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

UNMASKED ~CARD-SHARPER.
The Story of n Young Man who was Detect
ed Cheating In u Club.
They We're discussing the latest SCAN
dal. Ayoungman ofgoodconnections
had been ANONYMOUSLY expelled from
a club. Playing in collision with a
professional gambler, he had cheated
at cards and in a few months he had
won q considerable sum.
"And has he killed HIMSELF" asked
some one.
"Bah!" replied another. "Do men
kill themselves for SO little nowadays?
1t was differentin thegood old times"
"In the good old times, as you call
Them" said old General Roy, "those
who adopted the card-sharper's pro-
lesion killed themselves no more
than do those of the present time.
A few exceptions there may have been
among those who We're detected at the
outset. But If the first attempt sue
ceeded, they did as they do to-day,
they quickly accustom themselves to
their degradation. All, it is SO easy!
When respect for his own name we will
not restrain a man at the first step,
it is entirely dead within him, and even
a scandal will not revive it. By the
way, l can tell you of curious case in
point, where the hero blew out his
brains, but it was not suicide. Listei,:
"tIt vas some fifty years ago. TIE
press of that time vas not the terrible
gossip thatit is to-day, an~dsensation-
al news never passed certain bounds.
There were not fewer scandals, but the
scandals we're less known. In fact, l
think there were rather more. Not
that we are more virtuous, but the
fear of publicity is certainly a great
check.
"Among the elegant young fellows,
the gilded youth OF those days, who
furnished the greater part of the scam
dalous gossip by their eccentrici-
ties and duels, was q young gentle
man attached to the king'shousehold.
/ shall call him the Vicomte Roland.
The name was not an illustrious one;
in fact, the vicomte was the fruit of
those mixed marriages introduc-
ed by Napoleon 1. General Comte Ro-
land, whose heavy cavalry charges are
matters OF history, had married the
daughter OF the Marquis de Bransac, a
member of one OF the wealthiest and
most powerful families of France. His
son was then about twenty-six years
OF g He had not the robust, plebi-
an beauty Of his father, who had been
one of the handsomest men in the ar
my. His was rather the delicate and
distinguished grace of his mother, whose
idol he YVES. Having loved her hus-
band passionately the countess was
now wrapped up in his son.
"Tiheextravagant life led by the son
had causeda quarrel between the par
ents. The countess lived in the Bran
sac Hotel, one Of the finest inthe Eau.
bourg Saint Germain, while the general
secluding himself in a little chateau in
the forest OF Senart, passed his time
in the pleasures of the chase. They
say he had ill-treated his wife, but it
was utterly untrue. The fact isthat
there had been between the general and
his wife, two terrible scenes.
''The first was caused by an idea
which took possession of the countess.
She found this name Roland too
Dlebeian for her sol and tormented
her husband to obtain the kings au
thority to add to it that OF De Bran.
sac. The general energetically refus.
ed.
"'My name has sufficed forme,' said
he for me who have made it famous.
1t viii do for this fine gentleman, my
son. ii he does not find it brilliant
enough, let him try to add to its
lustre.
'sThe second scene was brought
about by the vicomte abducting a bal,
let dancer. and by q duel and q debt
little atfair. The general brought the
proved him for his folly. Instead 0.
supporting her husband, the countess
made excuses for her son. Women al
ways are indulgent toward the man il
a love scrape.
"As the general told his son that hi,
/ fortune was not sufficient to maintain
: such scandalous absurdities, TIL
5 countess unfappily INTERCEPTED:
"0h, the fortune of the DE Bransac
l will amply suffice for him.
t "SEe had not calculated the effect Q
: her speech. An observation-disclosures lef
the hotel and went to his chateau; a
j the end Of a week thefamily notary il
t formed the countess that her entir
/, personal fortune was at her disposal
t The separation was complete, and til
4 generallived alone on the fifteen thous
/. and francs which constituted the re,
9 enue he received from his own fol
n tune.
b ''The son made ducks and brakes I
e her fortune. At the endof six month
the countess was half ruined, and I'll
$ energy OF the notary alone saved he
q from her sons eXtravagances.
5 .'All at once it became knovn, tina
r the vicomte Rolandno longer balonge
to the kings household, and that !
lad handed in his resignation &
lieutenant inacavalry regiment, Tha
q is what was given out, butrumors OF
y different character were afioat> II
countess no longer appeared In publ
le but confined herself to her hotel. ]
y, a few weeks she seemed ten years olde
"The vicomte, after a voyage
- some weeks il Italy, Tetnrnedt &c Fafi
"a took apartments in the Rue dc
IS Chaussee d'Antin, and lived the life
y an ideer on the tension OF a thousar