Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-12-13

it alarm you," she added, that it is
always the ace of spades that is turned?''
| ''Not particularly; a mere matter of
chance. have seen at Spa a series of
even more surprising occurrences than
this. Still, the persistency of this ace of
spades may have a meaning that we can
not read. At all events, l will make you
proposition, mad, unrealizable, perhaps
without possible result, but you feel the
turning of this card portentous of some
thing, and they say there is a genie Of
play-eh bien! l call upon it to serve me!
If turn it again, this ace of spades, you
will give me the right to send for you, to
| call you to me, no matter where, no mat
ter how, no matter at what hour day or
address-and we will find ourselves to-
gether once more. Doyou agree to it? All,
l know what you would say-that my
hope is wild ,insensate; that must give up;
so much the worse for mel But you-you
risk nothing; it is who will struggle with
the cards, and II give you my word
upon twill do nothing to trick you.
You refuse? So be it; you shall not 60,
or, rather, if you do, follow you at every
sacrifice, despite your husband, despite
yourself even"-
"And You would do this? You would
compromise me thus if | decline to SUBJ
ject myself to this mad propositions"
II swear it."
She hesitated.
Decided" he added; "decide quickly.
| My mood is not one to be trifed withl Do
you accept?
81 accept" she responded, in a shaken
voice; "shuff1e the cards and beginl"
Louis shuffled them feverishly, then
placed them before his vis-a-vis, fixing
upon her look long, piercing, fiery, as if
he would compel her by the force of mag
netism.
81 wish" said he, II wish that the ace
of spades should be the turn-upl Cut,
madamel'
She cut, and Louis distributed the cards.
He turned one. 1t was the ace of spadesl
"Victoryl have won!" he cried.
''By enchantment, then"
'No, Lucienne, mol l love you-it is
the enchantment of love that wins!'
'But my revenge, monsieur, you will
permit me to have my revengeY
"Revenge?'
Certainly; desire to play against you.
Did you think | would yield without
struggle? If | win the matter ends here"
And as it was not, after all, the game
of ecarte they were playing, and the
turned card was the only one in which
they had the slightest interest. Nine.
d'Arcueil quickly gathered them together,
shuffied them and gave them to her op-
ponent.
And you wish the turn to be-
1.-The queen of hearts"
The eight of clubs showed itself upon
the top of the pack. Lucienne had lost.
A ;,,r cbn ,c@o i,f
For well did she realize that it was
more than the ace of spades that she had
promised to obey; that Louis, her lover,
would not be dilatory in appointing the
rendezvous to which it, this ace of spades,
would call her-a rendezvous that, after
all. must end in parting; upon which scan
dal possibly would spy and tattle, and
chastisement attend for reckless, erring
wife. Lucienne shuddered.
II cannot" she cried, Il dare not-I
am afraid. l dare not abandon my des-
tiny to the will of cardl You are a gal
liant man, Louis. Release me, beg of
you-release me from this thoughtless
promise"
"No; impossible! and if I should you
would still suffer the same. l love you
you know it, and believe that you love
me. No, it is impossiblep'
"Then begin anew-make the test over
again.
misunderstanding tells me l shall
win. What card will you take now?'
1.-The one that came up before-the
eight of clubs y
.'Eh bienl Shuttle and give them to me
yourself"
Once more she did as he told her, shut
fed the cards and gave them to him, and
once more, as on the other occasions, the
card that De Fremont turned was the ace
of spades.
"Ahl' she cried, rising as if something
had stung her, II was right-it is en-
chantmentp
Whether she were sorry or glad Lu
c1enne d'Arcueil could not at the moment
have told you. It was very late. The
orchestra was playing the last waltz.
Without a word Louis placed his arm
around Lucienne's waist, and the two
lovers, heart to heart, the one with the
other, found themselves in the wave Of
dancers.
Soon the music ceased, the guests made
their parting compliments-the ball was
over.
The next morning NJ. d'Arcueil con-
Quoted Lucienne to Andelys, and the day
afterward departed on his secret mission.
Whilst diplomats occupy themselves at
a distance with the interests of France,
the soldier also has his duty as French
man, and almost Immediately following
the departure of the D,Arcueils from Paris
the til was ordered to depart for
Africa.
The news of such an order was not re-
ceived with delight, but gradually, as the
hour approached for them to start, Louis
de Fremont felt his ambition to reawaken
the captain desired to see himself
colonel. With scarcely time enough to
put their affairs in order, to drop fare
well line to friends and parents, to climb
into the wagons, stop at Lyons and then
at Marseilles, the regiment embarked
unon the transport and in due time put
their feet upon African soil.
De Fremont, like the majority OF
French officers, had made his debut in
ALGERIA. and now between skirmishes
amused himself revisiting places where,
nc a simple lieutenant, he had trst
his tent, the field where he had
won his "maiden spurs" the bourgade or
village where he had left a Lady
love for soldiers do not give up these
pleasing pastimes when they turn their
backs upon Paris. Dnd
Three months passed thus. BY the end
If the fourth he was well under way VIII
a promising love affair with young IN
structress of music, born OF French pa
rentage in Algeria, but Parisienne by IN
stinct. One knows that Arabs are always
in state of insurrection. Louis was
likely to remain in Africa long Whle.
Nor was he astonished one morning