The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-03-31
ONE WAS LOADED.

During the reign of Louis XVIII a
young English nobleman, George Lord
Hardinge, visited Paris for pleasure, tax
ing with him his sister and a few serv-
ants. He took lodgings at one of the
principal hotels, and being a gay, ex-
travagant young bachelor soon entered
into a whirl of giddy designations.
Lady Emily, his sister, was only 49,
pretty, amiable and inexperienced-and
should have been under the care of a very
different person from her brother, who
for weeks gave little heed to anything
except his own follies, leaving her much
of the time alone or to such company as
chance threw in her way.
Among other reprehensible things Lord
Hardinge had become ~passionately fond
of the gaming table.
Of course the young lord soon became
an object of special regard to the habitues
Of the place, who fancied they saw in
him one of the means or chances of in
creasing their fortunes.
Among others who would have needed
an influential voucher to have brought
him into first class society in England
was n Jean Vauldemar, who claimed
to have been a cavalry officer under Ma
poleon and was generally known by the
title of monsieur the captain"
The gay and .thoughtless Englishman
permitted the cunning fellow to worm
himself into his good graces-to play,
drink and carouse with him-and occa-
sionally go home and spend the night
with him at his hotel.
In this way monsieur the captain first
got a glimpse of Lady Emily, and shortly
after, at his request, an introduction to
her by the careless brother.
This was exactly what the gamester
wanted, and he at once set all his wits
to work to win the unoccupied heart of
the lady, and if possible make his for
tune out of the affair. The captain was
in reality a married man.
He did not go too far at once, for the
gamester, as all professional gamesters
are, was an adept in human nature. For
the first he sought only to excite a GER
tain degree of interest, then sympathy
ILL L1C SOlip doSlOAy well LIZ tIdG
if he could succeed to this extent thSin-
experienced girl would o be in his
power, like clay in the hands of the pot
ter, to be nodded to whatever evil pur-
pose he might desire.
AT last the critical moment came. By
degrees he had won her regard, her SYM
pathy and her affections, and one even
ing, when he believed the brother at the
gaming table, a. usual, he took occasion,
as if by an irresistible impulse, to pour
into her willing ear his false love.
Lady Emily listened as one bewildered
if not entranced. He saw his power
over her, and his dark soul exulted in
the fact. He took her hand with trem-
bling eagerness, pressed it, kissed it,
rose gradually from his knees, glided his
arm around her slender waist, drew her
fondly to him and put his foul lips to
hers.
At this moment the door of the apart
ment was dashed open, and white with
rage Lord Hardinge was seen advancing
with long and rapid strides. The in
slant he reached the gamester he seized
him by the throat. hurled him back and
struck him to the ground.
Vauldemar slowly rose to his feet, his
now blanched features expressing the
most malignant hate, and for a few mo-
ments as he gazed upon the young no.
bleman, who was now giving his whole
attention to his unconscious sister, he
appeared to be debating with himself
whether he should kill him on the spot
or not.
NO" he muttered at length. why
make a felon of myself for a revenge
that will be equally sure a few hours
later and leave me untainted with crime?:'
And with this he quilted the apartment
without a word to Lord Hardinge.
1t was at least half an hour before
Lady Emily was so far restored as to re-
member what had taken place, and then,
in great trepidation, she demanded the
meaning of the fearful scene.
Lord Hardinge thrust a crumpled note
into the hand of Lady Emily. which read
as follows:
Scion of a noble house. beware! Go less to
the gaming table and look more at home. A
designing villain known as monsieur the cap
tain Is now secretly paying court to your limo
cent sister, while his own wife is pining in soli-
tude for want of the necessities and courtesies
of life. Make due inquiries and set a watch,
and you viii prove the truth Of this statement,
penned by AN UNKNOWN FRIEND.
"His wifer' almost shrieked Lady En-
lily.
1--WE must leave Paris at once" said
her brother.
eyes, yes; at once" cried Lady Emily
IN oroof aycifcmpnt. sshoforo fhic villain