The Lamar register., 1893-07-15

tons, tho satin wa;s;coat, with large
pockets. tie knee -breeciies, white
stockings and low shoes with silver
buckles. the powdered wig and the
lace ri;A,es falling over the long. lean
hands
But the face, How shall picture
10 you that face-:hc narrow temples.
the pointed chin. the coloricss lips.
the yellow, parcAment-like complex
ione And the cyes-steel b.ac. icy.
glittering. vet with lurid spark in
their depths; uercilcss. sneering
eyes. such as an imaginative painter
might give 10 fiend. Gentlemen,
said Vanderlyn. drawing a deep
breath. II believe | have always had
as much courage as most men. but
when those eyes met mine | felt the
very soul within me shrivel up in abb
iect terror
The figure closing the door be-
hind him, advanced towards the mid
die of the room and seated himself
directly opposite me. He then drew
an ancicnt pack of cards from u side
pocket aud. with an imPcrious gest-
ure, invited me TO approach the table.
l obcyed mechanically. This is =
dream, kept repeating to myself;
this is surely dream. | rubbed
my eyes, shifted myEelf in the chair,
crossed and uuorossed my legs, To
no purpose-the spell would not be
broken
..Do you play Lasquenet sir?"
The thin lips moved with the words
but the voice seemed to come from
an immeasurable distance. hollow
and muiiled.
-In those days" said Nanderlyn.
agam interrupting the thread Of his
story. while faint lush stole over
his pale features. young as ! was.
| was an inEeteratc gamoster. and
had already sacrificed good portion
of my patrimony to my passion for
play | recognized Lasguenet as an
obsolete game. but with whose sim
Pile rules was familiar. | therefore
bowed assent My visltant drew
forth bead purse and arranged upon
the table three pilcs CT gold coins.
which | saw with a thrill were SOY.
eroigns of the timc OF George II.
Scarcely conscious OF what | did
placed the contents Of my well-filod
pocketbooil at my right hand
The game began surely such a
game was never played before, My
movements were those Of man in a
nightmare cut. deal: and played
like an antumatou-aiways with my
eyes riyctcd upon those of my weird
opponent. and always with that cold,
deadly fear at my heart. Could
have summoned the power ! would
have dashed down tho cards and ilcd
headiong from that accursed place,
but could not-l was powerloss to
move
Though playing mechanically l
won constantly. Soon all the gold
was upon my side of the board.
hoped that my ;errib'e vis-a-vis
would now depart, but no; with
| quick. savage movement ho produced
a notebook and wrote sheet after
sheet-.The High Rock farm against
/ 1000 guineasl The Brook-mill Stead
against 500" These phrases came
from his lips still in that strange.
/ far-oif tone. And as he lost game
after game Was aware Of such
awful blasphemics a set my very
soul a-quaking..
Hour after hoEr VIC played on.
mechanically reluctantly on my part.
wildly, hcrcely on the part OF my
vis:tant And still without skin. or
care. o. desire. continued 20 win
| At last-it must have been near
dawn-he shuffled the cards and. fix
ing me with that lurid gazc, cried
as always, in that far-od, yault-like
voice; The last camel Double
! quits ! bowed: had ms soul been
the stakes | could not have refused.
The cards were dealt. and again |
won
with al expression 1 shall never
forget while live, my opponent
/ grippcd the arms of his chair with
his writing fingers. As he glared at
the cards outspread upon the table.
".Ruinod!" heard. as in hoarse,
choking whisper. utterly ruined
/ Disgraced, DishonorcdT
IL saw him thrust his hand into
/ his bosom and draw out small,
shining object There was sharp
click: aud before could utter a word
or interpose by gesture. the shin
ing object was raised to his terrple
There was a fash. 4 report and a
heavy fall
'.As l sank back into my chair the
candle guttored and went out. At
the same moment a cock crew shrilly