Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-28

LNllOH. W uCA luC pm NISlS Z nav 49,
again the Count was alone with his wife
and her lover
Now, monsieur" he said, calmly,
turning to Loris; you need not at
tempt any explanation, for l assure you
it would be useless. You may be inno-
cent OF any intent to wrong, but the
publicity given this affair necessitates
two things: that my wife should be con-
signed to a living grave, and that you
shall meet me in duel. have right
to kill YOU Society would acquit me
if did, but I viii give you a chance for
your life; I viii believe you less guilty
than you are"
You are very considerate, l am
sure. replied Loris, ironically, for
though the sudden appearance Of the
Count had surprised him, he was far
from being a coward.
You may believe that this melan-
choly affair has turned my head said
the Count. But I assure you | was
never saner in my life when l propose
peculiar duel" He went over to Il
small table and picked up a pack OF
cards. Nov, Monsieur Nudiolansli,
we will take our seats at the table.
We will play a game of ecarte, the
stakes-the life of the loser. You know
am an unerring shot, while you are
but an indifferent-one so | wish that
our chances should be entirely equal
IF YOU lose YOU shall, as a man OF
honor blow out your brains before noon
tomorrow. If the game goes against
me I will do the same. Do you ac-
cept?"
"I accept" came the reply from the
dry lips of the young man.
Very good. For how many points
shall we play?'
give"
The game was begun. The only wit
ness was the Countess, who. attracted
by a terrible curiosity, had drawn near
the PLAYERS, her eyes fixed on the gaily
painted bits of cardboard on which the
fate of two lives depended.
Fortune seemed to favor the Count.
The game stood four to nothing. Inc
face Of Loris. for the first time during
the game grew gray and worn look
Ing. He had bitten his lip and feck
of blood dropped down on the cards
in his hand
The Countess, whose hand rested on
the table. was shaking like a wind
blown leaf. Her husband looked at her
paid face and smiled.
Give me the cards" he cried; its
my deal"
The cards glided in and out through
his white fingers as if animated with
life. The silence was only broken by
the sound os heavy breathing, and the
rattle Of the woman's ringed hands on
the board.
Even that ceased when he dealt, but
as the last card slipped from his hand
[ thsre was crash.
/ TheCountess had fallen al their feet
He had turned the king
A harsh laugh followed Borislotf
stopped and raised his wife from the
floor. The young man made a move
ment to assist him. but the Count waved
him off
mo use. she is mine now" he muir
INJURED. "mine alone. The king decided
I for us. The King Of Deathw And he
I laughed again
Loris stood hesitating in the center Of
the room, surveying the limp figure Of
/ the Countess which her husband had
borne to the sofa. The dark face o. the
/ Count was not lit by a triumphant
| smile as he leaned towards her. The
young man, s-iGed by The heavy per-
fume of The room, with fire in his heart
/ felt a sudden weakness to assail him.
Before noon tomorrow he MUIR
INJURED. and tottered unsteadily from the
place, down the dark passage and so
/ into the street. like a man walking in
his sleep
The cool air Of the night revived him,
/ but with the return of consciousness to
/ the present he was assailed with the
/ horrors of his situation. He was not a
/ coward. but he knew that he had been
| guiltless Of any wrong towards the
| Count that a harmless Irritation born
/ of a wCman's cOguetrV had led him TO
/ sacrifice his life To-day he was happy
/ hearted insOucisnt, filed with the joy
/ of living. Tomorrow he would be a
cold and pulseless thing. to be carried
/ to a suicides grave. He was only TWEEN
/ ty-five, and il was hard, very hard, to
die so young
He half closed his eyes as he hur-
ried along, dreading 10 look at the ia
/ miliar houses and cafes that lined the
avenue lest the thought of all that he
must leave might fill him with added
anguish.
He knew that when he passed again
| through that highway. now flashing like
a double strand Of diamonds with it's
| myriad lights. il might be in a musty
/ coach with sOmbre plumes. followed by
/ Impatient mOuTners, hiding their ennui
In black-bOrdered handkerchiefs.
/ As he assembled heavily the stairs
/ leading to his chambers it seemed as
I If every step led down into the abyss
I of death, and the pulsations of his heart
were like a hammer rising and falling,
beating out his life
YEARLY he entered his rooms. bid
ding his servants to go to bed. asking
/ TO be awakened early on the morrow.
He had no intention OF evading his
promise to the Count He would kill
himself before the clock sounded the
hour of noon on the morrow.
The gray light of dawn found him
still arranging his papers and writing
letters 10 his friends How surprised
they would be to hear that he. the rich,
feted well beloved Loris Nudiolanski.
had taken French leave of the world for
good. They would talk about it Il
week-twO weeks. perhaps. in perfum-
ed boudoirs. Then some one would
disappear with some one else's wife.