The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-25
THE ACE OF SPADES.

not dance still remained in the salon TO
admire the beautiful waltztrs.
Of the house, was doing his duty turn by
turn with all those women that without
his example no one would have thought
Of inviting. The card pDom. however,
was empty, and at the sc-tle moment that
Mime. d'Arcueil. across whose charming
head twenty-five springs had come and
gone, perceived the incumbe rment Of her
salon young officer Of 80, perhaps, so
Bcited The honor and happiness Of waltz
with her.
Upon one condition" she responded,
that we have a game Of cards first, but
! warn you that know only ecarte.
The Young officer did not stir. and
Nine d 'Arcueil with that freedom Of tone
that distinguishes the Parisienne, added
smgingly. "Who loves me follows me-
Immediately not less than twenty Of
those solemn men who believed it dero-
gated from their dignity 90 dance, and
who had been invited solely on account of
their wives, trooped after her TO the card
room and placed themselves al table.
Every one will thank NE for this,
said she, "and the ladies viii be able to
MNht NllAIAb Atdl lll- Ai'tA Nt"ittns -NN''
sieurs, give you the right TO play.
"Lucicunc demanded in "a low tone
the young officer. tell me quickly the
true meaning of thisi
Simply that VIC may have prctext
for talking together without disturbance
Besides. should have ed I'm the midst
Of those dancers. But play, Louis. play
He obeycd and mechanically distributed
the cards. turning up the ace Of spades
And they played, but i'm the handling Of
the cards, i'm pronouncing Insignificant
phrases. in giving change 10 the players,
or chatting graciously with the guests
who passed beside them, Lucienne. who
was deeply in love. and was experiencing
how cruel the torture could be- was forced
10 bring the same upon her lover.
Her husband. ex-ambassador from
France 20 Spain. had been charged with d
secret mission that required prompt de
parture Well. VI. d Arcucll had decided
that his wife during his absence, the pre-
else duration of which Ice was unable TO
tell should remain al Andelys, where her
family were then residing And he, Louis
de Fremont. captain in The It'll. would
have no right TO leave Paris, since his
regiment was ON duty there.
&c he made thisrefoction he distributed
.h, oo,.l. f.. fl,e tl,ird time and for the
tLi-1 ,tr,c tLe ocn If shades was the
turn NM
Again cried Louis; clearly it is sig
niicaut of something.
"Sirnifcanu vcs' murmurcd Nine
d'Areneu .of .Ie manner perhaps. in
which we have trined with our hearts as
,yo now triie with these caras"
"pnt Trcienne why do Won co2 WHY
do Won mot resistg WHY 90 YOU not refuse
49, io.,.o p,ri.y \ybv do Won hermit tli.
man whom Won do not love. 10 command
vour life I'm This wayy Why 90 YOU leave
me md mv love SO ardent. $40 talthfuN
saw INV love. Won see. for / know well that
vonr- a-
NV love. Louis. so beautiful and
sweet heo of you not TO altcrit by m-
inst renroacnes. lave committed sin
enourb ia loving vou-rocomize this n
p.arc of fofurjpr me lv suspicions l
sbau Da pnui,bed sufficiently when to-
,norr.,. find myself aloue-au alone
with Ii,aw
"Alono with him. repeated IT, de Ere.
mont do.nlir anger jealousy. disgust.
,ls.ri.... ~. lii Lcarf ,,lilethe inditTercnts
tlot surrounded linn took ices. PLAYED,
ds,.,1 orr,,,,.ed intri0ue.-obeved' u
80 ,iot Lions law nj ontjtbesis that
.ince the world began has encompassed in
clouds If low i'm ravs of sunlight the sad
dest sorrow.
"plav. Louis. plavi" cried Lucieune sad
denly. "sonie one comes
Bat is it endedl' he murmured again;
"bove we met. have we loved. and do we
now mart forever For wear You have
been IN me the uuivcrse-you who tell
me with So calm tone adicu, and IL
mpst ,esnond 10 Won. adieul And after
II Incienne after have said adieu when
tbis nicbt Is over. is it 10 be nothing
nore-am | 10 see YOU no moreg Is it
aud ask il for the last tmc-is il endedy'
"Yes." she answered, "for ! must 60
Icaunot do otherwise: and beseech you
not 10 speak TO me in that way-not TO
incite me 10 commit imprudenco, If have
refused my love 70 NJ. d'Arcueil ! have
still known how torespcct his name! Bat
see they rerard MS curously" And
Incieuue d'Arcuel gave the cards a new
turn.
"Acc OF spadesw announced the captain
always thatw she answered aloud aud
holding it up with % smile that showed
two rows of teeth as small and white as