Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-08-26
With the back of his hand Lucien

With the back of his hand Lucien
pushed the louis onto the rouge.
The rouge won.
He left the ~ louis on the same
color. Rouge won again.
He doubled in the same way again
once twice, thrice, each time with
| the same success. He had now be-
fore him pile OF gold and banknotes,
and began to cover the table in a
frenzIed manner. The twelve, the
column, the number, every combina-
tion won His luck was extraordi-
nary, supernatural He was becom-
ing wealthy again. In his eagerness
to begin play he had not taken off his
heavy fur coat; already its pockets
were bullying out with bundles of
banknotes and rolls Of gold pieces;
i and, no longer knowing where to
deposit his winnings, he was now
stutfing with papers the inner
and outer pockets of his frock coat.
the pockets of his waistcoat and
trousers, his cigar-case, his pocket
handkerchiet-everything he had
which would hold money. And he
still played, still won.
Only he felt something like hot
iron at his throat and he could only
think Of the little beggar girl asleep
in the snow.
Certainly, she must be there!
Presently-yes, when the clock strikes
l swear It'll will leave the place
! will go and take her, asleep in my
arms, l will take her home; 1 will
put her in my own bed-and I will
bring her up: will give her dowry;
l will love her as my own daughter
and take care of her forever, for
ever"
But the clock struck 1, and the
quarter, and the haIf-hour and the
three-Quarters and Lucien was still
seated at the Internal table
At last at one minute before
o'clock the banker rose abruptly and
said in loud voice:
''The bank is broken, gentlemen.
Enough for today"
With bound, Lucien was on his
feet Rudely pushing aside the gamb-
lers who surrounded him and re-
garded him with envious admiration,
he quilted the room hastily; ran
down stairs and reached the stone
bench.
God be praised" he cried "She
is still there"
He approached her, seized her
hand.
''Oh, how cold she is! Poor little
thing"
He raised her to carry her away.
The child's head fell back but she did
not awaken.
"How soundly one sleeps at her
age"
He held her against his brest to |
warm her, and, filed with a sudden |
inQuietude, was about to kiss her |
eyes so as to awaken her from her
heavy slun.her.
Then he perceived with terror that |
the child's eyes were half open, show
ing the pupils CLASSY fixed, extinct
A horrible suspicion crossed his mind.
He placed his mouth close to that of |
the child; no breath came from it.
While with the Louis he had Stolen
from this little beggar girl Lucien
had been winning fortune at play
the child had died; died of cold.
Seized at the throat by most hor-
rible pang, Lucien endeavored to ut
ter cry, and in the effort which he
thus made, awoke from his nightmare
to find himself on the seat in the club
where he had fallen asleep little be-
fore midnight and where the waiter
of the granddaughter, going away the
asst at about o'clock in the morn
ing, plying the ruined gamester, had
left him sleeping undisturbed.
Lucien went out, pawned his watch,
took bath, breakfasted, and went
TO recruiting Office, where he signed
voluntary engagement in the First
Regiment de Chasseurs d. Antique
To-day Lucien de Hem is a Lieu
tenant He has only his pay to live
upon, but he manages upon that, be-
ng an officer Of very regular habits
and never touching card. It even
appears that he finds it possible to
econOmize something, for the other
lay at Algiers one Of his brother off,
GERS, who was following him at the
distance of few PAGES in moutain-
BUS street of the Kasba, saw him give
aims to little Spanish girl asleep in
4 doorway.
He had the impertinence to look at
what Lucien had given to the poor
Deggar.
Lucien,de Hem had placed golden
louis in the child's hand.-From the
French
FavOrite Soda FIavors.