The Washington times., 1894-07-22

From tho dining-room he and Gerard
| stepped on TO the terrace, where the cool. re-
| freshing night air came to them as blessed
relief. Slowly walking backwards and fo--
wards. they smoked in peace, exchanging
condolences, relating experiences dealing with
! the past.
| Il say. old man." said the colonel, "let US
| 20 TO the casino and have game or two at
roulette before we return to the drawing
room
Thanks. but never gamble now,"
How Is thatl" asked DaEton.
II promised my wife l should never gam
| bic or bet"
His companion laughed "What, isn't the
| honeymoon over yet?n he said.
George Gerard remained silent.
Il suppose you've been deeply bitten" 4" the
colonel remarked unaware that his friend
had ruined himself by cards.
Yes"
"Wel that's all the more reason you should
strive to ger back what you lost. Come along
and We'll have game; your wife need never
know where you've been," Danton urged, in
a bantering tone.
I'D rather not" Gerard replied. cooly.
"WeiI, come with me and look on; that
can't do you any HARM" he said. putting an
arm within his friends and leading him from
the terrace.
Five minutes later and they were mounting
the marble steps leading to the entrance to the
casino. and having given their names and ad-
dresses at the Office on the right, they passed
the rcading-room and concert ball and made
straight for the gambling saloons. As the
doors swung open wonderful sight flashed
upon them. Here We're crowds. composed of
both sexes and of all nationalities, pressing
forward. pushing and crushing. rushing from
table to table, standing in isolated groups,
while the babel Of voices, in which was
mingled every European language, was
almost deafening.
"Let us so into the second room-it may
be less crowded" said Danton, and he strobe
forward, followed by his companion; but the
numbers assembled here were scarcely less
than in the outer saloon. Gathered around the
tables were bold-faced. loud-voiced women,
with yellow hair, rouged cheeks. and spark
ling diamonds whilst seated beside them were
the wives. daughters, and sisters ofthe English
aristocracy-the same fierce light in their
eyes, the same expression Of anxiety in their
countenances as they watched the game on
which they had staked their silver.
Here were young Englishmen in the regu-
lation evening dress, or the tweed suit of the
tourist, striving to live up to their maxim of
regarding all things with Indifference; beside
them Frenchmen, Italians, and Spaniards.
who gesticulated wildly, swore vehemently.
or laughed loudly. One young man prema-
turely old-with haggard lines in his brow.
his lips tightly closed. his hands twitching in
nervous excitement, his eyes cleaning in his
CHASTITY white face-watched the ball roll
round and round and then stop. when with
out word no turned away penniless, despair
in his heart, temptation beckoning him to
death. The crowd made place for him, and
closed again like Il human wave, utterly in
different to his ruin.
The glare Of many lights, the sound OF
rcany voices, the chink Of money, the heat of
the room. the excitement in the atmosphere,
stirred Gerard. He knew it was best for him
to leave this he'll and fy into the purer air
and the cool night outside: but whilst he de-
bated with himself his companion said. Let
us try our luck at that table over there" and
he went forward, following his friend again.
The croupier here was u Spaniard-a boy in
years, centenarian in experience, with
dark, well-carved face like a statue, and, as a
statue, immutable to the grief and joy, the
wild delight and pale despair he hourly wit
nessed-presiding over the fortunes of those
gathered round him with the indifference and
calmness of fate itself. The crowd was not
so great at this table, and a stout, florid-look-
ing woman with remarkable eyebrows and
carmined lips made way for them, giving
them familiar bow and a smile which she
deemed fascinating. Col. Danton sat down;
Gerard stood behind him.
won't you try your luck?" tho former
asked once more.
mo-" replied the latter, this time more IT.
resolutely, for the excitement Of the place had
got into his brain, the old desire to gamble
awoke in his heart; the chink Of the money