Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07

a bet or touched card in his life, and yet
he watches us playing until in the morn
ing"
"It interests me-" said Hermann; shut 1
| am not disposed to risk the necessary in view
| OF the superfuous
"Hermann is a German, and economical;
| that is the whole of the secret" cried Tom
| ski. "But what is really astonishing is the
Countess Anna FedotovnaP'
"How so?" asked several voices.
"Have you not remarked" said Tomski,
''that she never plays?"
"Yes," said Naroumoff, "a woman of 80,
who never touches card; that is indeed
something extraordinary!
"You do not know why?"
mo; is there a reason for it?"
"Just listen. My grandmother, you
know, some go years ago, went to Paris, and
became the rage there. People ran after her
in the streets, and called her the 'Muscovite
Venus Richelieu made love to her, and
nv grandmother makes out that, by her
rigorous demeanor, she almost drove
him to suicide. In those days women
used to play at faro. One evening
at the Court she lost, on parole, to
the Duke of Orleans, very considerable
sum. When she got home, my grandmother
removed her beauty spots, took off her
hoops, and in this tragic costume went to
my grandfather. told him OF her misfortune,
and asked him for the money she had to
pay. My grandfather. now no more, was,
SO to say, his wife's steward. He feared her
like fire; but the sum she named made him
leap into the air. He flew into rage, made
a brief calculation. and proved to nv grand
mother that in SIX months she had got
through SOC, 900 roubles. He told her plainly
that he had no villages to sell in Paris, his
domains being situated in the neighbothood
of Moscow and OF Saratotf; and finally re-
fused point blank. You may imagine the
fury of my grandmother. She boxed his
ears, and passed the night in another room.
'The next day she returned to the charge.
For the first time in her life, she conde-
scended to arguments and explanations. In
vain did she try to prove to her husband
that there were debts and debts, and that
she could not treat a prince OF the blood
like her coachmaker.
Gall this eloquence was lost. My grand
father was infexible. MY grandmother did
not know where to turn. Happily she was
acquainted with man who was very cele-
brated at this time. You have heard of the
Count of St. Germain, about whom so many
marvellous stories were told. You know
that he passes for sort of Wandering jew,
and that he was said to possess an elixir OF
life and the philosophers stone.
'Some people laughed at him as a charla-
tan. Casanova, in his memoirs, says that
he was spy However that may be, in
spite of the mystery of his life, St. Germain
was much sought after in good society, and
was really an agreeable man. Even to this |
day my grandmother has preserved
genuine affection for him, and she becomes |
quite angry when anyone speaks of him with |
disrespect.
"It occurred to her that ne might be able |
to advance the sum of which she was in |
need, and she wrote a note begging him to |
call. The old magician came at once, and !
found her plunged in the deepest despair. |
In two or three words she told him eyery-
thing; related to him her misfortune and
the cruslty of her husband, adding that she
had no hope except in his friendship and
his obliging disposition.
MADAM said St. Germain, after few
moments reflection, L could easily advance
you the money you want, but 1 am sure that
you would have no rest until you had re-
paid me, and 1 do not want to get you out of
one trouble in order to place you in an
other. There is another way of settling the
matter. You must regain the money you
have lost
"sBut, my dear friend answered my
Il have already told you that
I have nothing left
o" THAT does not matter answered ST.
main. Listen to me, and will explain
HE then communicated to her a secret
which any of you would, am sure, give a
rood deal to possess.
All the young officers gave their full at
entioD. Tomski stopped to light his Turk
sh pipe, swallowed a mouthful of smoke,
Ind then went on.
''Tbat very evening my grandmother went
o Versailles to play at the Queens
able. The Duke of Orleans held
he bank. My grandmother invented
little story by way of excuse
or not having paid her debt, and then sat
lown at the table, and began to stake. She
ook three cards. She won with the first;
Ioubled her stakes on the second, and won
gain; doubled on the third, and still won."
"Mere luck r. said one of the young
fficers.
"What taleP' cried Hermann.