The Lamar register., 1909-04-28
CHAPTER iv.-continued.


CHAPTER iv.-Continued.
And that night | made strange
and terrible discovery. Lady Arabella
was a gamester of the most desperate
character. in ready money, as far as
her allowance as a minor permitted,
and in promises to pay. when she
came into her fortune, as far as such
promises would be accepted. But they
were not much favored by the gentle
men and ladies' who played with her;
for the chances of her marrying before
her majority were so great. that her
1 o US were not considered of much
value. and found few takers. even
when accompanied by Lady Arabella's
most brilliant smiles; for your true
gamester is imperyious to smiles or
frowns, insensible to beauty-in short.
all his faculties are concentrated on
the odd trick.
A great mob of fine people came
and there was supper, and many
wax lights, and all the accessories of a
fashionable rout. ! wandered about,
knowing no one. but observant of all.
I noticed that very clever device
was hit upon by Lady Arabella and
others who like high play. which Lady
Hawkshaw disliked worry much. The
stakes were nominally very small. but
in reality they were very large, shil
lings actually signifying pounds. All
of the people who practiced this were
in one OF the lower rooms, while Sir
Peter, who was allowed to play six
penny whist, and those who in good
faith observed Lady Hawkshaw's
wishes, were in room to themselves.
] must not forget to mention. among
the notable things at this rout, Lady
Hawkshaw's turban. 1t was a con-
struction of feathers. flowers. beads,
and every other species of ornament,
the whole capped with the celebrated
tiara which had been bought from the
Portuguese, and the diamond necklace
beamed upon her black velvet bosom.
Sir Peter seemed quite enchanted with
her appearance. as she doomed a head
taller than any woman in the rooms.
and evidently considered her a combi-
nation of Venus and Minerva-not that
the pair ceased squabbling on that ac-
count. think they disagreed vio-
Iently on every detail of the party.
and Sir Peter was routed at every
point.
Among those who did not play was
Daphne, then quite as tall as 1 and
well into her sixteenth year. I could
not but acknowledge her to be a pref
ty slip of a girl. and we sat in a cor
ner and l told her about our bloody
doings on the Ajax, until she stopped
her ears and begged me to desist. /
regarded Daphne with condescension.
then; but l perceived that she was
sharp of wit and nimble of tongue.
Lady Arabella.
After a while left Daphne and
went back to watch Lady Arabella. I
soon saw that she was very poor
player, and lost continually; but that
only whetted her appetite for the
game. Presently gentleman entered,
and, walking about listlessly, although
he seemed to be known to everybody
present, approached me. 1t was Capt.
Overton. as handsome. as distract. as
on the first and only time ! had seen
him
Much to my surprise, he recognized
me and came up and spoke to me.
making me very handsome compli-
ment upon the performances of the
Ajax.
And is my cousin. Mr.. Vernon. here
tonight o. he asked, smiling.
| replied l supposed not; he had re-
ceived no card when we had parted
that morning, and | knew of none
since.
Il shall be very glad to meet him."
said Overton. II think him a fine fell
low, in spite of our disagreement.
see you are not playing"
Il have no taste for play. strange
to say
DO not try to acquire it, he said;
at is wrong. you may depend upon 1t;
but Indulgence in it makes many be-
lieve 1t to be right. Every time you
look at a sin, 1t gets better looking"
was surprised to hear sin men
toned in the society of such elegant
and well-bred sinners as saw around
me, who never alluded to 1t, except Of
ficially, as 1t were. on Sunday. when
they all declared themselves miserable
sinners-for that occasion only. Over
ton then sauntered over toward Lady
Arabella, who seemed to recognize
his approach by instinct. She turned
to him, her cards in her hands. and
flushed deeply; he gazed at her stern
ly as il in reproof. and, after slight
remark or two, moved of. to her evil
dent chagrin.
Daphne being near me then, I said
to her with forced laugh:
What is the meaning. l beg you to
tell me, of the pantomime between
Lady Arabella and Capt. Overflow"
Daphne hesitated. and then said:
Capt. Overton was one Of the gay
est men about London until year or
two ago. Since then, 1t is said. he has
turned Methody. 1t is believed he goes
to Mr.. Wesley's meetings, although
he has never been actually caught
there. He lives plainly. and, some
say, he gives his means to the poor;
he will not go to the races any more.
nor play, and he does not like to see
Arabella play"
What has he to do with Arabella?"