The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-12

At that moment he felt he would will lingly risk his life to be revenged, andif luck went against him, life without l vengeance would not be a difficult thing.
 T may agree to your proposal, mar quis," he said, If understand you rightly, it is this; The stake on your side IS all you have won from me dur ing the last month; on my side the promise to kill myself in twelve hours, Is that SOP"
 "Yes," answered the Marquis de Nan tos.
 ! side, have a condition to make. am weary of these cards. Let us have the dice and let one throw decide it." The marquis threw himself back in his chair and stared intently at St. | Ibars, as if thinking deeply. He thrust | one hand into the right hand pocket of his long-flapped waistcoat. q should | prefer the cards" he began-theu the left hand went into the other pocket and slow smile played on his lips but l shall be delighted to meet your wishes my dear duke" St. lbars brought box and two dice, and placed them on the table before De Nantes, who carelessly played with them for moment, Then, throwing them into the box, he handed it to the duke, saying:
 Will you throw first?" | 'As you like" was the answer. He gave the box a careless shake and | threw.
 Eleven" he said, and handed the | dice-box across the table. | De Nantes slowly raised himself from his lounging attitude. Putting his right hand over the box, he shook it | vigorously, talking the while. Eleven is a good throw" he said; 1T 1 wonder if can beat it. Old DeGram- mont always said it was lucky to throw with the left hand''
 | He shifted the box rapidly to his left hand, rattled it again, and threw
 Double sixes,' he cried, holding his hand curved over the dice with the air Of a man who would sweep them into the box as soon as the other player had seen them. T win! Double sixes!'
 St lbars had believed himself pre- pared to meet his fate calmly; he felt unconcerned as he saw the dice. He even noticed that one of them had a corner clipped off, and idly wondered that he had not remarked 1t before. But glancing up, he saw the mocking leer on the others face, and for one brief moment his self-command van ished.
 | You devil!" he cried, starting up, and the sudden movement overturned the table with a crash
 De Nantes started back in alarm, and his hand sought his sword -hilt. But the duke made no further movement and the pained look on his face showed he was angered at his own want of self-control
 Your pardon, monsieur" he said slowly. T am ashamed to have be- haved in so roturier fashion. Nay marquis pray do not do that
 For De Nantes had swiftly replaced the table on it's legs, and with a can dle he had taken from a sconce was now searching for the dice He took no notice of the dukes speech, but con- tinued to peer about.
 St. Ibars seized him by the arm, and as he still seemed disposed to resist suddenly took the candle from his un. willing hand.
 Why" he cried. If you are looking for the dice, there they are" l De Nantes stared at the ivory cubes in his hand.'
 How foolish of mel" he said "Ot course, I remember catching them as they fell" He placed the dice in the box as he spoke. and sat down
 Monsieur le Marquis" said the duke generally it would please me for you to honor my poor house with your presence as long as you would. But to. night I trust you will not think me dis. courteous if I ask to be left alone" | Without a word the marquis arose | gravely saluted the beggared man anG went out
 The Duke de St Ibars attended hin to the door and then threw himself in- to chair. That he was ruined that he was soon to die by his own hand, af- fected him not at all. It was the for. tune of war-he had played for high stakes and lost. It was not possible fol him to regret what he had done ol whine because the luck had gont against him. Pride of race and the only creed he had ever known-an ut ter disbelief in God or man, in every thing indeed, except in the stainless. ness of his own personal honor-kep him from that. But one thought fes tered and ranked within him like { poisoned wound, filling him mind witt rage, with astonishment, with bitter unavailing regret.
 He knew now that he loved his wife and the knowledge had come to hin too late.
 There was rustling of silk, and tht tapping of little high-heeled shoes or the parquet floor, and the Duchess dt and glittered in her hair but they were dull beside her eyes, the pearls rounC the slender column of her neck die not accentuate the purer whiteness O her skin. Nineteen years old, tall slight and graceful, men spoke of llel as the loveliest as she was the coldes of the court beauties.
 Duke" she said, T asked old Fla price to pay my jeweler, and he madt difficulties. What is the use of stew ard if he does not pay ones tradespeo pie? May I ask you to speak to him 9
 She was sitting in the chair whicI De Nantes had used, and was lookins l on rpoe+ eor,1+i,,yy .