Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-28

then by the ordinary light.
1t is very strange said he. neve
saw Just the shade of the siQunr's hair
sOh, don't say thatr cried Belle tragical
ly clasping her hands.
Giuseppe bowed solemnly in her direc
tion.
Except, added he, in ore instance. Oh
YES, have some of the hair left. have i
all; have not used it yet. Waltz
He stopped down to lower drawer, anc
after fumbling there second or two drew
out single curl of reddish gold.
St. Cyr's eyes sparkled.
The very thingp cried he. Look Belle,
isn't that an exact matchP
'Exactr exclaimed Belle. The precise
color we have hunted all over Naples for.
Lovely hair it was, metallic in its sheen,
silken in its softness, and as held 1t in
my hand it seemed to curl and writhe as If
1t were instinct with life. I dropped it on
the corner with an involuntary shudder.
Whose is itp' said l.
Giuseppe Giglio shrugged his bowed
shoulders.
sAs well count the sands Of the seashore,
said he, sas endeavor to trace where such
things come from. There is no disease
lurking in them; further than that We know
not.
Charles st. Cyr frowned.
Belle looked annoyed.
devoutly wished then bad held my
tongue, and set myself to making friends
with pretty peasant girl who had come in
to exchange her wealth of raven black hair
| for some gold ornaments that she coveted.
Presently Belle called to me.
It's all right, she said gleefully. The
wig is to be finished by tomorrow night.
Charley has gone up stairs to help Polly
select Neapolitan coral brooch
But Polly never can Afford
sYes, she can, or Charley can, which ia
| Just the same thing. And you're to have a
pink pendant, Lucia, dear. But it's the
strangest thing, conf1dentially twining her
arm in mine, about that hair. wouldn't
have Charley know it for the world, but
it's q woman's hair; saw it lying in the
long curls in the drawer
sWhat difference does that make?' said I.
None in the world, of course. But Char.
ley is SO fidgety, especially since that wear
ing illness of his, said Belle.
is she deadp'
Belle started.
Not that know of. No, I should say
like dead woman'sf Don't, pray, put any
| No, WON'T said /, feeling more guilty
than ever. ~
| Charles St. Cyr was upstairs, selecting
little bijous for Polly and me out of the
half lighted store, and we went home to
dine with them in loggta overlooking q
garden of white starred lemon trees, and
furnished with ancient carved furniture and
discolored marble statues, and afterward to
the theater. We wore to 60 on to Switzer.
land the next day, and when we parted
from Belle and Charley they were in superb
spirits.
! The next place where We met them two
weeks later, was at Monaco. Charley was
imperially handsome, and we could hardly
believe that those clustering masses of
wavy hair that shaded his forehead were
| not actually his own. His color had come
back: his eyes shone with a strange vivao-
ity. For the period it seemed almost as If
he and Belle had changed characters. She
was pale and wan and silent, and gave one
the Impression of continually Watching him
ass he sat with books or work in her lap.
what is il, BELIEF asked, smuggling mp
to her, the first evening we were there.
Something troubles you. What is it? Re.
member, Pm your mother oonfessor.'
She was intently regarding the glittering
doorway of the great gambling palace op.
poslte to which we sat.
I thought so,' said she. HE has gone
there again. He has forgotten that even
exist. Now l shall see nothing more of
him until morning.
Belle, You never can mean
She turned fiercely upon me.
Yes, do,' said she. Il mean just that.
Charley, my husband, has degenerated into
q mere gambler. He has lost self control
and self.respect; he will soon lose what lit
tie fortune we have as we'll. Ga, Lucia. I
don't wonder you look incredulous. But
you must know it sooner or later
Go after him, I cried, starting up. Bring
him back. Oh, don't let him drift to ruin
like this!'
I've tried it, she said in a low, monot-
onous voice. 1T is of no use. He pays
no heed to mo-
But, Bale, what is to be done?'
Il don't know, she said, rocking herself
back and forth like one in mortal pain.
God help me. do not know. There are
times when think I must 20 frantic. He
loved me once. He was true aud noble and
high hearted once. And what is strangest
of all, there are times when he seems to
rouse into his true self for few hours.
Sometimes at night when pray TO him on
my bended knees, in the early dawn when
the sound of cattle bells on the mountain
rouses him from slumber, his better nature
seems to come back to him; but only for
brief, brief while, and then the fever flame
seems to burn again in his veins. Oh,
Lucia, am the most wretched woman in
the world. Oh, wish that I were deadp
Cheer up, Belief soothedly, Polly will
know what to do. Well take counsel with
Polly
Polly advocated no half measure. she
had genuine New England horror of
gambling in all its forms.
I never would have come to Monaco, said
she, if I'd known what sort of a place it
was. Will you 60 away. Belle, all Of US?
Well take look at the south Of France
and then go home.
There are gaming houses everywhere,
said Belle, dejectedly. And youth find that
he will not leave Monaco.
He shall leave ii, said Polly, COMPRISING
her lips.
Polly was Maine maiden who feared
nothing in the heavens above or the Garth
beneath or the waters under the earth. She
penetrated valiantly into the glittering ring
of destruction and marched up to st. Cyr
that very night.
Charley, come out she. whispered,
Come with mel
He looked at her with cleaning eyes and
cheeks dyed deep red.
Don't speak to me now,' he said. Cant
you see that the luck is changing?' She
drew absolutely away.
Come, I say! she cried, stamping her
foot.
Just then some one back OF him reached
frantically over his head, beckoning to
'Monseur le Croupier,' and in his gesticul-
ations Knocked off St. Cyr's beautiful wavy
toupee. It fell among the crowdiug feet
under the table. There was q momentary
silence. then a general peal of only half
suppressed merriment. St. Cyr looked
vaguely around. Then he bit his lip and e.
ceded from the crowd.
You are right, Polly, said he have
no business here. Oh, confound the wig!
as fantastically dressed page would have
| restored it to him. 1t makes nv head