The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-25
EXILED.


TO Paris after o years sojourn in Amer
lea. He had left his country ruined and
almost hopeless, a victim to his passion
for gambling. He was quito young
when he had left France, but he had
squandered away large fortune and so
had courageously decided to go into ex-
tle and try his luck in new way
namely, by work. He had started away
with EGO in his pocket and had now re-
turned after 10 years slavery almost a
rich man again.
He was once more OH the boulevards
once moro gazing at the brilliantly
lighted shops and at the gay crowd of
fashionable loungers who were strolling
along apparently without care in the
world. AT last, feeling little tired, he
sat down mt ono of the tables outside
cafe, idly wondering whether any of his
former friends would recognize him
again now.
Suddenly he felt hand on his shout
der, and turning round discovered an old
acquaintance Of his.
De Saumur, is it possible? Why,
old fellow, how many years is it since
we met, or rather since we partcd:'
Ten years, Rouval-iust 10 years
since started off with my eco to try
my luck over the sea.
And what sort of luck have Won
had old fellow?''
Very fair-bettcr than / expected
lvo come back anyhow with enough of
the 'needful' TO go along all right now.
How have you been getting on all these
years?'
We'll, I've had some changes, like
every ono else. I'm married now and
am getting on all right-at least l
should if l could only leave the con-.
founded cards alone.''
Take care, Rouval, if you go in for
that still. ought to have been a warn
ing to some Of you. Why don't YOU
give that sort of thing up once and for
air.
That's easier said than done. What
is fellow to do at the club, and then
If once you've won from man you
cannot refuse to let him have his chance,
and SO you go on. say, you'll come
home with me? 1 want to hear all
about your doings and introduce you to
my wife.
II should like to como very mnch''-
well, it's settled then Now tell
me something about your life over yon-
der. How did you ever get a start?'
We'll. had a bad time at first,
confess The motto of the country there
is Every man for himself. If one can
not hold ones own in tho fierce compe-
tltion that is waged, then there is moth
ing to do but give in and disappear On
the contrary, if You We got some grip in
you and can hold on and have got lust
enough money in your pocket to keep
you from starving till you get your foot
on tho ladder, why, there's chance for
you.
{" stood off at nothing, as ] did not
know soul in the whole country. AS
knew good deal about horses, Of
fered my services as coachman to Il
New York physician and had the honor
of driving him about all day to visit
his patients.
de Saumur, is it possble:"
1T was, Rouval; that was precisely
how commenced. When / had got
used to the life over there and saw how
things went, ventured on other things,
and certainly had good luck for ey-
erything l touched succeeded AS soon
as had scraped little money together
put it into some shares in railway
company. and so went on until 1 had
made what | considered enough to come
back with
Its been pretty rough on you, Gill
bert
1T has, and don't mind owning it
now. The hardest thing of all was to
keep myself from gambling away the
money rs | inadei it. 1t was easy enough
to rough it as regards other things, both
luxuries and the necessities of life, but
it was cOnfoundedly hard to keep away
from the gaming tables, which exist
there just as much as here. Thank
heaven, di'! resist Though, or shouldn't
he here :.CN.
AN, rly dear fellow, you won't be
long lcrc in Paris before you'll give in
to your old habits. What can man do
atthcciuh: Bu; come along. We must
star; how. want To introduce You to
NY wife
The two men got up and sauntered
along the buulevards to the Avenue de
IOpera, where Jacques Rouval lived.
After dinner Revival took his new
found friend into his smoking den,
there 20 indulge in cigar.
DO you care to have look III at
the club"' he asked him little later on
=" No. don t think do this evening
Yen know, it is not cheerful after 10
years absence to return to old haunts
which are filled with strangers and to
find all those ono kpowo ora NO lo,,.o,