The Sunday herald., 1886-09-12

by aid OF Rotha's mirror, the fastening OF
the package within her bosom, assured
Madame Of the debts payment and Rotha's
possession OF the money.
Presently, seated In an alcove, she turned
the conversation upon play, mixing myth
and reality In her storied Successes, daz.
sling Rotha with tides OF gold and noun
tains Of silver, laughing At her objections,
and book.culled "reminiscences Of
criffiH aud rtiin.
",toitii I" pickiiig DIP three tebbles, and
laying one upon the little table, 'tfiefe atfi
] myself. There" placing a second, "lies
Had but FIVE fraucs," laying
the third midway between the two, "I would
risk the whole upon the camel"
R9tha looked at her wonderingly. The
wonian's earnestness Impressed ber with a
kind Of awe, as at an iniluefcs imtelling her
she knew not whittier. She shivered.
ut Is a power Of which know nothing"
she said. "Neither, did wish II, have
money 80 to risk"
Rotha's breast, "this secret Of Monsieur Ro-
cd ney's we guard so jsalously Z"
"Ahl" exclaimed Rotha. with involun.
tary betrayal, "tbat is not mine--not his
not"
"C,i! TO lose such chance Me, had
but fraction Of that treasure, from what Of
misery might II not deliver"
little wripging Of Madame's hands, a
few tears, a voluble detailment Of wrong,
wrested advantage, poverty, oppression,
and Rotha's heart, burning with indigna
tion, throbbed 10 aid. With quick zeal she
reviewed her resources. She had ten
pounds, absolutely her own, IN her dressing.
case at the hotel. Were she, from Rodney .
packet, to lehd Madattie that amount, she
could replace II on her return. Surely Rod
ney could not blame her for using her own
money as she pleased for helping Madam 9,
too! Impulsively she drew forth the parcel,
opened IL, aud offered Madame note OF the
sum mentioned. The other drew back,
her greedy eyes gloating over the prize re-
vealed.
"Stay, miynonner' aud sho waved the
gilt aside, "it is TO the young luck comes;
you shall stake II for me, and be my Dame
Of Good Fortune" I"
They entered the salon; Rotha In fever
Of excitement, doubt, and fear; Madame
cold, calm, self-possessed. She changed
Rotha's note for sold-directed and sug-
gested her play. How Hotha's fingers
picked up her first winnings Time after
under her hand. People turned, watched,
mutt-red over her success. The fascination
Of the place, which had been growing upon
her insensibly, suddenly leaping to gi-
gantic power, Overmastered will, morality,
and Judgment. courage courage I" wills
psred the temptress beside her. "What
bid Fortune adieu with her favor at its
flood ~ Aud Rotha's hand drew forth from
tha packet another note. Then the tide
turned-she lost. Reverse followed reverse
Dismayed. bswildered, with fierce fear
clutohipg her heart, she followed Madatne's
counsels, laying down notes aud gold until
all was gone.
AS the croupier's rake gathered in the
last pile shs looked round with the wide.
eyed, uncomprehendipg misery of child.
Then, as the hideous truth burst upon her
brain, she threw up her arms with de-.
spairing cry. and fled away. Where. she
knew not. On, on, speeding along the
fower-laden terraces. down slopes, and
steps, and roads, like a hunted animal
Lights died, voices grew faint and far, palms
ceased rustliDg, flower scents faded. Tn.
seas salt breath, the plash Of waves, rock =
uncertain footing took their place. broad
moon looked down upon her from lonely
sky, as she gasad out upon a lonely sea.
ohV uou W tuo euUIcS Uut ny Wud'
pathway, or fof what PURPOSE, she never
could recall. A dumb agony of frigh,
urged her on. Over sharp boulders. and
scraprd ridges, she stumbled forward Till she
reached the furthermost point of project
ing reef. Thera she covered down, and
waited-for what9 BillOws doomed around
her-spray flew over aud drsnched her
night shadows mocked her with phantom
images. The 7eie du Chisn frowned behind
the pitiless sea stretched in front. Some
where bells were ringing. We're they toll.
ing beneath the waves knells for drowning
seamep, or pealiug from village steeples
happy brida, chimes Surely they were
her own wedding bells-how merrily they
rangi Aud that was Roduey's voice. All,
yes they wers throwing flowers; how swes'
and pink was the mimosa tlO0m, how heavy
the air with jasmine and seringa 1t wa.
the bataiiic DIS feurs, Of course How gay
and bright the people looked; how pleasant
was life, wandering thus with Rodney by
her side Now they were hemmed in by
geranium hedges, luxuriant, brilliant, dnz-
zling walls Of blossom. Oh they wer.
choking, seorchiug, killing herl Not gera
NUNS at all, but forked tongues of fire =
fire that changed from flame to ice, dsvour
ing aud freezing her by turns. And Rodney
neyi Rodney ~ she sbrieke ed-and then
blank darkness fell, oblivion, aud silence.
That shrek saved her. Half dsmentei al
finding his young wife missing upon his re
turn, and unable to gain tidiugs of her, Rod
ney had wandered to and fro in mental agony
rs great as Rptha's. What guided him 70
tue shore he knew no more than she wha
prompted her flight to the rocks. Her cry
discovered her hiding place. Very tenderly
Rodney gathered her to his breast, and car
risd her back to shore, and into loves
shelter.
y
When Rotha recovered from tue illness
which supervsned upon exposure, exhaus
tion, and distress Of mind the young couple
returned to England, gamers in earnest pur
pose If In some degree sObered in spirit
The actual money loss was repaid from ths
sum which both had looked forward with
proud pleasure to spending together on th.
furnishing and adorning Of their expected
home. Iu straitened means, aud the dis
comforts Of lodgings, they paid the peualty
Of their joint fault, whose largest share Of
blame Rodney Insisted, aud truly, belonged
to him. He had no right to burden another
his inexperienced wife 10 an ideal such q,
overwhelmed her. Rotha maintains that
had her moral courage and honesty been o.
tougher fibre, she never would have fallen
into such trap. On one point they ar,
agreed-that no game played for money shal
ever bs countsnancsd In the pretty domioil,
into which they have lately moved.
Mark Eames, having gratiied his malice
troubles them no more, although he and
Madame D'Armst, alias Esnles, still PROV
about Monte Carlo.
The MacPherson ia q constant visitor q
the pleasant home, which, owing to shrew.
guess at the state of affairs, his cousinl,
generosity assisted In developing soons
than could otherwise have bssn possibls
lie has taken a great faucy ts Rodney secu,
dus, and recently presented the infant will
a silver pap-bost, modelled after the desigl
Of the Bonnie EIains.-Cdssers Family Maga
zine.
Uses Of the Weather Duronu.