A GAME OF CARDS.

Lake County Press, Issue 2139, 11 October 1906, Page 2

A GAME OF CARDS.

BY MRS. F.IiWAHD PKI.S. It was the close of a chill Soxember day. The sullen grey mists that, hunt; 'like a pall over the city had turned into a dreary drizzle of sleet and snow. Jack Frosl and his merry sprites were tracing in delicate imagery a silvery network over trees, gables and windows and making the icy pavements a footfall and a snare for the few unlucky pedestrians who bad ventured abroad. ji, : , <;,)s,\ room hi the magnificent M— t'lnb of New York, a party of live men sat. around a card table drawn closely up to a cheerful grate fire. v. hose ruddy glow cast a grateful warmth through the room and fantastic shadows over the beautiful mural paint ings and the dainty little bullet. with its exquisite cut glass and glittering silver, the whole presenting a marked contrast to the chill and gloom wit bout . The soft incandescent lights in their shaded globes brought into subdued prominence the laces of the players, typical clubmen, faultlessly attired, with that ease of manner and bearing that comes from luxurious living ami freedom from care. "Come, Sinclair, join us in a quiet game of poker," said one of the players, turning '.'■■ a tall man >ch<. had jwst entered the room, whose lac- might have been handsome but for a rather- furtive look about, the deep-set grey eyes and strongly de- | fined lines abotn the otherwise delicately chiselled mouth. Yet the lines were not those of age for he hardly seemed past middle life. How truly had the great judge of human frailty. Shakespeare said, "Conscience makes cowards of us ! I-;' 11 !" The man turned with a j strange and eager look towards the cards as if fascinated. "No thanks," he said, "I am sorry but ] must decline." Noting the surprised look upon their faces, he continued : "Not wishing to appear churlish and feeling that I owe you an explanation, I will state my rearons for refusing. if you have the time and patience to listen to m\ si ory. " They assented with <.ue voire, drawing their chairs closer to the lire. "Some L'o years ago," began Sinclair, whose i' a ee had grown strangely old and white, and who leaned heavily upon the mantlcpioce, "a young American from one of our large Western cities went abroad to ci ntinue his studies at one of the most noted (Jcrman universities. Being of a convivial turn of mind and possessed of ample means, he became a great favourite among Ihe jolly, fun-loving, beer-drinking students. "There was, however, one. the son of a (•'erman Baron, who seemed from the first to have taken a dislike to him. which was increased rather than diminished by both having conceived a passionale admiration for the coquettish daughter of one of the staid professors. With the American it was but a passing fancy of an hour, but the (Jcrman seems to have taken it more seriously, and out oi a spirit ~f p,, r( , bravado his ri\al outw iited him at every turn. "Having the advantage of a haiid-oiuer lace and person, added to a glib tongue, lie succeeded admirably. l-'or- what girl is proof against such attractions especially if she is young and inexperienced ? "The storm which had lain dormant lietv., them, burst with full violence when one rlay I lie American, who had been imbibing from the i up. thai sometimes cheers too much in entering the Kueipe accidentally brushed against the Baron, who was entering Ihe room al the same t inie. "The latter, in a rage, turned and struck the American full in the face, for a moment staggering' him. "A hubbub ensued. The lie was passed, an I the outcome of a duel, not if a sabre.slashing, face-disfigur-ing studenten code, but a duel to the dealll, the choice of weapons to be left to the American, as the offended parly. ' "the ,\ merican, in 1 rue West ern sty le chose pistols and cards, the game to be euchre ; the winner sho. ting the loser dead. "On a dreary November day, something like today. Ihe American and his seconds drove to a secluded place where a room had been engaged, and met i lie Huron accompanied |>v his .seconds. "After a few necessary preliminaries th.-y both sat down to their fatal game, with determination written on e\er\ lineament n\ their countenances—a pistol loaded and primed beside them. "The choice of deal fell to the American, who seemed in have the ad\ ant age a t cvt-ry point . "The mi not onous t irking of the clock and the latto of the hail and sleet against the shut terh-ss windows were the only sounds heard in the room besides the laboured breathing ,i\ the men. "Jus! as Ihe clock si ruck 7, the American with a low exclamation. '1 have won!' grasped his pistol and levelled it at the Baron, and before the seconds had time to verify the truth, he shot his fellow-player through the heart. The Baron, with a y\-\ of agony fell forward on his face- d'-ad. and during the excitement that ensued, the American escaped. "With a fi ret bought tha I reflected credit upon him, he made all preparations to bailie his pursuers. "lie fled to France and from there crossed Ihe Channel to F.nglnnd. Inking a steamer at Southamp--11 n he came first (of he "States." and from there finally reached South America in safety, where for many years he resided in I'eru. fearing to communicate with his agonised family, in dread of diseov i'i\ . lie invested what remained to iiini of his fastdisappearing wealth in an old abandoned mine, which, as if in irony of fate, proved exceedingly v nluable and \ ielded him a fi.r! une Ile became a man of note and prominence in his adopt ed count i',v . "Ii was several years before the hue and cry I hat had been raised by the Baron's family quieted down F< r hi.- fat her. a n ollieial high in the Go\ eminent 's council, left no --tone unturned to f race l In- murderer oi his son. "Five year- age the American, with a Vea ruing kin >w n only to a hoiueless exile, returned to his h .i live land. "From that day to this he has iiev cr touched a card The sight of one recalls in ail :i aw oil vividness Ihe lion oi s of iha t lonely i , ~,I M in the old university town, intensifies and accent nates tie- remorse and an • 'iii-.li of a conscience i,triw.Le*i Sulil, lor I :.uii that man."