The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-30

but Polly never can aLOTu "
YES, she can; or Charley can, which
is lust the same thing. And you're to
have pink pendant, Lucia, dear. But
it's the strangest thing" confidentially !
twining her arm in mine, ''about that /
hair. wouldn't have Charley know it .
for the world but it's woman's hair;
l saw it lying in the long curls in the /
drawer"
What difference does that make"
said l.
None in the world, OF course. But
Charley is so fidgety, especially since
that wearing illness of his" said Belle.
is she dead"
Belle started.
Not that l know Of No, should
say not. Does that lovely, gleamy hair
look like dead woman's? Don't, pray,
put any such ideas into Charley's
head"
mo, 1 WON'T" said l. feeling more
guilty than ever.
Charles st. Cyr was upstairs, select
inc little bijous for Polly and Inc out of
the half lighted store, and we went
home to dine with them in loggia
overlooking a garden of Write starred
lemon trees, and furnished with an
cient carved furniture and discolored
marble statues, and afterward to the
theater We were to go on to SwitZer-
land the next day, and when we parted
from Belle and Charley they we're in
superb spirits.
The next place where we met them,
two weeks later, was at Monaco. Char
ley was imperially handsome, and we
could hardly believe that those cluster
ing masses of wavy hair that shaded
his forehead were not actually his own.
His color had come back; his eyes
shone with a strange, fitful light, and
his manner was full of a strange vivac-
ity. For the period it seemed almost
as if he and Belle had changed charac-
ters She was pale and wan and silent,
and gave one the impression of contin-
ually watching him, as she sat with
books or work in her lap.
''What is it, Belle9" asked, snug
ging up to her, the first evening we
were there. Something troubles you.
What is it2 Remember, I'm your moth
er confessor."
She was intently regarding the gilt
tering doorway of the great gambling
palace opposite to which we sat-
Il thought So" said she. ''He has
gone there again. He has forgotten
that l 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. II mean just
that Charley, my husband, has de-
generated into q mere gambler. He
has lost self control and self respect;
| he will soon lose what little fortune we
have as we'll Oh, Lucia, don't Won
der you look incredulous. But you
must know it sooner or later"
go after him." l cried starting up.
Bring him back. Oh, don't let him
drift to ruin like thisp'
1--we tried it." she said in low,
monotonous voice. 'Tt is of no use.
He pays no heed to me-"
But, Belle, what is to be doneW
II don't know" she said, rocking
herself back and forth like one in NOR
tai pain. "God help me, do not
know. There are times when I think
must go frantic. He loved me once.
He was true and 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 Some
times at night when I pray to him or
my Bonded 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 Il brief, brie-
while, and then the fever flame Seems
to burn again in his veins Oh, Lucia
| am the most wretched woman in the
woSd. Oh, wish that I were deadl"
Cheer up, BELIEF soothed l. ''Polly
will know what to do. Well tax,
counsel with Polly"
Polly advocated no half measure
She had genuine New England horro
of gambling in all its forms.
II never would have come to Mona
CO. said she, ''if I'd known what sor
of a place it was. Will you go away
Belle, all of u.s. Well take a look a
the south of France and then go home.
There are gaming houses every
where, said Belle, dejectedly "Ant
you'll find that he will not leave Mona
co."
He shall leave it, said Polly, com
pressing her lips.
Polly was Maine maiden who feared
nothing in the heavens above or tn,
earth beneath or the waters under TIT
earth. She penetrated valiantly int
the glittering ring. of destruction ant
marched up to st. Cyr that very night
Charley, come out, !" she whispered
Come with mel"
He looked at her with cleaning eye,
and cheeks dyed deep red.
Don't speak to me now" he said
Cant you see that the luck is chang
ing" She drew resolutely away.
Come, I sayl" she cried, stamping
her foot
Just then some one back of hin
reached frantically over his head, beck
oning to Monsieur lie Croupier," anG
in his gesticulations knocked off St
Cyr's beautiful wavy tressed toupee. Il
fell among the crowding feet under the
table. There was momentary silence
! then q general peal of only half SIN