The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-06-30


succession. One morning he woke up
to the fact that he was several thou
san dollars on the wrong side of the
book If the money had been his
own, he would have stopped, and gone
his way. cured But it was money
which lie held in trust. He must re-
place it. The angel in the pitch robes
stood at his side; she even laid a
hand on his shoulder and urged him
to win back what he had lost Then
indeed he could laugh, 20 his way,
and gamble no more. This was cx-
celIcnt advice. That winter he lost
something like SIS 900. Then began the
progress of decline. The following
summer his losses were even greater
than before. He began to mortgage
the estates, for his authority over his
daughters property was absolute. He
dabhlcd in stocks; a sudden fall in
gold, and he realized that his daughter
alone, had the money been his, he
would have faced poverty with all
the courage of n brave man. But the
girl, the girl! She must never know,
she must never want for those Injuries
to which she was accustomed. For
her sake he must make one more ef-
fort. He must win, must. must! He
raised more money on the property
He became irritable, nervous, to which
were added sudden bursts of tender
ness which the girl could not very
well understand
this tale saw them at Dicppe. At one
time he had recovered something be-
between 100000 and $40, 900 of his losses
All, had he stopped then, confessed
to his daughter, all would have gone
well. But, no; he must win the entire
sum. He lost, lost. lost. The crash
came in August. But Il corner of the
vast Virginia estate was left, and this
did not amount TO 10000 Five francs
carelessly tossed upon Il roulette table
had ruined and dishon0rcd him. The
angel of the pitch robes had fairly en-
vclopcd him now. The thought that
he had gamblcd usrlcssly his daugh-
tors legacy, the legacy which her
mother had left condingly in his care,
filled his soul with the bitterness of
gall. And she continued the merry
rom! OF happiness, purchasing cxEcn-
sive garments, jcwclry. furs. the little
things which women love; gave din
ners and teas and dances. considered
herself an heircSs, and thought the
world very pleasant place to live in.
Every laugh from her was a thorn to
him, the light of happiness in her eyes
was rcprOach, for he knew that she
was dancing toward the precipice
which he had diggcd for her.
Struggling futiIely among these net
ties of despair, he took the final step.
His ruin became defnitive.
One starlit night he met a distin-
snishcd young diplomat. rich and hand
some. He played some, but to pass
away the time rather than to coquet
with fortune. He was lucky The man
who plays for the mere fun of 1t is
generally lucky. He asks no favors
from fortune, he does not pay any
attention to her, and woman-like, she
is piqued. He won heavily this night;
my soldier lost cOrrespondingly heav-
lily. The diplomat pressed loan upon
his new-found friend, who, with his
usual luck, lost it.
The diplomat was presented to the
daughter. They owned to mutual ac-
quaintance in Paris and Washington.
The three attended the concert The
girl returned to the hotel bubbling with !;
happiness and the echoes of enchant-
ing melodies, for she was an accom-
plished musician. She retired and left |
the two men to their coffee and cigars.
The conversation took several turns,
and at length stopped at diplomacy.
1T has always puzzled me-" said
the soldier, chow Russia finds out all !
she does"
''That is easily explained. Russia
has the wisdom of the serpent. Here
is man who possesses secret which
Russia must have They study him.
If he is gallant, one day he meets
fascinating woman; If he is greedy, |