The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-08-17

GNAA ~)'c~I'
;: !: :: !: :; !; :; :;
NiMEK&WSA w the Author:l
w ] ing to the sale,
of course, mon
cher" said NJ. lie Marquis St. Lys.
1.-THE sale? I know it by heart.
Stay-not quite"
what is the exception?"
''I'll 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 Englishman, though
his French was as perfect as the
Parisian's. Rather deliberately he
knocked che ashes from his cigar, then
leant forward and said:
'Who is the young girl who has
played every night this week-ard
gains and loses in a breath?''
"Hein, mon amir said the marquis,
laughing softly; that is a compatriot
Of nine"
II know-and beautiful one; but
that does not answer me-"
IF 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? Impossible!"
"You have seen it yourself-at least,
/ imagine you have used those blue
eyes of yours; but have only arrived
since last night l saw mademoisclle
at the tables for a quarter of an hour
hear that she nearly broke the bank"
The Englishman threw. himself into
his chair again.
"What life for grip he said, Bit
ing his lip. ''She is the talk of Nice
she is the center of a crowd night after
night. They say she plays on sys-
tenn. System indeed! I never can see
that systems save a gambler from the
inevitable fate"
"And what is that?''
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The marquis twisted his mustache;
Euston walked away little distance,
then came back, and said with his in
imitable smile:
"Forgive my heroics. Shall we come
and see if this charming gambler is
about to break the bank for the second
time?"
''With all my heart
They walked through the balmy sum-
mer night, chatting gayly of the topics
of the hour. The beautiful gardens
looked like a dream under the soft
light of night that never would be
quite dark.
The sale was crowded-an national
tiles were there, all tongues were
talked; but the thicl1est 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 child
She seemed alone. She took no notice
of the crowds about her; she played as
if 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.
1T looks like 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-lost! s~ :
''The first stage, mon cher-the ruin!''
whispered the marquis, gayly, then
| glanced 1T his friend and whistled un-
der his breath. The girl gambler was
not whittier than the man who watched
| hos. ..-. i ..;
| Was he living whole ages in these
frightful hours? She was mere girl
and he man past thirty; she alone,
unprotected-the prey and the play
| thing of q 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
soul dying before ones eyes? .:..
But he did not stir. s
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 sudden movement, Z
sweeping aside Of the crowd; slight
figure passed through girl, who
bowed to right and left with 8 CHASTITY
smile, and had gone go swiftly that
most would have sworn they did not
see her. She was in those beautiful
still gardens grave to:so many, why
not to her? What was her youth worth9
She had lost it-lost her beauty, her
wealth, her all; there was nothing e
I've Tor thing