Telegram-herald., 1891-08-01

co4tfhec1 scs one u-ast JOIN LEcA "a
the gSme. or one be9ins 10 despise ones
fellow menp In the sanctuary proper
where caly true believers and priests OF
the idol eongregste, IN the hall Of the
Rouge ct noir,' everything Was
auieter.
There sat the veterans. refugees from
Baden Ba1en. Hamburg, and SD forth,
who here foaa& their last recourse.
Tiey seemed 10 play without any ex-
eitement. bat when one looked into the
deeply -sanken syes. when one watched
the nervoasly twitchiag mouth. one
found the same disease there. They
were ali possessed, possessed by
that evil which is the worst and
most destructive 10 the soul And, In
stead of trying to do away with this
evil by all the me.4s of progressive
civilization, home Is established for 1t
here by the prince Of Monaco and Mon
sieur Blanc; home that could not
have been better chosen for the spread
ing abroad of the plague, and that in
the vicinity Of Hentone. Lau Remo.
Nice and Cannes, those resorts for suf-
ferers from all lands.
Young. thouShtless people are mag
netically attracted by those magical
rocks, where vice appears in such a
tempting forl. Weak lungs breathe
the air OF the gaming rooms until mid
night-ucrves are strained to their ut
most; these people do not stake their
money alone. they stake their lives
But what is that? What does il matter
that every year thousands of lives arc
wrecked, hundreds commit suicide, and
the population are demoralized In =
truly terrible manner?
The main object is that Monsieur
Blanc and his partner gain so many
millions in order To obtain princes for
their daughters, aud to divide their
booty with the prince of Monaco. the
proud Grinaldi, scion of the oldest
dynasty in Europe. Lapotin was right;
if one did not play, it was not interest
ing.
breathcd deeply as we stood once
again under God 6 starry canopy. and the
fresh sea air cooled our heated brows.
The landscape was very peaceful in
the clear moonlight, which shed its sill
very beams far over the sea-
But not long did it remain so calm
and peaceful. The last train to Nice
would leave in ten minutes, and from
the marble palace gay swarm streamed
out, in wild bacchanal mood, and
passed down the broad staircase
towards the station in wild confusion.
"A witches sabbath" my friend had
said: the word suited this dissolute,
midnight practice! The love of gam
ing. of intoxication. of love-great God,
what love!-ragcs in these people, whom
the fear of not finding room in tho
coaches makes still ruder.
To my great surprise Lapotin got out
again, and saw him for second In
the thick of the crowd, next our
blonde. At the very last moment he
joined us, and away we sped through
the darkness!
On getting out at Nice there was
again coarse laughter and women's
shrieks. A harsh, unmelodious voice
sang:
"Ach VIE wacr's roeelich dam.
Dssz ich Dich lassen kann-"
This sentimental little folk song sung
here and in such . manner was revolt
ing.
At length we reached the hotel, which
was SO quiet that it seemed to soothe
our overstrung nerves.
CHAPTER VII
Lapotin was not at breakfast; Miss
Rennert's chair, too. was empty; she
had heodache, Louis said.
Mrs. Clifford looked pale and excited,
but wonderfully beautiful in her jacket
of black velvet trimmed with fur of the
same color, which set off her dazzling
complexion very effectively.
Next her plate lay bouquet Of May
flowers and gardenias, with which al
times her delicate hand toyed, Sudden
ly she drew a few May flowers out and
fastened then on her bosom. Count
Degenfcld smiled and swallowed large
glass of Madeira. The secret alliance
was in full swing; what did it concern
me?
Some one is asking for Monsieur le
Baron" Louis whispered to me.
looked tow ards the door and saw
there the powerful figure of q man
with fresh, red face, who was Just In
the act of raising gigantic cycglass,
in order to examine the company. II
was Uncle Wechmar. my mothers
brother. arose and hastened towards
him.
"Wcll, here you are, my boyi" cried
he In his deep voice SO that everyone
turned to look at us.
i grssped his arm and led him to the
drawing-room, where two pretty
young ladies. with fair hair and fresh
faces 0reeted me as cousin" a de-
rsghsful surprise for one who has Just
begun to feel homesick.
What brings vou heroY" aslsed, at.
TER tho arst greeting had been ex
changed; mother did not write me
ono word of your intention Of travel
ing"
"Ah! 3eu see. my boy, the matter
here, began to cough. and mamma i'm
erined IL something serious, because a
distant aunt Is said to have died OF con
sumption,
''Our old doctor Is always Of mamma's
opinion, and advised us to spend the
winter In the south. Well. my rbeuma
tism is always troublesome in winter
time, hunting Is not going To be very
good. So We got ready and have beer
sitting at Mentonc Eve days"
But why in that jresone place, why
net hcre?''
Dear boy. you know your aunt never
does anything by halves. Msntone i
considered the safest and warmest spo