The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-10-19

oNpu oniy Glet ana lodging, VINO, he
| lccl&rcd, made great diversion by sing
ing and whistling, besides being rare
| ut iron work.
The sale proceeded rapidly, for bond
| servants were In demand and the lot
! was above an average one. They stood
for inspection eagerly or stolidly, as
their faces promised some sullen eyed,
some smlrking The women were Of
| fered last. But few remained when
the agent beckoned to the swarthy
| skinned woman whose babe had died
| during the voyage, and she came for
| ward timidly, turning her sloe- black
Italian eyes upon the crowd In misun-
derstanding and covering dread. Her
| hair and the red olive OF her skin made
a curious contrast to the light complex
ions of the other women.
Burnaby Rolph, who had purchased
| two laborers, looked her over with sat
| isfacton.
"a likely wench," he gulped. Given
| ty pounds Is enough doubt moi, since
she is foreign. 1 take her. Put that
down to my reckoning, Master Clark
SON"
| oOi thihSi pulu Allie. WOulo Il
| we're man. That brute should never
lave herr! She looked up and felt the
young Frenchmans eyes full upon her.
He mad clearly overheard
You belong to him now," said the
agent to the woman, pointing to Rolph.
"O'ye understands"
She gazed into Rophs face and
! shrinkingly about the circle. Then,
with sudden cry, doubling like an
animal, she lodged between the knots
of spectators and threw herself at Ar
| mand's feet.
Rolphs curse was lost in great
laugh which rose from the factors, and
Anne's face stung red at coarse re-
mark from one of them.
Nj. Armand did not seem nonplused.
He stopped and lifted the cringing wo-
man to her feet as Rolph approached
| his lean eyes winking.
MY wench seems to have an uncom-
mon fancy" the latter snccred. Call
me, why did you not buy hcr?"
"Will you sell her to mc?'
| The latter looked mt the SCcrctary's
dress and glowcred at the mcrrimcnt
of the onlookcrs
"No," he blurtcd.
| Armand smiled with Suavity. "Per.
haps 1t would pleasure you to game
with NE for her? In my country. gen
| tlemen," he remarked TO those around,
1--WE are ovcrfond of tile dice table AS
| for me, l could never resist to WOO the
hazard of fortune. Mayhap, however,,
here you are less adventurous, more
cautious. monsieur or. as those who.
having little hesitate to risk"
| Rolph gruntcd ut this airy thrust and
! gnawed his lip. His estate of Bcntclin
was the largest on all the James, and
this, 1t WAS said, he had won in the
| palace in williamsburg fifteen years
| before in q wild night of play with
| Governor Fauquicr's gambling crew.
| II will lay against her" added Ar
mand, double the amount she cost
you. Nnu Il tuss or II coin snali uu-
| eide"
The factors gaspcd and stood looking
| the speaker over. Rolph stared an in
stant, then: Zone! Leave the indcn-
turc open, Master Clarkson, md bring
| it here"
y waSc? In Virginia never failed to
| provoke interest. whether IL was for
| Il pair Gf spurs or IL pipe of canary, and
now all We're listening eagerly The
| two girls, from their positions, could
see without difficulty over the inter
| vening heads.
"Lct us so farther away" said Anne
| but Betsy was OF different mind
| mo, no." she protested. "They are go
| Ing to toss. | wouldn't miss it now for
anything. He is French, Anne. can
tell it by the accent"
Roph called and threw the gold coin
| he had drawn from his pocket with
flourish. "rhc kings hcad!" rose
| score of voices as 1t fell. "NIr. Rolph
| wins"
"Oh, dearw exclaimed Betsy in great
| vexation.
II really believe" said Anne, with
heat, "that you want that man to
win"
Weren't you Just now wishing you
were man SO Mr.. Rolph shouldn't2"
retorted Betsy.
M. Armand had drawn forth wallet
from his pocket and lifted out the sum.
"Fortune beams upon you, monsieur"
he smiled. "I was ever unlucky of q
Wednesday. Shall we have one more
| throw? And double or quits mayhap,
monsieurf Unless you deem the stake
overnight
"Highp said Rolph, with growl.
Double or quits it is. Eighty pounds
against your lost forty and the wench.
But, mind you, this one throw ends 1t.
D'you hear2"
The other tossed. There was shout
as the coin descended, for 1t lodged in
the brim Of n spectators hat and could
not be counted At the next trial 1t
rolled in spiral and finally stood edge
wise In a crack Of the wharf flooring.
| A third time the young Frenchman
sent 1t spinning. 1t twinkled In the
sunlight, fell, bounded sideways, the
crowd parting before 1t, rolled across tho
open space and toppled over few feet
from Anne. Insunctively she leaned
far out Of the coach and looked.
at shows the arms!" she cried In
spite of herself. The coin had fallen on
! its diverse side.
Fortune has turned" the secretary
observed easily. "It appears, monsieur,
that the servant is mine. The remain.
der Of the stake, if you please"
"'Twas but his assurance he wager
ed with" snarled Rolph. ut will not