Evening star., 1909-09-12
The Revelation
Continued from page 4

arose with profuse apologies, laid in my lap SO
that she might plainly see them four kings
l had worked from the deck. | flushed
with my own guilt and wondered what was in
her eyes. | turned a low trump, and from
across the board heard a long heavy gasp.
The Count had almost collapsed in his chair,
and then, quickly recovering, sat like statue.
He instantly proposed, showing he did not
want that trump. In my lap was the king
that best suited my hand and | refused, de-
manding that he play For tense second
thought he would decline, and then reluctantly
he played queen of trumps for his lead, which
| answered with king. Again he gasped and
weakly answered my next lead, and-the game
was mine,
Simultaneously we four men were
feet looking at Ivette. | waited for her to de-
nounce me, praying to Heaven that she would,
praying that she was the woman had believed
her to be, one who could not participate in dis
honor. Against the background of the black
wall with its massed weapons she stood, as fair
picture as painter ever dreamed. Her blond
head was held high, her face was calm her
hands, unffuttering rested at her sides. And
then without hesitation she came toward me
smiling and held both hands out as if conf
dent of their reception.
MY God! The horror of that revelation,
lh1s woman whom | had loved had first
permitted herself to stand as wager over
gaming table, had then watched me cheat. and
now was ready to give herself into my arms!
In that swift revulsion / retreated as she adj
vanced. She stopped, and her face assumed
look do not care to see again. 1t went rap
idly from bewilderment to fierce fury, and her
eyes blazed hard and cold A silence, heavy
and omlnouS, pervaded the room.
Yvette,' | whispered, and the sound was
overwhelming, 'Mademoiselle Yvette, IL
my tongue had lost power of speech and rat
tied huskily in my straining throat. In one in
Simultaneous mass the ideals of tradition train
ing, and heredity were upon me. My course
was clear. and the drumming of rudely torn
heartstrings gave way to the militant strains of
uncheckable truth and right i cannot said
coldly, accept the privilege, and all it inn
plies, that | have won-won here across
gaming tablet A table stake was mine but
IN playing for it have learned that truth, that
1t Is valueleSs
% did not voice the thought that woman
who would come to under such condi-
tlons was unworthy the name of wife. | had
no time; for behind me came the sound of
struggle that threw me guard Leopard and
Nfllalon were holding the Count who was vainly
struggling for freedom.
You shall answer for that, he shouted.
You dare to insult Mademoiselle Yvette in my
house and his voice died away as Leopard
put subduing hand across his mouth
Silence! Viaon shouted.
Leopard released the hand and the Count
stood biting his lips and ceased struggling
lvette, overcome by the violence of the scene,
had lost her anger and stood with hands
clutched before her in a sernblance of fear
There will be no further talk of outraged
sensibilities, Villalon said codlv nor question
of meeting to satisfy affront. Nor will any of
tell of this sad nights outcome
He stepped over to the side of the table
where the Count had sat when we PLAYED that
game of fate reached out his hand, and then
paused and looked at me pitvingly. He spoke
if to me alone when none other was present
" CASTOR, he said softly and with infinite
affection IN his voice, Castor, | would that
some other hand than mine was to complete
heart you will read my explanation Alright We
have been mistaken in those we chose for
friends
His reaching fingers darted forward, caught
the loose veneering by the edge, and in one
snarling expose ripped it loose and threw it on
the floor. There snugly concealed, lay four
kings in duplicate with which Laurier had ex-
pected to win He picked one up and held it
toward me- OF course they are marked, he
said, and moreover | from her ewes that
Mademolsee Ivette aware of their exis-
tence. The Count had no opportunity to use
them, hence she accepted the only alternative
Yvette, frightened. had retrcated until she
leaned weakly against the wall and the Count,
unmasked, dropped into a chair and sneered
through pallid lips.
Il dared not look at either of them; but
clasped my arms through those of my comrades
and staggered from the house beside the wall
out into the night, bidding goodby to love.
The ideal was broken, the dream was done"
@JTNOJC Stopped for n ,,,c,,ant o,-.r.o,,,a T.,