The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-12-30

goblet Of wine to perhaps still n o
uuttering fingers, we resumed Inc
NAV. watched by all eyes. Prayers
and curses were upon bearded, clean
shayen. and lips that had never
known razor, but unuttered. read
IL their faces while they scorned
Lord FELTON, and cursed him to the
lowest depths, they yet prayed that
he might win-they that were not
wont to pray.
His was the first throw and he won.
The next was mine-we were even.
All now depended upon the last spin
ming of the dice. He took them up
and ratified them, still with rythm-
ical movement, and threw them out
upon the table without the least show
of bravado only an outward indifer-
ence to be wondered at, as if it were
an every day event to gamble away
a daughters happiness perhaps, 1or-
tune certainly. 1t came up double
six. He leaned back complacently, yet
no triumph appeared upon his face.
He was not the man to shout before
the battle was won. The men who
had heretofore hardly seemed to
breathe, now took time to draw their
breaths in with a relieved sigh.
threw-it came up amba-ace. | had
won.
Then he arose, bowed and sat
down again. His face went white.
There was excuse; the stakes had
been great.
Truly a marvel, and so young" he
managed to say, for the great control
he knew so well how to exercise held
him; "the King himself would be
outdone."
His friends and kinsmen crowded
about him. An explosive, "Damme"
came from mouth, and it was as a
clap of thunder which preludes
storm. Chairs were tipped out of the
way and swords were drawn. The
room was in an uproar; the storm
was about me. Passionate natures
were ready to overstep the bounds OF
decency and prudence.
l stood up and faced the crowd,
while I mentally calculated whether
Gil and l could cut our way through
them if the affair came to a fracas.
He, faithful fellow, seemingly had no
doubts about it and stood ready at
my side for anything.
Gentlemen" drawled l. "A most
unusual proceeding-really there is
one too many of YOU"
Too many for you if you think to
steal away with that bit of paper"
cried Sir Raoul Dwight. And he
lurched forward as though to take it,
when quick as thought had pinned it
with my sword to the table.
What | have won l shall know
how to keep" said l.
Never! BY God, never!" belched
forth the fellow in mad fury.
Gentlemen, will you permit such a
monstrosity to happen?" he contin-
ued. "Shall the choicest flower be left
for this mans picking? Shall this
fellow for few happy throws of dice
be let to take with an Indifferent hand
what we have looked with yearning
eyes toward? Shall it be permitted?
Never! l say never!"
l waited until their clamoring cries
had ceased, then said:
That should have been thought Of
before the game; it is rather too late,
You shall not leave hare with that
paper in your possession" said <Sir
Raoul Dwight.
Shall, and shall not, are words
which take little breath in the say
ing, and they come rather too trip
pingly from your lips, Sir Raoul
Dwight" l answered him. Il think the
lady will thank her kinsman-and
her lovers, for their zeal in her be-
half to-day" l turned to the assem-
bled party. spoke impressively, for
it looked as if it might come to a
brawl, for which God knows | had lit
tie desire, though why | should have
regard for the lady's name, and care
whether it was the cause Of a fracas
at gambling table, since her father
and her lover were equally lacking in
all sense of decorum, do not know.
Some things are innate in people,
hated to see a proud name banded
about in way that should call the
blush to a fair cheek
(To be continued)