Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16

ance came in the form of an unexpected
legacy. The sharp recoil from shameful
despair to hopeful freedom struck at
first like a blow. Then. falling upon his
knees, after pouring forth such flood
of confession, thanksgiving, cries fo'
strength and aid, Ia had never before
rrussed his lips. or filled his heart, ne
registered "A solemn vow that never again
through life would he stake one tarthlng
upon any game "f chance.
This was the specter which, confront
ing him upon his wrdding-eNc, whisper
my the name of Monte Carlo. pointed
with cold. bony finger to possible
temptation. And once again upon hts
knees. hacking up into the myriad golden
ewes keeping watch over the sleeping
rity, Rodney Chester reiterated those
pleadings for tirmnrsS and support, and
with double carnestness renewed that
unfurgottcn vow.
Near the long. steep flight of steps
leading up from the railway station ="
the tcrraccd gardens of Monte Carl"
stood a group of three, watching the
stream Of passengers ascending that
ladder of the lost. from the afternoon
train-a light-bearded Engllshman, with
"A diminutive French wife. blaCk-eyed ana
vivacious. and an angular Scot, whose
gaunt viSage was "A study IN tan ot the
delights of yachting. lazily he surveyed
the newcomers. occasionally utterlng
some shrew criticism upon one or an
other His companion. from under lids
dropped i'll seeming indifference, shot
swift analytic glances. keen as steel
flash. at each passing face. Something
Of the hounds tenacity, combined
with foxy cunning. characterized his
frigid ewes. Another sidelong glance
vet swifter. telegraphed the result OF
such inspections 10 the small woman at
his side, who caught their meaning with
indetinable rapport.
Surely. yon's young Chester" said
Macpherson. surprise quickening some
what his usually deliberate Scottish
drawl Whatever brings him to this
goddess place-wi' the bit lasSie, too"
(Which: that yellow headed girl:
Much what set Adam and Eve meddling
with sour apples, | should say, sneered
the Englishman, with an obtrusiVe yawn
Disgusting a start of recognition on his
part also. As Rodney and Rotha came
slowly forward, Rodney's face slightly
grave, vet filled with interest, curiosity,
and quiet admiration, his wife's brightly
expressive of a young girls vivid appre-
ciation of unimagined beauty, and the
excitement consequent upon first pres
rntation to place whose evil reputation
enveloped il in weird romance.
1T is like a vision" Rotha exclaimed,
with catch in her breath and 4 sympa-
thetic pressure on her husbands arm, as
few steps upon the terrace spread the
whole panoramic scene before them, out
lined sharply as cameo by the slanting
| evening sunbeams. Blue, blue SEA, tiecked
with white and tawny sails-the quaint.
walled, Moorish town perched on It's
rocky, washed promuntnry-a dis
tant, tilmy mirage, whispering of Cor
sica's S snow mountains and fateful mem
ories-palms waving great fans overhead,
anu litAl AAlAS AhnhN AA'iA'A' W W
sapphire SKY, and showers of golden light
Like vision" Rotha said: and she wau
right. In its beauty-and deceptiOn-lt
was, and is, as a dream and-awakening!
Bitter enough to some is the lifting of
that trance-hke sleep.
From the palms, the sky, the amber
glow, Rotha's winged fancy dropped sud
a L., h., ,f HnIIn,, PAinn,,
introducing to her a brawny Highlander,
who was blending congratulations with
discreet curiosity, in Caledonian fashion.
The MacPherson"-as being at the
head of his clan, he, with pardonable
vanity, affected to be styled-was a sandy
haired. elderly man. with kind blue eyes.
His rather ponderous gallantries amused
ROtha: but the unmiStakable interest he
diplayed in her as his cousins bride won
upon her. as her bright face and manner
attracted him. StrOlling leisurely for
ward he soon learned the young couples
experiences and projects-Rodneys mis-
sion to MonacO-his belief, from informa.
don gathered, that the dinner-hour was
the time most likely for finding Monsieur
Duval at home: and ROtha's rejection of
his proposal that she should remain at
Nice. whittier. if successful in his appli-
cation to Duval, they intended returning
that night.
Il wouldn't have missed coming for
anything" Rotha protested. flushing with
pretty triumph--Fancy being at Nice
and not seeing Monte Carlo-dear, de
Hghtful, wicked place"
~Aweel, then. while your guide
mons speirin' an pokin' for this
Duval, we'll Just tax LUX round
you an meat the beauties
q nature outside, an the pun flutterin
moths o full bodies within that spiders
web o the evil ones own spinin'. An
ns'er fash yerself aboot the wee wife,
Rodney; well neither waste the bawbees.
nor max munelicht flittin 20 the Bon
ME Elaine" So, with dry humor, spake
The Macpherson.
1t was a good arrangement, placing
Rotha in safe keeping, yet leaving Rod
ney's movements free. He laughingly
departed, though Rotha's wistful glances
ioHO"eu hiih Will Biush transparency
Quickly, however, attention and imagin-
alton were both distracted and en-
chained. The cleaning marble palace
rose before her like childhoOd's fairy
tales embodied. uniting the strange 81
lence of enchanted sleep with the mag,
niticence. coloring, and radiant brill
rncy of Aladdin's halls. The spells of
the place held her forcibly. The OPP
pressive stiffness, broken only by omin-
Gus, fate-filled tories, the blankly apa-
thetic faces. the social differences
merged in the united purpose of the
crowd, held her senses in the mute re-
preston of concentrated intensity.