ghost,
and in a smothered voice said:
In an hour, sir, | shall have acquit-
ted myself
''He left the room without another
word.
"On the following morning the guar
dians of the Bois dc Boulognc brought
in the body of the Vicomte Roland. His
head was blown TO pieces, his hand still
grasping the pistol. In a portfolio was
found an unsigned scrap of paper, on
which were the words
The loser will blow out his brains.
's'.'-'''''' '.'s'' ''''...--.. ......s's
1.-THE pretended Englishmau was an
accomplished card sharper, sent by the
project of police. The three bows had
been the sign agreed upon between him
and the general to indicate that the vi
comte had cheated.
1.-THE game was one for life and death
between father and son. Both were dis
honored-the son by his own act, the
father by the sons. But this dishonor
was secret, which threatened to become
an open shame. Death could stife it
the sons death or the fathers, for the
stern old soldier would himself have dis.
graced his son had that son not kept