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SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE:
* ■
WM. C. RICHARDS, Editor.
©riginal soctri). ,
For the Southern Literary Gazette.
TO ISA—A LAMENT.
BY EUGENE PERCY, M. D .
“ Je no vois rein que mecontente,
Absent tie ma Divinite.”—
M. Noailes to the Princess Conde.
J tear Isa! lam all alone,
With no one, r.ovv, to comfort me !
The snow-white Dove of Joy has flown
t >ut of my heart, in losing thee !
The violets reappear in Spring—
The young dove with the new-born year;
But when wilt thou return to bring
Back to my soul that Dove, my dear 1
The grief that once in thee was lost,
Returns again to make me pine ;
Because the Joy my heart loved most
Remains away along with thine !
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LA ROULETTE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
CHAPTER IV.
The next day, Emilie went to her mother,
who at first exclaimed loudly at her demand.
But she employed so many prayers, so many
tears —she plead the cause of Julian with such
grace and persuasion, that her foolish mother
could not resist. She knew, besides, that
Julian did not want tact, and she re-assured
herself by thinking that he would not risk
her money in an enterprize, without being
certain of success —for, only plaj, thought
she, can lead him into an error.
“Go and tell your husband to come and
see me : I wish to consult him/’
Without replying a single word, so full of
joy was she, Emilie hastened home.
“Julian! Julian! go to my mother; she
is waiting for you : run quick, my friend, I
have nearly succeeded. Oh ! I am so hap
py !” and she threw her arms around the
neck of her husband, who, without demand
ing any other explanation, escaped from her
arms, and hastened to Madame Bellemonfs.
He told her the same story that he had told
Emilie ; but he was more eloquent and more
persuasive, and his mother-in-law, not doubt
ing his veracity, promised to deliver her funds
to him with as little delay as possible, saying
that she would make immediate arrangements
to withdraw them from the houses where she
had placed them.
Fifteen days after, Julian was in posses
sion of the eighty thousand francs so much
desired. Madame Bellemont had given him
sixty thousand francs, and to complete the
sum, he drew a check for twenty thousand
francs.
“ l possess them at last, these eighty thou
sand francs!” said he, glancing covetously at
the portfolio which contained the sum. “Oh,
yes, there are the eighty thousand francs.
But what do I say 1 It is a sea of riches ;
these are the waves of gold; ’ and he played
and jumped like a fool, striking the bureau
with his fists, and covering the portfolio with
kisses. Who would have recognized, in the
midst of these extravagancies, the man whose
touching eloquence had drawn tears from
every eye in the court-room \ Oh ! insatia
ble demon of play—thy power is indeed ter
rible !
Julian placed the portfolio in his pocket,
and went out, merely saying to Emilie, that
he was going to invest his funds in the en
terprise of which he had spoken. He soon
A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE. SCIENCE AND ART.
arrived at the Palais Royal; when he observ
ed the sad number Thirty-six, he shuddered
involuntarily, and while ascending the stairs
his heart stood still. It was in vain that he
strove to overcome these miserable feelings,
lie entered, however, into the first room,
placed his hat in the hands of a waiter, who
gave him, in exchange, a little piece of bone
with a number on it; he afterwards opened a
door covered with green serge, and found
himself in the gambling room. Although it
was early, the tables were surrounded with
players. Julian was annoyed, because he
could not get a seat in the first rank, who
were the only ones sitting—a position which
was so much the more necessary for him, as
in following the steps of the play of the man
of the grey mustache, it was indispensable to
be placed in such a manner as to be able to
take notes, which would be impossible if he
stood up in the midst of a crowd of players,
who were each instant moving, pushing, and
stretching out their arms, either to place their
money on the green carpet, or to withdraw
what they had made. lie made, several
times, the tour of the room in vain; there
was not a chair vacant. At last, after hav
ing examined during a half hour, he perceiv
ed in one of the chairs an old man, whose
pale and haggard face indicated despair.—
This man will soon have lost all, thought Ju
lian ; if he quits his place, I* will seize it—
and after several efforts, he placed himself
behind him. At this moment, the doleful
voice of the banker pronounced these words:
“ Dix huit , rouge , pan* et impasse .”
“It is finished,” cried the old man, rising
from his chair.
Julian, attentive to his least movement,
drew from his pocket a five franc piece,
which he threw quickly upon the table, this
being the custom, when a player takes the
place of another. This piece fell at the same
moment with that of another player, who sat
near the vacant place. The two rivals re
garded each other with an air of defiance ;
they resembled two birds of prey ready to
tear each other.
“But, sir, I retain this place,” said the
gambler to Julian, who was preparing to sit
down.
“You must be jesting, sir,” replied Julian.
“ No: certainly my piece fell first.”
“It is a fact which we will contest: be
sides, you ought to know that it is said le
gally, ‘ non bis in idem.’ ”
“ I do not know what you mean.”
“ I mean this, sir—that a pla)*er who has
one place, has no need of another; conse
quently ”
“But, sir, I retained it for my* friend.”
“The power of attorney is here, sir, of no
effect: each one for himself; consequently
n
“Silence! silence! or go out!” cried sev
eral, who were impatient to see their money
become the prey of the roulette—this discus
sion having interrupted its course. The gam
bler, astonished at the profound logic of Ju
lian, and intimidated by the murmurs, aban
doned his pretensions to the place.
“Waiter,” cried Julian, “some cards!”
A little man came to him, and gave him a
strong pin and some cards, upon which were
traced red and tilack stripes. (These cards
were so arranged, that the player could mark
the result of each throw.) These precautions
taken, he glanced around ; but the man with
the grey moustache was not present. He
drew from his portfolio several bank bills,
and immediately every eye was fixed upon
him. He had one changed, and, with a trem
bling hand, made his first venture. He gain,
ed. and fortune was so much in his favor-
ATHENS, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1549.
that, at the end of four hours, he had large
heaps of gold and silver before him. A mul
titude of players and spectators surrounded
him : they examined attentively his manner
of playing, and, observing that, he was always
successful, they were nearly convinced that
the secret of breaking these banks had been
at last found, and they regarded Julian with
eyes of mingled admiration, surprise and
envy.
“If I were in your place, sir,” said one of
his neighbors, “I would be content with such
a pretty profit for to-day, and would
for fear fortune might change.”
Julian was struck with the excellence of
j his counsel, which he determined to follow.
He filled his pockets with the gold which lay
befoie him, and arose. In passing through
the crowd of his admirers, he could not con
j ceal the joy which sparkled in his eyes.
The spectators who had been grouped around
, him dispersed—some of them, actuated by cu
| riosity, followed and went out with him.
“Sir,” said one of them, while he was
1 waiting for his hat, “you play with admira
ble sang f raid .”
“You have a game which appears infalli
ble,” said another.
A third cried, “ It must require a good head
to seize, at the proper time, the chances of
this play.”
It was in the midst of these eulogies and
j exclamations, that Julian descended the stairs.
He replied only by monosyllables, for he was
too full to speak, and he could scarcely keep
from laughing aloud. At last, he found him
jself standing in the very place where he had
| seen the man with the grey moustache ex
plain the play, that had just proved so ad
vantageous to him. He was soon surround
ed with the innumerable fools with which Pa
ris is thronged, who are always at a loss to
know how to dispose of their time and per
sons, and who, with open mouths, admire the
least object that presents itself. There are
few men, however intelligent they may he,
! vvnose self-love cannot be Haltered by the
; eulogies even of fools, So Julian found it.
i He at first felt some vanity at the sight of
these men who surrounded him, overwhelm
ing him with questions, more foolish the one
than the other, and swallowing the words
which fell from his lips with the same eager
ness as if he had been an oracle; but soon,
! ashamed of the appearance he made on the
j steps, exposed to the view of all the passers
by, he disengaged himself, not without diffi
culty, and stepping into a cabriolet, he gave
his address to the conductor. During his
drive home, a thousand thoughts presented
| themselves to his mind, and passed through
with the rapidity of lightning. At one time,
he thought of Emilie, of the gold he had just
gained, of that which he expected still to
j gain : he bought already a chateau, and a
farm; he enlarged his house, and eclipsed
j the richest by his elegant livery, and the most
magnificent by his sumptuous feasts; he
thought also of the glory he would acquire in
assisting those, by his eloquence, whom a
despotic power would oppress. Then he
drew from his pocket a handful of the gold,
which he regarded with drunken joy, and
| pressed it convulsively in his hands. J hese
; illusions of grandeur, of glory, and of riches,
inspired him with the vivacity and petulence
of salt-petre; he gave a hound, which gave
such a shock to the cabriolet, that the aston
ished conductor thought him a little deranged.
When Julian entered his house, he found
the table spread, and Emilie waiting dinner
for him. They place 1 themselves at the ta
ble; but strong emotions of joy. as well as
VOLUME I.—NUMBER 42.
of grief, destroy the appetite : Julian did not
eat, but thought.
“What are you always thinking about V }
said Emilie.
“Oh!” replied he, “I was thinking of our
future; it will be very brilliant! These
eighty thousand francs are going to he the
source of immense treasure? ; and all, Emi
lie, shall belong to you ; for, to you I owe
all. Would yovf believe it, this silver hasal
teady produced more than eight thousand
francs profits, and every day it will produce
as much.”
•‘You are jesting. Julian ?”
Julian, without replying, covered the table
with gold. Emilie was so stupified, that she
couid not utter a word.
“Yes, every day I shall receive as much,”
repeated Julian, grasping her hand. “My
Emilie, you must not speak to any one of
this—not even to your mother; let me amass
a considerable fortune, and then I will dis
play my gold.”
“ But, Julian, whence comes this gold ?”
“It is a secret which I must conceal even
from you ; it is sufficient for you to know
that I need not be ashamed of the means by
which it is procured ; it is the fruit of great
calculations and profound combinations.”
“ You fill me with astonishment.”
“And I load you with riches; hut I repeat
to you, say nothing to your mother: the
enormity of my profits would produce, with
out doubt, false suppositions, which would
injure all.”
Emilie, so simple, so naive, made no fur
ther enquiries, and promised to say nothing
to her mother. She soon shared all the illu
sions anil hopes of her husband, so much
confidence had she in all that he said.
The next day, Julian returned to Number
Thirty-six, and as he arrived before the play
commenced, he seized, without obstacle, a
place in the first rank. That day, fortune
was as favorable as on the preceding eve,
and he returned with profits at least as con
siderable. This confirmed him in the opin
ion that the game of the man with the grey
moustache was infallible. When he return
ed home, one of his clerks informed ‘him of
the persons who had called in his absence.
M. Trezel complained bitterly of the negli
gence with which they carried on his busi
ness ; he had lost two cases, by his not at
tending court, in which it was necessary to
appeal. Another had called, to inform him
self of the position of his affairs, as he had
heard nothing said of them; and two rich
proprietors had brought some papers relative
to an important affair, which they begged
him to take charge of.
“ M. Trezel tires me,” said Julian, sourly ;
“he seems to imagine I have nothing to do
hut to think of his affairs; if he returns, tell
him he would please me by ivithdravving his
business; that I fear, as it is so important, it
may force me to neglect my own- And re
turn to those two gentlemen the papers which
they left, and present to them rny regrets at
not being able to take charge of them.”
“ But, sir, it is such a fine case.”
“ It is very possible, but I have so many
occupations, that 1 cannot attend to it.”
“ Notwithstanding that, sir, avc have had
nothing to do for several days. Aou forgot
without doubt, to place our work upon your
bureau.”
“No, no : my occupations have nothing to
do with the cabinet, which I shall be com
pelled to abandon entirely.”
“If, then, business presents itself, what are
w*e to reply ?”
“That it is impossible for rae to take
charge of it ”