.MTL
THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1899. '"
bWitoWstoiti&
v
COMMENCING TODAY
We Will Inaugurate One of the
Greatest
Clearing
Sales I
jS Ever known in this city. We have been calling your attention to our Piano and Organ bargains all this month. Now, lest you forget
- this, we announce from today and to the balance of this month, an extra special sale of high grade and medium grade Pianos
1 First of All, Come and See Our Display of Baby Grands.
Perfection is written on every nook and corner of these instruments. Unexcelled does not' describe them. They are simply superb, and at
'- PRICES well, we will name them when you call. Here are some of the makes : Mason & Hamlin Baby Grand, McPhail Baby
jS Grand, James & Holmstrom Baby Grand. Look now, Here is just a few bargains:
I? One Steinway, Fine Shape, $128.00.
One Shoemacher, Upright, Qold Strings, $125.00.
One Fischer, Upright, $137.50, aiindi Lots of Others.
i$ ORGANS We have themthe Old Reliable Mason & Hamlin, The Waterloo. They are all right. Prices $25.00 to $75.00.
r$ New Stock Pianos, all grades and makes, at prices that will astonish you. Come and look over our magnificent stock. Mason & Hamlin,
r Hardman, James & Holmstrom, McPhail, The Popular Pease. Prices that you can afford to borrow and buy on. Do not put it off. Don't say
rjg tomorrow, next week or next month. NOW is the time to select and we will make the price right. Saturday is our Big Day. Sheet Music
rj at half price. We can serve you if you come.
r$ Just a Word About Musical flerchandise If you're going away for the summer and you want a Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo, Violin.
rj Have we them? Well, yes. And our prices on these during this sale will be at a figure too low to mention here. COME. Band Goods,
r Band and Orchestra Music. A Fine Cornet, $7.50, and so on through our five-story building. We invite the most critical examination of all
rjg of our fine Pianos, Organs, etc. Durability and standing-in-tune qualities are essential features in a Piano and these points we unhesitatingly
;-$ claim for our makes. Our way of selling; is just taking like a charm.
WVAHINA
j m.xs n M. vni
Competent and careful tuners sent at short notice. Come and let us show you our plan of caring for Pianos by the year. Always in tune under this arrangement.
AVENUE
DOUBLE SIXES.
HOMKMOMtMfKIMJMtMfMfMfMfMs
A brilliantly lighted room In a great
house of the Faubourg St. Germain of
tho Paris of 1701. when Louis XIV
reigned over France.
Tho last "partlo" of piequot was
over, and the Due do St. Ibars was
the loser. Now ho had lost everything,
he was ruined.
lie had played the last card with the
careless serenity which distinguished
htm. Everything was gone tho old
chateau and the broad lauds of his
race In far-off: Pcrigord, tho hotel In
Paris and his places nt court; but
nothing could disturb the mask of aris
tocratic languor which sat so closely
on his boyish features, or render le.-.s
steady the white hand wnlch toyed
with the jewelled snuffbox.
The older man opposite him who had
been his opponent had not shown such
self-restraint. Tho lust of gain had
blazed In his weary eyes, the loose,
sensual mouth had tightened and
grown more actively cruel, and a red
fever spot of excitement had gleamed
on each sallow cheek. Now, as ho
leaned back In his chair furtively
glancing nt the other, he was fain to
pretend a sudden Interest In the torn
lace of his wrist-ruffle to hide the
sneering smile which flickered on his
face.
Yet It was necessary that he should
be able to think cleaily and speak
calmly, ir the great stroke, for which
nil that had gone before had been but
a preparation, had yet to be played.
Tie would have gladly have postponed
It, but a subtle Instinct wnrned him
that the tide of his success was now
it Hood, and that tomoirow might bo
loo late. The Marquis de Nantos was
no coward; he was spurred by tho
strongest passion his nature was cap
able of feeling, but ho was nfrald of
the beggared youngster opposite him.
"I have nothing to stake, jr. le Mar
duls," was the answer, "not even a
:hateau In Spain."
The Marquis de Nnntos smiled un
easily. "As you will." he 3Uid, "as you
will. I only thought" A spot of
n-ax. had fallen on .the card table, and
o was scoring a pattern on It with his
Inger nail. His throat moved once,
.wlce, thrice, as If ho was swallowing
lomcthlng with difficulty. Then he
ipoke without looking up.
"You have still something to stake."
io said; "I will play you for Mndamu
'a Duchesse your wife."
There was a sound like a stilled oath,
ind the speaker pushed back his chair
oefore ho ventured to look up. The
duke seemed struggling with some In
ward emotion, for he held a hand before
his face. Then li.n began to laugh, and
n his laughter there was no sound or
nerrlmcnt, but rather a contemptuous
nockery, which would have made most
men long to strike him on tho mouth,
but Do Nanto seemed relieved that
:hero was no outbreak of violence, and
valted quietly for his to sneak,
"A thousand partlons, marquis!" St.
fears. Mid presently, "but your Ideas are
so droll. Has your confessor enjoined
you to make love to no lady without the
consent of her husband? Or do you re
ally Imagine that such consent would
bo any recommendation to her favor?"
"Oh, you altogether mistake mo." was
tho reply. "I wish to make her my
wire. I nm not duke nnd peer of
France; I am a new man, the son of a
farmer gonornl. I can be unfashionable
enough to loe my wife better than my
mistress If 1 choose. So, cm my pant,
I will stake all I have won from you,
and your stake shall be your life. If I
win, you promise to kill yourself within
tho next twelve hours. Well?"
A smile was still on the duke's face
as he listened. Hut tho conversation
was beginning to weary him. a suspic
ion that tho man was mad was gather
ing force In his mind; moreover, tho fu
ture had to bo faced and he must bo
nlono to face It. So. of st purpose, he
contracted his brows with a frown, and
spoke with a brutal openness which
contrasted strongly with his usual man
ner: "I think, marquis, you presume on tho
fact that I am your host, and tlyit you
rightly Imagine me to be the last man
In France to make myself ridiculous by
fighting nbout my wife. Hut supposing
me out of tho way. how much nearer
will you be? She will still be a De HI
ron, and you a 1 nm afraid I do not
know the house which has the honor of
having you as cadet. Do you?"
ir the Marquis de Nantos relt tho In
sult, he made no sign.
"You refuse?" ho said coldly. "Well,
your life Is still worth something to
you, i suppose, only, remember that I
was ready to tako the risk."
"You rate your powers of fascination
nigniy, was the sneering answer.
"Yes," replied De Nantos, "I do. For
I have a talisman you know something
of. It Is because I love, that I nm not
afraid; It Is because you know not
love, that you cannot understand."
"You spoku of my birth," Do Nantos
went on. "You are right. If you had
told me I was old ami ill-favored, you
would have been right, itno. You think
that a woman cares for these things?
I tell you, no. Mnko her believe that
you love her, make her bellevo that she
must love you, and Bhe will Invest you
herself with all theso thing or love
you hettor for tho want of them. Men,
Monsieur lo Due, love women, because
they are beautiful: women love men be
causo tho men will them to."
Ho stopped, nnd then said slowly:
"And your answer?"
St. Ibars was thinking. In the first
place, ho was surprised at the sudden
tone of mastery which Do Nantos had
nssumed at tho suppressed passion
which vibrated In his words, and the
nrdent light which shono in his ayes.
Never had he seen him like this before,
never had he Imagined that he could
speak or look so. Then ho was conscious
that his old feeling of contemptuous
dislike was now merged Into a stronger
feeling; he knew now that he hated and
I loathed this man with all the force of
his nature with a hate that nothing
but death could allay.
Ho marvelled at his own hatred for
De Nantos. Why was It? He felt sure
that he, Ranti! do St. Ibars, duke and
peer of France, did not lovo his own
wife; that would be ridiculous; only
peasants and shopkeepers were so 11
lued. Why, then, should he bo so
moved when an Insect like this marquis
boasted his lovo for her?
Ho tried to .think the situation out
dispassionately, and the more he
thought, the more he felt Inclined to
accept the proposal. If he won and
luck could not go against him forever
he could pick a quarrel with De Nantos
on some Indifferent matter nnd send
hlin nut of the world. So long as ho
was deeply In debt to the marquis ho
could not expect his challenge to be ac
cepted. At that moment he felt he
would willingly risk his life to be re
venged, nnd If luck went against him,
life without vengeance would not be a
difficult thing to give up.
"I may agree to your proposal, mar
quis," ho said, "If I understand you
rightly. It is this; Tho stake on your
side Is all you have won from me dur
ing the last month; on my side, the
promise to kill myself In twelve hours.
Is that so?"
"Yes," answered tho Marquis do
Nantos.
"Hut," went on tho duke, "I, on my
side, have a condition to make. I am
weary of these cards. Let us have the
dice and let one throw decide It."
Tho marquis threw himself back In
his chair and stared Intently at St.
Ibars, as If thinking deeply. Ho thrust
one hand Into tho rlghthand pocket of
his long Happed walstcoast. "I should
prefer the cards," ho began then tho
left hand went Into the other pocket
and n slow smile played on Is lips,
"but I shall be delighted to meet your
wishes, my deur duke."
St. Ibars brought a box and two dice,
nnd placed them on tho table before Do
Nantos, who carelessly played with
them for a moment. Then, throwing
them into tho box, ho handed it to tho
duke, saying:
"Will you throw llrst?"
"As you like," was the answer. He
gave tho box n ' careless shake and
threw.
"Eleven!" he said, nnd handed tho
dice box across tho table.
Do Nantos slowly raised hlinselft
from his lounging attitude. Tutting
his light bond over the box, ho shook
It vigorously, talking all the while.
"Eleven Is a good throw," he said.
"I wonder If I can, beat It. Old De
nrammont always said It was lucky to
throw with tho left hand."
Ho shifted the box rapidly to his left
hand, rattled It again, and throw.
"Doublo sixes!" ho cried, holding his
hand curved over the dlco with the air
of a man who would sweep them Into
tho box us soon ns tho other player
had seen them- "I win! Double
sixes!"
St. Ibars had believed himself pre
pared to meet his fato calmly; ho felt
unconcerned ns ho saw the dice. Ho
even noticed that ono of them had a
corner chipped: off, nnd Idly wondered
that ho had not remarked It before. But
glancing up, ho saw tho mocking leer
on tho other's face and for one brief
moment his telf-commund vanished.
"You devil!" ho cried, starting up,
and tho sudden movement overturned
tho tables with u crash.
Do Nuntos started back In alarm,
and his hand sought his sword-hilt.
I Hut the duke mado no further move
ment, and the pained look In his face
showed he was angered at his own
want of self-control.
"Your pardon, monsieur," ho said
slowly. "I am ashamed to have be
have In so rotmicr a fashion. Nay,
marquis, pray do not do that."
For Do Nantos had swiftly replaced
the table on Us legs, and with a caiullo
he had taken from a sconce was not
Inking notice of tho duke's speech, but
continued to peer about him.
"Why," he cried, "if you were look
ing for the dice, there they are."
De Nnntos stared at the ivory cube.-!
in searching for tho dice. He took no
notice of his hand.
"How foolish of me!" he said. "Of
course, I remember catching them as
they fell." lie placed the dice In the
box ns he spoke ami sat down.
"Monsieur lo Marquis," paid tho duke,
"generally It would pleasj me for you
to honor my poor house with your
presence as long as you wmltl. But
tonight I trust you will not think me
discourteous If I ask to be left alone."
Without a word tho Marquis rose,
gravely saluted tho beggared man and
went out.
The Duke de St. Ibars attended him
to the door nnd then came back nnd
threw himself Into a chnlr. That ho
is ruined, that ho was soon to die by
his own hand, affected him not nt all.
It was the fortune of war ho had pluy
ed fur high stakes and lost. It was
not possible tor him to regret whnt ho
had done or to whine because the luck
had gone against him. Pride of race
and the only creed ho had ever known
an utter disbelief in Ood or man, In
everything Indeed, except In the staln
lessness of his own personal honor
kept from that. Hut one thought fes
tered and rankled within him like a
poisoned wound, lllllng his mind with
rage, with astonishment, with bitter,
unavailing regret.
He knew now that he loved his wife,
and tho knowiedgo had como to him
too late.
There was tho rustic of silk, and tho
tapping of little high-heeled shoes on
the parquet floor, and tho Duchesso do
St. Ibars came In. Diamonds shono
and glittered In her hair, but they were
dull besides her eyes, the pearls round
tho slender column of her nock did but
nccentunto tho purer whiteness of hor
skin. Nineteen years old, tnll, slight
nnd graceful, men spoke of her as the
loveliest, as she was tho coldest of tho
court beauties.
"Duke," she said, "I asked old i'nb
j Ice to pay my Jnweler, and ho mado
difficulties. What Is tho use of a
steward If he does not pay one's trades
people? May I ask you to speak to
him?"
She was sitting In the chnlr which
Do Nantos had user, and was looking
with earnest scrutiny at the too of a
tiny shoe which peeped out from be
neath the silver embroideries of her
gowii. Shu dazzled his newly opened
eyes as she eut there, daintily alluring,
dellclously young, with her air of unat
tainable remoteness. Yet sho had been
his his own and ho had neglected
her for Do Nnntos, tho gamester, and
Olympe, tho dnncer. He censed to look
nt her, and fell to playing with tho
dlco box on the table.
Ho was listening to a voice which re
pented: "You know not love, you know
not love!" ,
A fan tapped Impatiently on the table,
and his wife's fresh young volco broko
In."
"You grow ungallant, Duke," she said,
"You know not love, you know not
love!" went on the voice as ho looked
up and marked how tho momentary
irritation made her more beautiful.
"Aglne!" he said. He stopped and be
gan again, "Madame."
At the first word she looked up eager
ly, at the second she uttered a little
sigh nnd looked down again.
"Madame," he went on, "I fear that
old Fabric Is not it ho real culprit. I
have been unfortunate at play, and I
have lost everything." His volco grew
harder and colder an he played anew
with the dlccbox. "I have lost every
thing," he repeated. "Tomorow, or
perhaps tonight, I set out for tho Da
nube to serve ngalnst the Turk, and
you will probably see me no more. It
only remains to regret nny passing an
noyance my disappearance may cause
you, to thank you for your considera
tions since we have been together, nnd
to congratulate you on being well rid
of so foolish n husband."
There wns silence for a moment. Then
the stillness became so poignant that St.
Ibars no longer played with tho dicehox,
but looked at his wife. She was so quiet
that ho wondered If she understood.
"She has no heart," he thought.
"Is It true," she nsked at length, with
a strange ling In her voice which he did
not recognize, "you have lost everything?"
"Everything," ho nnswered. "Hut
there Is still your Jointure; you will
have"
"Ah!" she cried, and her volco wns
that of a Joyous child, "You think I
care for 'that! Is, then, Paris and tho
court and gaming so necessary to you
that If you cannot hnvo them you must
go and bo killed far away? Flo on you,
Rnoul! For my part, I do not want to
see the court any more!"
He dared not understand.
"Ah!" he answered lightly, "It Is well
that thoro Is no need for you to give
these things up."
"Can I not come with you?" sho
asked.
Ho shook his head, "The Journey I
tako Is a very long one," he said, "and
I must take It alone."
Sho had risen to her feet, and now
came a stop nearer to him. Thero was
a strange mixture of timidity and
great boldness In her manner, ns If
her woman's nature shrank from what
some masterful feeling impelled her
to sny. Twice she essayed to speak,
and twice she stopped. Then, llko a
torrent, her words burst forth, while
ono hand was pressed tightly on her
bosom as If to still Its tumultuous
beating,
"You shall not go alone! I swear It!
Ho It to tho ends of the earth, I will
follow you, for you aro mine! mine!
given to mo by God! by holy church!
by your own vow In His sight! You
do not lovo me. I am nothing to you,
I cannot amuso you or please you! I
know it. God pity me! I know it too
well! But to bo near you, to seo you,
to sometimes hear your voice that Is
my right, and no ono shall take it
from mo!"
She fell on her knees, her fair head
resting on the table, her face burled In
her hands, her slender body shaken
with deep sobbing.
Ho forgot everything, forgot that ho
was l'ulncd, forgot that life was over
for him, In the great Joy hor words
brought him. Tho affected coldness of
manner slipped from him Ukti a loos
ened cloak, and stooping down ho gath
ered her to him with strong arms,
whllo their lips mot In a long embrace
again nnd again renewed.
"If you could know how I have
longed and prayed for this day!" she
murmured, her tcar.stalned, flushed
face very close to his. "While you
were rich and happy I could not have
told you. And you love me? Tell me
so, Raoul. I want to hear It said."
"I love you, dear one," he said sim
ply. Then a great terror fell upon
lilm, for ho remembered.
But she did not see his face, for sho
had slipped down on to a low footstool
beside him, nnd was holding one of his
hands against her wot face.
"My husband," she said softly, "you
will not go from me now. No, do not
draw your hand away; listen. In tho
beautiful Loire country near Bols 13
the old chateau where my childhood
was passed. It lies in great woods,
with hero and theio u glimpse of the
river, nnd there Is nn old stone terrace
with roses climbing everywhere, nnd
peacocks llautlng In the hot sun. It Is
mine; let us go there, Raoul. And
my father shall speak to the king, and
ask that you shall bo made governor
of tho province. Could you be happy
there, I wonder with mo "
Her volco sank to a low whisper at
the last two words, and her husband
pressed his lips fondly on her brow for
answer.
In truth he dared not speak. He
knew that her dream could never como
true, that this new lovo of theirs, so
Inexpressibly precious, so cruelly
sweet, was already, withering under
the cold touch of death. But, because
It could only be so short, he resolved
that for the brief hour or two that re
mained she at least should enjoy it un
alloyed; that her Just-opened hoard of
lovo should not bo snatched from her
before sho had realized Its possession.
He would do this If ho could, hiding
In his own breast tho haunting knowl
edge that each halt hour as tho Ellver
chimes of the clock beside them rang
out marked another stage accomplish
ed in the swift approach of tho Grim
Separator who was soon to come be
tween them.
Hand In hand they sat m the great
brightly lit room whllo Pails surged on
Its noisy way outside the windows,
In the heart of Aglao do St. Ibars
there were no conflicting emotions. Sho
was loved, and that sufficed her; she
felt herself clothed with lovo nt with
a garment, plunged in it as In a stream,
penetrated and changed by it In evory
fibre of hetr nature. Now she would
sit In silent happiness tor great for
words, then sho would spenk In low, vi
brating tones of tho future and her
hopes, then her happiness would well
over with tho Innocent merriment of a
child. And euch change of mood udd-
cd fresh fuel to the furnace-flamo m
which tho heart of her silent husband
was withering.
Suddenly sho spoko again of the old
chateau. Could they not start tomor
row? And when ho shook his head nnd
tried to stop her mouth with n kiss,
sho still Insisted.
"Then the next day, naoul. Surely
the next day?"
The tlmo when he must tell her was
very near now, but ho clung llko the
condemned criminal ho felt himself to
tha last strand of life.
"It cannot be tomorrow, dear ono,"
ho said gently, "and when tomorrow
comes It may bo that you will not
wish to go."
She rose and stood looking at him
with a provoking pout on her lips.
"Tomorrow," she persisted, "or at
latest the day nfter. Give me those
dice; we will throw for It. If I throw
highest, tomorrow; if you. the day
after. Quick. Raoul!"
His hand closed on the dlcebox and
drew It to him. "No," ho answered
quickly. "I do not wish It."
"You are unkind," she sald,"to refuse
the first request 1 have made since
since you said you loved me," and with,
a little burst of affected anger she
pushed away the footstool on which
sho had been sitting.
"Aha!" she cried, and stooping swift
ly, picked up two dice from tho floor.
He watched her dully; the sands of
life were running swiftly in the hour
glass; the end was very near.
Rounding her little hands into a box
she shook the Ivory cubes together, and
crying, "My throw!" cast them on the
table. "Two sixes! Is not that good?
Now I must throw for you."
Again he heard the muffled rattle of
the "dice as they touched each other In
her hands or saunded against her tings.
Then came so sudden nn exclamation
that he was forced to look up.
"Two sixes again. Raoul! Is It not
tiresome?"
The dice lay on the table before him.
the sixes uppermost. And on one of
them a corner was chipped off.
The truth was beginning to dawn on
him. a sudden ray of hope flashed like
a shining sword before his eyes. Eager
ly he turned to the dice In the box ho
held, and ww'hands that trembled in
splto of himself, turned them carefully
over. All the corners were perfect.
Then, seizing the other dice, he cast
them again and again, and each time
tho result was the same a double six.
De Nnntos had substituted loaded
dice for tho ones he hnd used.
It was clear enough now. He re
membered how De Nantos had held the
box and shifted It from hand to hand;
how he held himself ready to pick up
tho nice and change them again, but
had been prevented by the sudden
overthrow of the table; how he had
sought to find the dice; and, finally,
how he himself had seen the true ones
In his hand.
A great sob of relief broke frcm him.
for he knew he was free, free to live,
fi.ee to love nnd to be loved. Lands
nnd riches were none tho less lost to
him, but he smiled ns ho thought of
their worthlessness compared with the
new trensure which their loss had
brought to him.
Going to a table he Inclosed the load
ed dice in a packet and sealed it with
his ring. The duchess watched with
curious eyes.
Ho kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"I nrn but cancelling nn engagement
with the Marquis Do Nantos," he said
with a smile. "Tomorrow, ma mle,
wo set out for Blols." Temple Bar.
MAKE PERFECT MEN
DONOTUrslM
fr Longer' Trjoy
m ran brftorrd
ral itn I ha nat Buf.
V f - W ,-klll. rtf
BT1U IIUUIIIVH VI
API ?tfjn abtelutahr -urd by FKHFEOTO
MB itfiVBHH ...... l.lllna m.nu. ,.d tkllllU
nJdrt'lnol lll por.lncirrd ojp
l.4l..lln. n.aiMU.ialltl Ir vttlf.
nn.rt,if nd DouncT to?ry funo-
lion DrftCtlplhtiMtvnl. u r .. oitwu m
(nan! Cu V trrltd In tot -mm pot.n. loiil
vii 0 TH NHUlTf IV.. fnu '. OlMI.
Sold In Scranton, Pa., by Matthew
Bros, and McGarrah & Thomas, druggists.