The Van Buren press., 1893-08-26


cher" said n. le Marquis St Lys.
ssho sallss I know it BY heart
Str - qaitA"
what Is the exception 30
sI'll tell you-listen-"
Tho two men. who had made friends
b Paris, and had just met again in
Nice, were smoking the after-dinner
cigar in tho garden of their hotel. One
81 them was an Englishman. though
his French was as perfect ss the
Hhrisian'a. Rather deliberately he
knocked the ashes from his cigar, then
leant forward and said:
'.Who Is tho young girl who has
played every night this week-aEd
RainS and loses IN . brcath?'
gem, mon amir said the marquis,
laughing softly: ssthas is-s compstriot
Of mine"
II know-and . beautiful one; but
that does not answer me-"
III you have haunted the sale for
six nights no wonder you arc sick Of
It." said St Lys THAT young girl is
the greatest gambler in Europe"
'What? Impossiblc!'
ssYou have seen Il yourself--at least,
imagine you have used those blue
eyes Of yours but have only arrived
since last night l saw mademoiselle
at the tables for . quarter of an hour
Ihear that she nearly broke the bank"
The Englishman threw himself into
his chair again.
s'What life for girl" he said, bit
Ing his lip. s.6he il the talk Of Nice =
she 10 the center of q crowd night after
night They say she plays on sys-
tenn. System indeed! l never can see
that systems save gambler from the
inevitable fatA"
And what is that?' E5FT
s'Ruin-despair-suicidew
The marquis twisted his mustache;
Euston walked away little distance,
then came back. and said with his in
lmitable smile:
"Forgive my heroics. Shall we come
ana sse II this charming gambler is
about 70 break the bank for the second
timer"
..With all my heart"
They walked through the balmy sum-
ner night chatting gayly of the topics
Of the hour. The beautiful gardens
looked like . dream under the soft
Light Of : night that never would be
quite dark.
The sale was crowded-all national
ities were there, all tongues were
talked; but the thickest Of the throng
seemed gathered in one spot-around
one of the tables 1t which sat young
girl. simply. but exquisitely dressed.
She was = blonde, SO fair and innocent
of face that she looked almost = child.
She seemed alone. She took no notice
of the crowds about her; she played as
u che were utterly absorbed, and with
extraordinary success Her flushed
check and glitter;ng eyes and hurried
" drawn breath betrayed an intense
excitement
Night after night this had been the
scene--no. not exactly. Clsudine DAN
bray had won and lost in variations rs
strange IS was her run Of luck tonight;
but though she had risen to the heights,
she had never fallen to the depths
there had always been that little pile
of gold at her side. Tonight it grew
higher and higher, and players and on
lockers held their breath At the daring
gambler.
.sIt looks like breaking the bank"
whispered the marquis-and 50 dead
Was the silence through which he spoke
that those about him started as though
ct some loud sound
The Englishman did not answer. He
was watching the PLAYER with An alb
sorption rs deep as hers in the play.
Suddenly thrill ran through the close
packed throng-4he had lost!
Not nuchs-a long breath Of relief.
She would fstrisye herself-she was
taking from the pile at her side; her
Aush bad faded to asher white, her
hands were trembling.
Again-lost!
The first stage. mon cher-the ruin!'
Whispered the lns-quis, gayly, then
glanced At his friend and whistled un-
der his breath The girl gambler was
mot whittier than the man who watched
her.
Was he living whole ages in these
frightful hours? She was q mere girl
and he man past thirty; she alone.
unprotected-the prey and the play
thing Of vice more cruel than death.
Could mot he 90 to her and lay his hand
On her. and pray her, or. II needs be,
force her away? Must one have rights,
be friend or lover, before one can save
. soul dying before ones eyes?
Bat he did not stir.
The last gold coin lay beside her; she
t6ok It up. and hftsd her eyes slowly