Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-09-03
THE MAGIC SKIN.
The Talisman.

by the nuuDeI op "ieHNN
deliberation.
The Young man went straight up to
the table and as he stood there hung
down a piece Of gold which he held "a
his hand without deliberation. y
rolled onto the Black; then, as strong
natures can, he looked calmly II ahX-
iously at the croupier as If he heid
useless subterfuges in scorn.
The croupier spread out the cards
and seemed to wish luck to the new
conner, Indifferent as he was to the
losses or gains OF those who took part
In these sombre pleasures. Every by
Islander thought he saw drama, the
closing scene OF noble life, In the for
tunes of that bit Of gold, and eagerly
fixed his eyes on the prophetic cards,
but however closely they watched the
young man they could not discover
the least sign OF feeling on his cool
but restless face.
"Eyenl red wins said the croupier
officially.
The young man only understood his
calamity when the cfoupier's rake was
extended to sweep away his last napo-
leon The STRANGER turned pale at the
lips and softly shut his eyes. but he
Enclosed them again at once, and the
red color returned as he affected the
airs of an Englshman TO whom life
can offre no new sensation and disap-
peared without the glance full of en-
treaty for compassion that desperate
gamester will often give the bystand
ers.
"That was his last cartridge, Of
course said the croupler
He Is a cracked brain that will go
and drown himself said frequenter
of the place
The young man went out whistling
"Di Tanu Palpiti" so feebly that h.
himself scarcely heard the delicious
notes
He bent his way towards the Port
Royal. muslng over the last fancies Of
others who had gone before him He
smiled to himself as he remembered
that the Academican Anger hal
sought for his snuff box as he went to
his death
A death in broad daylight seemed de-
grading to him he made up his mind
TO die ut night so as to bequeath an
unacceptable corpse to world which
had disregarded the greatness of his
life. He began mis- wanderings again.
turning towards the Quai Votaire inn
itating the tagging gait Of an idler
seeking 70 XIII time He tried to escape
the agitation wrought in his mind BY
the reyulaions Of his physical nature,
and went towards the shop OF dealer
In antiquities, thinking to give a treat
TO his senses and to spend the interval
till nightfall in bargaining over enri
osities
At FIRST glance the place presented
a confused picture in which every
achievement. human and divine was
mingled Crocodlles. monkeys and
serpents stuffed with straw grinned al
glass from church windows, seemed to
wish TO bite sculptured heads, to chase
iacquered work or to scramble up chan.
deliers Seyrcs vase, bearing Napo-
Icons portrait by Nine Jacotot stood
beside sphinx dedicated to Sesostris.
The beginnings OF the world and the
events Of yesterday were mingled with
glotesque cheorfulness A kitchen
Jack leaned against 4 pyx. a republican
sabre On medieval hackbut Egypt
rigid and mysterious arose from her
nnds n the form Of mummy swath-
cd IN black bandagcs; then the Pha-
raohs swallowed up nations that they
might build themselves a tomb, ana he
bcheld Moses and the Hebrews and the
desert and a solemn antique world.
Fresh and Joyous a marble statue
spoke 10 him from a twisted column
OF the pleasure loving myths of Greece
ana lonia
Tie Whims ~ Imperial Rome were
there III life. the bath was disclosed,
the toilet Of d languid Julia. dreaming.
waiting for her Tibulius. strong with
the might Of Arabic spells, the head Of
Cicero evoked memories of a free
r. ne and dnroIled before him the
scrolls Of Titus Liyius
He aseended the inner staircase
which led 20 the first floor with lis Yo-
tive shields panoples carved shrines
and figures on tho wall Il ayery step
ILL Closed Ills cyes da22led III bright
rays from 4 rea circle 1T ieht that
shone ont ttom me shadows ii the
midst of the circle stood htt4e ola