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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 ! Popular Sales. For the Southern Literary Gazette. 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 ”