The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-10-26


and lost
Her face changed. She was des-
perate.
Again rose the strident invitation 10
play Again She placed her hundred
franc stake on 30.
Then she stood leaning over the
players seated in front Of her. watch
Ing the revolving wheel she held her
breath; her hand clutched the back Of
her chair; her eyes seemed starting
from her head.
The ball jumped quickly as it dropped
upon the wheel, and the next instant
fell with final click.
"Ning-et-un!"
Once more she dived into the shabby
little reticuie. She opened it wider
with nervous hands and peered into it.
1t was empty!
For moment she stood glaring at
It, rigid as a Statue.
"Ah." She shricked above the poly
glot chatter. I've lost all-eyery-
thing. i have not a sou in the world.
And for his sake-for his sake!"
She threw up her arms and, reelng.
fell back writhing i'm fit.
Some little commotion was caused.
but. assisted by the two men on my
right. I succeeded in preventing her
harming herself, and a few moments
later she was taken out by four blue
coated attendants.
Yet. with that strange peryersity Of
fate which ever follows us. just as she
was removed. the ball fell again. and
30. the number upon which she had
ruined herself, turned up.
"Bah! What luck.' calculated the
young man in English, with a slight ac-
cent "She ought to have let it pass
once. Then she'd have won. Poor
woman-poor woman."
"Shc believed. by some omen or 9th
er that the number would win" re-
marked. Its always the same here.
People are not content with the sim
pie chances"
"Not only here. m'sieur but in every
phase of life," be answered. "There is
avarice-the avarice that ruins in the
hearts OF an. from peasant to king
Then he sighed. and with a pleasant .
nod to me turned away with his COM
panion, as though the sight Of the play
bored him.
A couple Of hours later having .
supped al Ciro's with some friends. / /
left them and entered the "yellow" eX-
press. or gamblers train. for Nice. In .
the compartment ! found the unfor-
tunate woman, silent. almost statu-
csque. huddled up in a corner alone.
the deathlike palior Of her face only
half concealed by her veil. just at the
moment Of starting. however. the two
men who bad stood by watching her
ruin got in. and, after saluting me,
seated themselves.
1t was very curious, thought. They
seemed to be following either her or
myself.
Ere we ran past la Turbie the
youngor man. who had seated himself
opposite her. suddenly raised his hat
and addressed her. saying in French:
IF I mistake not, madam is Rus
sian?'
"Yes, m'sieur." she responded in a
low. broken voice. u believe that it
was You who very kindly assisted me in
the rooms. I have to thank you
"Ohl that was nothing at all. Il
only regret that madam had such very
bad fortune"
bad fortunel" she cried bitterly.
'M'sier. I am ruined-utterly! I have
itriven TO save my son--but he is lost.
and am ruined. All that had has
gonel"
"Your son?" inquired the sympathet-
e stranger. Explain TO me, am
Interested"
She hesitated. glancing at him with
ome surprise.
81 am Russian" she said at length,
With a sigh 81 come from Markov.
illage 30 versts from Mini, on the
.oad to Petersburg. ! kept the inn
here; a poor place. but its scanty
,roft suniced for my daily wants.
llasl mScur. most Of ones profits in
Russia are swallowed up in taxes. My
husband died ten years ago. and my
on Paul is the only relation the only
have in all the world. BY dint
# greatest economy managed to send
i'm 10 the university at Kicf. and he
here passed with brilliant honors and
Iecame q doctor i'm the Izaak hospital,
d Petersburg Tie returned 10 me Sc 8
reilly one night. two months ago, and
old me that the police were searching
or him. Within an hour the ispravnik
nd his men entered our house. lie was ,
rrested and taken back 10 Petersburg,
where he is now in the Petcr-Paul pris- ,
n. awaiting trial When he had been T
AIKEN from me / knew that he must ?
ave money If he was TO be defended 4
y the great lawyers Z
81 had nothing saved. therefore sold q
Nv inn to a jew; but he gave me so q
tile that II was insufficient. had p
card that q fortune might be won at 6
Ionte Carlo by those lucky at games !
T chance: therefore. left ten days
20 and came here carrying with me all 6
bat ! had Ali how foolish ] have +
een-how foolishi intended 10 in q
ease my scanty capital. so that y
,uld 90 back and engage the best law y
srs in Petersburg for my boys de- /
nsc. But 70 is an in vainl ] was .
.olish. 7 know. 10 believe what they
I'd me: but ] wanted TO save my boy. h
have Travelled here and played - al &
ove ON 90 my luckv number. for nv