Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

mark from enc of them.
M. Armand did not seem nonplused
He stopped and lifted the crinsing wo-
man to her feet as Rolph approache
his lean eyes winking.
"My wench seems to have an uncom-
mon fancy" the latter sneered. "Gall
me, why did you not buy her?'
'.Will you sell her to me?"
The litter looked at the secretary's
dress I'D glowered at the merriment
of the onlookers
mo-" lie blurted.
Armand smiled with suavity. per
haps it would pleasure you to game
with ME for her? In my country, gen.
tlemen," lie remarked to those around,
1--WE are overload Of the dice table. AS
for me, 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 grunted at this airy thrust and
gnawed his lip. His estate Of Bentcliff
was the largest on all the James, and
this, it was said, lie had won in the
palace in Williamsburg fifteen years
before in wild night Of play with
Governor Fauquier's gambling crew.
81 will lay against her.. added Ar
mand, double the amount she cost
you. And toss of coin shall de-
eide"
The factors gasped and stood looking
the speaker over. Rolph stared an in
slant, then: "Done! Leave the inden-
ture open, Master Clarkson, and bring
| it here"
A wager in Virginia never failed to
provoke interest, whether it was for
a pair of spurs or u pipe of canary, and
now all were listening eagerly. The
two girls, from their positions, could
see without difficulty over the inter-
vening heads.
LET us 90 farther away said Anne,
but Betsy was Of differently mind.
mo, no." she protested '"Theysare 60
ing to toss. wouldn't miss 1t nbw for
anything. He is French, Anne. can
tell it by the accent"
Rolph called and threw the gold coin
he had drawn from his pocket with
flourish. 1.-THE kings head| rose
score of voices as tsfell mir. Rolph
wins" 81
"oh, dearw exclaimed Betsy in great
vexation.
81 really believe. said Anne. with
heat, "that you want that man to
win"
Weren't you Just now wishing you
were a man SO Mr.. Rolph shouldn't?"
retorted Betsy.
M. Armand had drawn forth wallet
from his pocket and lifted out the sum,
"Fortune beams upon you, monsieur"
he smiled. II was ever unlucky. of a
Wednesday. Shall we have one more
throw? And double or quits mayhap.
monsieur? Unless you deem the stake
overnight
"High!" 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 it.
, D'you hear?"
The other tossed. There was shout
as the coin descended, for it lodged in
the brim of spectators hat and could
not be counted. At the next trial it
rolled in 81 ifal and finally stood edge
wise in crack. of the wharf flooring.
A third time the young Frenchman
sent it spinning. It6twinkled in the
sunlight, fell, bounded sideways. the
crowd partil before 1t, rolled across the
open space and toppled over few feet
from Anne. Instinctively she leaned
far out of the coach and looked.
at shows the armsw she cried In
soite of herself. The coin had fallen OF
It's 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. at will moi
, hold. What does this sorry raimen,
with thus much money, gentlemen HI
does not own SO much, / dispute thu
bet!'
"And Mr. Rolph calls himself a gen
tleman!" Anne said disgustedly.
M. Armand looked at his antagonist
with undisguised contempt, and muir
nurs of the assembly, who loved fall
play, were SO unmistakable that Rolpf
drew out bills and indenture with q
curse and drove off with black look.
Anne watched him CO.. a curl on hel
lip. When she turned at Betsy's ex
clamation it was first to be aware that
all on the wharf were looking her way
that some OF them were smiling and
then that the young Frenchman, Will
the redemptioner woman following
him, was approaching her.
Before she had recovered from bel
establishment he was bowling low
) "Mademoiselle," he said. twill pardon
the liberty take in addressing herr"
She bowed coldly, half startled.
"Fate," he went on, "has made me
the owner of this servant, for whom
being no landholder, l have scant use
She speaks strange tongue and Is iI
strange land, and to free her without
, bond time were small kindness. May
beg the favor, mademoiselle, that YOU
take her in your service, demanding
such labor as will requite her SUPPORT q
, The indignant color flooded Anne's
brow. "Sir," she said frigidly, drawing
herself up, 1--WE have strange surprises
in Virginia, but surely the effrontery
of our visitors surpasses them ALL"
, Armand looked clearly at her out Of
his dark eyes. "Mademolselle will par
don," he answered, "the error of one
Of these visitors, who, seeing her face
has overestimated her graciousness and
charity"
With this he bowed again till his hal
swept the ground, and, followed by the
bondwoman, walked down the wharf
toward the unladlng vessel.
The red In Anne's cheeks had grown
to firebrands and her anger lent sting
TO the half concealed smirks of those
who stood nearest.
"Land of mercy" said Betsy, with
emphasis. "What impudence!w
Soon the curious crowd was thin
ming, Betsy's search was ended, and
Anne, having left her seat in the coach