if indeed he had any, were all centered in his wife. But suddenly, he had been driven from her presence; and that too, just when his last cent had been lost! But what was the loss of money to the loss of such a wife as this? Her eyes of light, her face of loveliness, her neck of snow, her heart of gentleness, her brow of grandeur and her bosom of purity! 66 66 Is there no restoration?" This thought ran through his mind, and a flood of tears gushed from his eyes. Beatrice! Beatrice! Beatrice!" he exclaimed, in a tone that was smothered by the pillow upon which he pressed his face. Is there indeed, no forgiveness?" 66 She lay by her sisEven her tears came Poor Beatrice! she slept not. ter, tossing and tumbling. not, her heart was more obdurate than she supposed. Her resentment was not appeased. Her husband appeared a brute. His breath contaminated the atmosphere. She thought of her father; she would write to him immediately, and beg him to come for her; she would go back to the scenes of her childhood-to her own sunny clime, with its soft skies and its balmy breezes; she would go back to the arms of her dear old father. She drew back Helen was 66 It was broad day when she arose. the curtains, and threw open the blind. asleep, and smiling as an infant smiles. bent over her, and kissed her forehead. Sleep on, thou spotless virgin, the angels are not happier." As Beatrice contemplated Helen's glowing charms, she lamented: "Sleep on a while; your's, too, will be the common lot of woman. The time will come when some sensual beast will soil your purity, and leave you to curse the hour that you were born." CHAPTER XIV. We must not forget in this history, our friend Col. Placid, whom we saw some time ago at the faro bank. For many years, as has been already stated, he had been a most successful better. He had acquired the name of Herr Driesbach, the tiger tamer. "Give him ten, and let him go," was the merry word to the dealer from some bystander, whenever Placid entered the room. But the change of fortune was positive; and his bad luck now came to be as astonishing as his good luck had heretofore been remarkable. Ever since the memorable night when he had lost for the first time, and that so enormously, he had been fighting the animal with desperation. He was in a constant rage while betting. His losses were immense. Night after night he threw away thousands. His affairs were beginning to be involved. His gold bags were disappearing. His turn of fortune had got to be street conversation; and his failure in business was predicted. His habits were changed. He talked musingly to himself as he walked along the avenue. He noticed nothing. “Ten dollars a day," was continually falling from his lips. "Ten dollars a day; this won't pay, this won't pay." Dr. Curtis had had a terrible night. His twenty thousand was gone, and he had nothing to show for it but the splendor of his parlor, the recollection of his late brilliant parties and his superb equipage. He had made a last grand rush upon the bank on the strength of his checks, to the amount of eight thousand dollars; had lost all, and gone home in despair. Rolling and tossing on his uneasy bed, he cast up his accounts after the losses of the night, and found that he had overdrawn his bank deposit about two thousand dollars. To raise that amount by ten o'clock was no light task. He had never been in such a strait before. His iron nerves were jostled. Beatrice had the money; but he could not tell her of his necessity. He slept but little, breakfasted hastily and left home earlier than usual. Vague anxiety was depicted on his irresolute countenance as he walked hastily up and down the avenue, scarcely knowing what he was doing or where he was going. He passed many friends but was in too much haste to recognize them. He paused at the door of the fatal hell and thought of running up stairs to beg the prince not to present his checks for a day or two; but there were throngs of people crowding along, and he did not wish to be seen going into such a house in broad daylight. The idea too of asking a gambler to favor him was not agreeable. He had never condescended to recognize these men, the dealers and bankers, even while betting at their games. He spoke to them simply with the aristocratic "Sir." He played for speculation and avarice, not for sociality. Turning from the door he dashed along irresolutely. 66 What the d-1 shall I do?" thought he, and he paused a moment in front of the Bank of Washington. Beau Hickman approached him, "A quarter, Doctor," 66 66 'Go to h―l, you brute." Not ready, Doctor, can't cross the Styx by myself, want a pilot-will wait for you to lead," said the imperturbable beggar, as the Doctor hurried along towards street. He The beggar leaned his frail body on his cane. was the picture of contended aristocracy-though decrepid. His cheek and abdomen were equally sunken, but the smoke that rose, as if reluctant to leave his moustache, betokened, by its flavor, a genuine Havana. "D-n you," said the beau to himself, "I have seen the day I could buy and sell you." Curtis had reached the door of Col. Placid's office. He knocked and was admitted. Placid was sitting in his counting room. 86 What interest do I pay you, Col. Placid, on this loan?" said an individual who seemed to be negotiating. "Ten dollars a day," said Placid. "Ten dollars a day!" replied the person with astonishment. "Yes sir; ten dollars a day-ten dollars a day." "Excuse me, sir, I will not take it." "Very well, sir-on the square-I bet on the square ten dollars a day-good morning, sir-ten dollars a day." 'Placid," said Curtis, when they were alone, "I am in immediate want of two thousand dollars—can you let me have it?" "Yes, at ten dollars a day, on the thousand!" "Very well; what you please," replied Curtis, only let me have the money." 66 Ten dollars a day, work or play, that's my motto, Dr. Curtis, ten dollars a day," and the banker rose from his seat and pranced about the room, as if following the music of a dancing-master, snapping his fingers and singing, "Ten dollars a day, Work or play, That's my way Then looking at What do you say." Curtis furiously, he said, "It's a lie! They say on the street that I'm broke, but come, Doctor Curtis, look here," and he lead Curtis into his vault room, opened his coffers and exhibited heaps of gold. "I made it all at ten dollars a day." "You are a lucky man," said Curtis, 'the only man yet that ever could tame the tiger and keep him So." 66 |