Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16
lmpr1lng her shk knew mot wmIner.

have j money SO to risk"
Then what is this" playfully touching
Rotha' breast, this secret of Monsieur
Ro-od-nry's we guard 50 jealously:'
"Ah:' exclaimed Rotha with mvOlun-
tary betrayal. that is not mine-not his
hot"
"Ciel. to lose such chance! Me, had !
! but fraction of that treasure, from
what of misery might it not deliver"
A little wringing of madame's hands, |
a few tears, voluble detailment Of |
wrong. wrrsted advantage, poverty, op- |
preston, and Rothas heart. burning |
with Indignation. thrubbed to aid. With |
quick zeal she reviewed her resources. |
She had 10 pounds absolutely her own, |
III her drcssIng-Case at the hotel. Were |
she, from Rodney's packet, to lend mad |
anne that amount, she could replace II on
her return. Surely Rodney would not
blame her for using her own money as
she pleased-for helping madame, too!
lmpulsively she drew forth the parcel,
opened it. and offered madame a note of
the sum mentioned. The other drew
hack, her greedy eyes glOating over the
prize revealed.
Stay. mignonne." and she waved the
gift aside, 1t is To the young luck comes;
you shall stake it for me, and be my
Dame of Good Fortune"
They entered the salon; Rotha in
fever of excitement, doubt. and
fear; madame cold, calm, self possessed.
She changed ROtha's note for gold
directed and suggested her play. How
Rotha's fingers trembled as she placed
her first stake, picked up her first win
nings. Time after time she won. A
small ocean of gold heaved upon her
hand. People turned, watched, NUT
tered over her success. The fascination
# the place, which had been growing
upon her insensibly, suddenly leaping to
gigantic power. Overmastered will, mo
rality, and Judgment. Courage! Cour-
age!" whispered the temptress beside her
What? bid fortune adieu with her ia
vOr at its flood" And Rothas hand
drew from the packet another note. Then
The tide turned-She lost. Reverse fol-
lowed reverse Dismayed, bewildered,
with fierce fear Clutching her heart,
she followed madame's counsels, laying
down notes and gold until all was gone.
As the crOupier's rake gathered in the
last pile she looked round with the wide
eyed, uncomprehending misery of a
child. Then. as the hideous truth burst
upon her brain, she threw up her arms
with despairing cry, and fled away.
Where, she knew not. On, on, speeding
n l.. 4 4.
slopes, and steps, and roads, like hunt
ed animal. Lights died. voices grew
faint and far. palms ceased rustling,
fiower-scents faded. The sea S salt breath,
the plash of waves, rocks uncertain
footing took their place. A broad moon
looked down upon her from a lonely sky,
as she gazed out upon a lonely sea. She
had wandered to the shore, but by what
pathway or for what purpose, she never
could recall. \ dumb agony of fright
urged her on. Over sharp boulders and
scraped ridges. she stumbled forward till
she reached the furthermost point of
projecting reef. There she cow
cred down. and waited-for what:
Billows Doomed around her-spray flew
over and drenched her-night shadows
mocked her with phantom images. The
Tete du Chen frowned behind. the pitt
less sea stretched in front. Somewhere
bells were ringing. Were they tolling
beneath the waves knells for drowning
seamen, or pealing from village steeples
happy bridal chimes: Surely they were
her own wedding bells-how merrily
they rang! And that was Rodney's
voice. All, yes they were throwing
flowers how sweet and pink was the
mimosa bloom how heavy the air with
jasmine and seringa. 1t was the bataille
des fieurs, of course. How gay and
bright the people looked how pleasant
was life, wandering thus with Rodney
by her side. Now they were hemmed
i'll by geranium hedges, luxuriant, bril-
liant, dazzling walls of blossom. Oh
they were choking, scorching, killing
her. Not geraniums at all, but forked
tongues of fir,-fire that changed from
flames to ice, devOuring and freezing her
by turns. And Rodney had disappeared.
She was alone. Rodney Rodney" she
shrieked-and then blank darkness fell,
and silence.
That shrek saved her. Half demented
at finding his young wife missing upon
his return, and unable to gain tidings of
her. Rodney had wandered to and fro in
mental agony as great as Rotha's. What
guided him to the shore he knew no
more than she what prompted her flight
to the rocks. Her cry discovered her hid
ing place. Very tenderly Rodney gath
cred her to his breast, and carried her
back to shore and into loves safe shelter.
When Rotha recovered from the illness
which supervened upon exposure, ex-
haustion, and distress of mind, the young
couple returned to England, gamers in
earnest purpose if in some degree sobered
in spirit. The actual money loss was re-
paid from the sum which both had looked
forward, with proud pleasure, to spend
ing together on the furnishing and adorn-
ing of their expected home. In strait
ened means. and the discomforts of
lodgings, they paid the penalty of their
joint fault, whose largest share of blame,
Rodney insisted-and truly-belOnged to
him. He had no right to burden another
with his own responsibilities, nor to ex-
pose his inexperienced wife to an ordeal
such as overwhelmed her. Rotha main
tains that, had her moral courage and
honesty been of tougher fiber, she would
never have fallen into such trap. On
one point they are agreed-tha, no game
played for money shall ever be counte-
naneed in the pretty domicile into which
they have lately moved.
Mark Eames, having gratified his NAL
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