The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-23

francs Il month allowed him BY his
mother. IL would belittle to-day; but
| at that time it enabled a man to make
| quite a figure in thefashionable world.
| He passed his time between love adj
ventures. the theatres, and the green
table. Then little by little his ele-
game and eccentricities began to be
talked about. Clubs were not as plen-
tiful as they are now, but the gifded
youth and the gamesters had q few of
them where lovers OF the green cloth
could amuse themselves. 4
sOne evening when the Vicomte Ro.
land, after having won o considerable
sum from one of his friends, offered
him his revenge, his opponent rose.
and, pushing away the cards, looked
at him in u singular n
"tWell, no, Roland said he; Whist
with your luck with women and your
luck with cards you have too much
luck for II man
"Roland, though somewhat iioleric,
demandedno explanation and content~
ed himself with laughing.
"Some days after, the Perfect ofPo-
lice announced himself to the general
athis chateau. What passed between
themIdon not know. AIIthat is known
OF the affair is that they returned to-
gether to Paris.
eat eleven o'clock of the evening fol.
lowing that interview, the vicomte was
seated at a table playing ecarte. He
had just won ten uccessiveeamesfrom
an Englishman, who, passing through
Paris on his way home, had been inc
troduced at the club by one of the.
members. Roland had asconsiderable
sum befo re him. The loser had just
risen, and before leaving the table had
bowed thrice, when an elderly gentle
man approached the table.
"sWill the Nicomte Roland permit
me to take the northumberland
The young man paled. 1t. was his
father.
asAs you are a bold player. l offer
you a 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.
1.-THE vicomte glanced over it, and
shuddered visibly.
edo you accept?'
HE bowed. Thegeneralseatedhim-
self opposite his on. cut II king, and
dealt the cards. He won the first
hand. When it was the vicomete's
deal, hetrembled slightly and strange
light shone in his eyes; nevertheless he
!. played on. The general won again.
"The vicomte rose, pale as aghost,
and in a smothered voice said:
: "In an hour, sir, / shall h~aveaequit.
, ted myself
:, "He left the room without another
!! word.
"on the following morning thegunr-
dams of the Bots de Boulogne brought
n in the body of tho Vicomte Roland,
e His head was blown to pieces, his
n hand still grasping the pistol. Lii q
$ portfolio was found and unsigned
scrap of paper, on which werer thu
words.
THE loser will blow out his brains:'
s'The pretended Englishman was al
accomplished cardsharper, sent by tht
project of police. The three bows hal
l been the sign agreed upon between hin
and the general to indicate thatsthi
vicomte hadcheated.
It 1.-THE game was oneforl life and deatI
between father and son. Both wer'
dishonored-the son by his own act
0 the father by the sons. But this dis
honor was a secret, which Threatened
to become an open shames Deatl
, could stile 1.-THE sons death or TIN
fathers, for the stern oldsoldier woult
have disgraced his 0 had that sol
not kept their pact. The price of tn,
d generals secrecy was his sons life.
c Translated for the A.rgonaut from tn
D French OF Edouard Siebecker.