The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-11
copyright, 1888. By
the Author.l

an f<9 : 'zs, ..: 4: :: .: IL 4:
cher" said NJ lie s1IarquisrSt. Lys.
THE sale? 1 know it by heart
Stay-not quite"
what is the exceptfon2"
III tell you-lisaen."
The two men. who had made friends
in Paris, and had just met again in
Nice, were smoking the after-dinnel
cigar in the garden Of their hotel. One
of them was an EngGshman, though
his French was as perfect as the
Parisian's. Rather deliberately he
knocked the ashes from his cigar, then
leant forward and said:
sWho is the young girl who has
played every night this wcek-ard
gains and loses in a breathe"
HEN, mon amir said thc'marquis,
laughing softly" that is a.compatriot
of mine"
81 lsnow-and a sbeautifuls one; but
that does not answer me.
IF YOU have haunted the sale for
six nights no wonder you are sick Of
it, said St. Lys. THAT young girl is
the greatest gambler in Europe"
what? IInpossible!'
''You have seen it yourseE-at least.
I imagine you have used those blue
eyes Of yours; but have only arrived
since last night. I saw ,Inademoiselle
at the tables for a quarter of an hour
i hear that she nearly broke the bank"
The EngIishman threw.himself into
his chair again.
What life for girl" Fhe' said, bit
ing his lip. ''She is the talk'of Nice
she is the center of a crowd.rAght after
night. They say she plays on sys-
tenn. System indeed! never can SEQ
that systems save gambler hsfrom the
inevitable fate"
'And what is that?"
-despair-suicide"
The marquis twisted hiss mustache;
Euston walked away little distance,
then came back, and said with his in
imitable smile:
Forgive my heroics. Shall we como
and see if this charming gambler is
about to break the bank. forsthe second
time?'
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
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 4 young
girl, simply but exoelisitely dressed.
She was a blonde, so faar and innocent
of face that she looked almost child.
She seemed alone. She took no notice
of the crowds about hers she played as
# 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
scene-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.
sit looks Ike breaking the bank"
whispered the marquis-and so dead
was the silence through which he spoke
that those about him started as though
at some loud sound.
The Englishman did not,answer. He
was watching the player with an alb
sorption as 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-she was
taking from the pile at her side; her
flush had faded to ashen white, her
hands were trembling.
Again-lostl
THE first stage, mon cher-the ruin!"
whispered the marquis, gayly, then
glanced ct his friend and whistled I'M
der his breath. The girl gambler was
not whittier than the man who watched
her.
Was he living whole ages in these
frightful hours? She was a mere girl
and he man past thirty; she alone.
unprotected-the prey and the play
thing of d vice more cruel than death.
Could not he go to her and lay his hand
on her, and pray her, or. if needs be,
force her away? Must one have rights,
be friend or lover, before one can save
a soul dying before ones eyes?
But he did not stir.
The last gold coin lay beside her; she
took it up. and lifted her eyes slowly
on the sea of faces around her turning
from one to the other till her gaze
seemed to halt: then something Of
panic seized her. Rouge" dropped
from her, hurriedly-and red lost!
There was q sudden movement, a
sweeping aside Of the crowd; slight
figure passed through-a girl, who
bowed to right and left with CHASTITY
smile, and had gone so swiftly that
most would have sworn they did not
see hc~. She was in those beautiful
still gardens-a grave to so many, why
not to her? What was heryouth worth?
She had lost it--lost her beauty. her
wealth, her al; there was nothing to
live for-nothiug!
There would be no scandal-these
things are hushed up If she laid that
dainty little weapon against her TEN.
pie it would soon be over-so.
man sp-ang out from the trees,