The National tribune., 1893-01-26

sum Of money, which went with the rapidly
increasing pile. Twice in his utter ignorance
Austin riskcd the entire sum before him. win
ming both times, and both times TRIPPING his
| capital on threeto-on chance; but Of that he
knew nothing. By this time every one In the
room was staring with amazement at the two
masked figures who were playing . game OF
such reckless magnitude rs had not been seen
| in the place since the German Prince had
ruined himself two years before. Eighty thou
| sand francs were lying on the table.
Does it ali 60 againP" asked the man across
the table
what shall do?" asked Austin, whose heart
had almost stopped beating.
Whatever you please" whispered his com
paDion, but her fingers clutched his arm 80 that
it panied him. Again he did nothing: Tho
man with the cards was very white, and hest.
tated before he made the deal.
"l'il risk it, if he's the devil, /" he muttered,
and once more the coup was given and came IN
Austin's favor. The man who was dealing rose
from his seat. called two other men to him. and
after . whispered consultation one Of them
said:
I'VE will pay you 10000 francs, Monsieur,
Of your winnings in . few moments IS soon Al
my associate can bring the notes; the balance.
which is 80 600 francs. still due you, shall BE-
obliged to pay by check at the Credit Lyonnais.
/ trust that is satisfactory to you
Then turning to the resi- of the company he
said:
Gentlemen, am obliged to announce that
the bauk is broken, and there will be no more
play until tomorrow night. / wish you all
good evening"
1t took Austin some time to assist his friend
in gathering up the mountain of gold and notes
which lay on the table.
You have won over 100000 francs" whis-
pered the lady as they walked away. Half of
it is yours. half mine. / told you We were both
saved. 1t is not often one meets man In Paris
who has never gambed."
Seeing, but not compromising, hearing, but
feeling as if it was all dream, Austin the
philosopher took the bundle of winnings which
his friend thrust upon him. His pockets could
hardly contain the load.
Now" she said. gayly, "you will have
something to keep company with your five
franc piece. If had that piece would never
part with it,"
Take it," said Austin, and she did.
They walked again out into the night, the
masks having been left behind. The woman's
tears were gone and her face now bore an ex-
preston of confidence and triumph. Once
more she called carriage.
II am going to leave you now, my friend,
and you will never see me sgain. You will
never know who ! am or why spoke to you
tonight, and you never can imagine from what
horrors you have saved me. The money you
played was all that stood between me and ruin
or worse. ! think it was the bon Dieu acting
through you as his agent, l am sure it was.
Before l say adieu / want you to make me
promise. Tell me, young man, is your mother
slive?"
NO; she died last year"
Have You a sister,"
"Yes; one"
Then swear to me by your mothers grave
and by your sisters honor that you will never
again while you live play cards for money or
gamble in any way whatever. / want you to
swear that"
"I swear it, said Austin.
"And now | want you to tell me II you have
ever kissed woman since you have been in
Paris"
Austin managed some how, in spite of burn
ing bushes. to say that he had not.
Then kiss me now, and after that good by"
Austin did as he was directed, and as he
thought over the events of the evening On his
way to his lonely home in the Latin Quarter he
came to the conclusion that while the 10000
and odd francs he had In his pocket was a very
good thing, it was not to be compared in gen.
eral excellence or in any other way with that
one and only kiss given him by the fairest
woman he ever saw, never seen by him before
nor since.
OF course this was very absurd conclusion
to come to, for the 10000 francs altered the
whole course of " Monsieur Ohstang's" life, and
was the foundation on which was built up his
subsequent brilliant career as q painter of por-
traits. Nevertheless he maintained then, and
does yet, / believe, that the kiss was worth
more than the money.