The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-08-19
Copyright, 1884, by
the Author.]

Stay-not quite"
What is the exception?"
III tell you-listen."
The two men. who had made friends
in Paris, and had just met again in
Nice, were smoking the after-dinner
cigar in the garden of their hotel. One
OF them was an Englishmnn, though
his French was as perfect as the
Parisian's. Rather deliberately he
knocked the ashes from his cigar, then
lcant forward and said:
''Who is the young girl who has
played every night this week-aEd
gains and loses in breathe"
''Hein, mon amir said the MARQUIS,
laughing softly; "that is compatriot
of mine"
81 know-and beautiful one; but
that does not answer me-
''lf you have haunted the sale for
six nights no wonder you arc sick of
it," said st. Lys. ''rhat young girl is
the greatest gambler in Europe
what? Impossiblc!"
''Iou have seen it yourself-at least
l imagine you have used those blue
eyes of yours: but have only arrived
since last night. / saw mademoiselle
at the tables for quarter of an hour
l hear that she nearly broke the bank"
The Englishman threw himself into
his chair again.
What life for girl!' he said, bit
ing his lip. ''She is the talk of Nice -
she is the center of crowd night after
night. They say she plays on sys-
TEN. System indeed! ! never can see
that systems save gambler from the
inevitable fate"
"And what is that?"
Observation-Disclosures
The marquis twisted his mustache;
Euston walked away little distance,
then came back, and said with his in
imitable smile:
and see if this charming gambler is
about to break the bank for the second
time?"
with all my heart"
They walked through the balrny sum-
mer night, chatting gayly of the topics
of the hour. The beautiful gardens
looked like dream under the soft
light of a night that never would be
quite dark.
The sale was crowdcd--all national
tiles were there, all tongues were
talked; but the thickest OF the throng
seemed gathered in one spot-around
one Of the tables at which sat young
girl, simply but eXquisitely dressed.
She was blonde, SO fair and innocent
OF face that she looked almost IL child.
She seemed alone. She took no notice
OF the crowds about her; she played as
ii she were utterly absorbed, and with
extraordinary success. Her flushed
cheek and glittering eyes and hurried
ly drawn breath betrayed an intense
excitement.
Night after night this had been the
sccnc--no, not exactly. Claudine Dau-
bray had won and lost in variations as
strange as 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.
1T looks like breaking the bank"
whispered the marquis-und so dead
was the silence through which he spoke
that those about him started as though
ut some loud sound.
The Englishman did not answer. He
was watching the player with an abb
'orption US deep as hers in the play.
Suddenly thrill ran through the close.
packed throng-she had lost!
Not much!-a long breath of relief. |
She would retrieve herself-el,e was
taking from the pile st her side; her |
lush had faded to ashen white, her
hands wcrc trembling.
Again-lost!
"Ihe first stage, mon cher--thc ruin!" |
whispered the ma -quis, gsyly, then
glanced ut his friend and whistled un-
Ter his breath. The girl gambler was
not whiter than the man who watched
ler.
Was he living whole ages in these
'rightful hours? She was mere girl
md he a man past thirty; she alone,
prey and the play
hing of vice more cruel than death.
Jonld nst lie go to her and lay his hand
'n her, and pray her, or. il needs be,
'orce her away? Must one have rights,
DO friend or lover, before one can save
soul dying before one's eyes?
But he did not stir.
The last gold coin lay beside her; she
x<aIx A. 4 - i