Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-03

all about you. You thought could
forgetP he whispered.
She looked down the lamplit path,
and suddenly sat upright and stiff.
Go away now, she whispered,
'Yeend is coming. can see his fig
ure in the distance. Come back to
me again. want to talk to you
She was sitting quite calmly, evil
IDENTIFY very much bored, when her
husband came slowly along the path
and stood before her.
'WellT she said questioningly.
glancing up at him.
Its all finished, he said in hol-
low voice. This is the end
'You don't mean'-she began.
q mean he broke in, that have
lost tonight as heavily as before
more heavily, in fact. l have 80
francs left
'Thirty francsr she calculated
fercely.
That is all. / wanted to save
enough to get US some dinner and
and carry US elsewhere in the morn
ing. The hotel bill-well, we'll for
get it,
He laughed grimly and the woman
shuddered.
so this is the end. she said slowly
without looking at him, 'beggary and
shameful fight and nothing in the
future. This is all you have to offer
me?'
we are still together, Bertha, he
said, looking at her hopelessly.
Bah! That is the worst part of it,
she said scornfully. Rich, you we're
tolerable; but, poor'--She made a
quick gesture of disgust and turned
away from him.
'And you can say this to meat
this hour! he said bitterly.
1T is such moments as these that
teach men and women honesty, she
said, with laugh. You have been
blind not to see it all before. You
know | never really loved you.
He turned away with almost sob
in his throat. She looked at his bow
ed head curiosly. Suddenly she lean
ed toward him, almost eagerly.
'Herrick, she said, give me the 80
francs. Let US risk all or nothing.
I'll try my luck"
He looked at her moodily, then
drew the coins from his pocket and
tossed them into her lap. 'As you
will, hv said. 1t doesn't matter now.
She caught the money quickly to-
gether and rose.
I'll 20 alone she said. You'd
spoil the luck. Something tells me
shall win tonight
He watched her as she walked
quickly in the direction of the light
building, then turned and thrust his
hands into his empty pockets and
walked slowly and dejectedly In the
opposite direction.
With a mad recklessness which
was characteristic of her, she staked
all her small capitol Oh the first throw
and won. Keeping no reserve,
she staked all she had again and won
again. With white, set face, and
wlthe, set face and with something
beating hard and fast in her temples
like little hammer, she played stead
lily on. Gradually a crowd grew
about her; little, hoarse murmur of
went up as she raked over
the money again and again. Every
think she touched turned to gold;
she followed no system; she played
with the greatest irregularity,
Men, coming out into the night air,
and talking eagerly, wonder
ed who she was and predicting that she
would certainly break the bank; 9th
ers, crowdlng in and peering over each
others shoulders, pressed to catch a
sight of the beautiful wonder. But
the woman played steadily on; only
now and again she whispered,
through her set teeth, For my love-
my lover
They all came crowding out at last,
with Bertha Yeend walking in the
forefront of them-calm and white
faced as ever-with cries and shouts
and laughter all about her; she had
broken the bank. The notes and gold
were gripped tightly within her
finger.
She shook herself free of the crowd
and came to the seat over which had
eaned Leslie Pension and sat down
there. But he did not come, and she
got up at last, impatiently, and walk
I'd slowly away.
She saw him coming toward her.
Leaning on his arm was young girl
Bertha Yeend thrust the notes and
gold into a bundle and held them be-
tween her hands, gripping them fierce
ly.
Il was hoping ! should meet YOU
she said softly. Who is your friend?'
Allow me-Miss Dora Brooke
Mrs. Yeend. AS an old friend, Mrs.
Y eend, you will be glad to know that