Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-11-19
BY {. L. SH0LES.

hinseIi remarked by his Judgment in pav.
and by the cool Indifference with which he
lost and won very considerable sums. For
some time he was exceedingly successful.
Every stake he put down doubled itself; he
seemed to play with charmed money and
the bankers trembled when they saw him
approach the table, and after glance at
the state of the game, place pile of go-
Den ounces on card, which almost invari-
ably won the very next moment. This
lasted several days, and he began 20 be
considered as invncible, when suddenly his
good fortune departed him, and he lost as
last, or faster, than he had previously won ;
so that after fortnight Of incessant bad
luck, it was estimated by certain old gam
blers who had taken an interest in watch
ing his proceedings, that he had lost not
only all his winnings, but very conside-
rable sum in addition. Rafael, who rarely
played, and then only for small stakes,
urg' I'd his friend 10 discontinue game that
he found so losing; but Vallejo laughed at
MS circumstances, and treated his losses as
trlfllng ones, which a single days good
fortune might retrieve. Gambling is hard
~ looked ufon as q vice in Spain, and RAJ
tael SoIano saw nothing unusual or blame
able in the counts INDUCING in his afternoon
Jafgo, or in his losing his money if it so
pleased him, and if he thought an hour or
two's excitement was worth the large sums
which II usually cost him. Indeed, the cir
cumstance OF their visits 10 the gaming
room appeared to him so unmportant, that
II never occurred to him to mention it to
| fat CT IL IL
part, never dreamed Of inquiring in what
way the young men passed they lew hours
OF the day during which they absented
themselves from their society.
On scorching June afternoon. about a
month after Vallejo arrived at Madrid, The
Mexican and Raphael left Don Jose's man
sion, and bent their steps in the usual d.
rection. While ascending the wel-worn
STAIRS o! the gaming-house, young Soano
could not forbear add essing a circumstances
to his friend on the subject Of his losses. -
Although the counts perfect command over
himself and his countenance made il yarv
difficult for so young and inexperienced a
man as Rafael to Judge of what was pass
ing in his mind, the latter, nevertheless,
lancied that for three or four days past
there had been a change in his demeanor
denoting uneasness and anxiety. 1t was
not that he was duller or more silen: on
the contrary, his conversation was, per-
hrps, more brilliant and varied, his laugh
louder and more frequent than usual, but
there was hollowncss in the laugh, and
strained tone in the conversation, as if he
were compelling himself to be gay in order
to drive away painful thoughts-intoxica-
ting himself with many words and forced
merriment. Rafael attributed this 10 the
annoyance caused by his heavy losses, and
now urged him to discontinue his visits tc
the montc-tablc, at least for a time, or Iu-
} I'll his luck became better. The count me,
the suggestion with n smile.
r My dear Rafael cried lie, gailv. q you
surely do not suppose that the loss Of n le"
hundred miserable ounces would be stfli'
} cient To annoy me for moment? As to
abandoning play, we should be puzzled
then to pass the idle hour or two following
the sicsta. Besides that, it amuses me-
But do not make yourself uneasy shall
do myself no harm, and moreover, intend
this very day to win back all my losings
feel in the vein"
a. heartily hope you may do as you in
tend said Rafael, laughing, quite re-as-
surcd by his FRIEND careless manner; and
rs he uttered the words, the count pushed
open the door, and they entered the monte
, room.
The game was already in full activity,
, and the play very high; the table strcw &c
, with the snowy Spanish cards, on which
/ instead Of the spades and diamonds familiar
to most European card players, suns anc
= vases, sabres and horses, were depicted in
, various and brilliant colors. An officer Of
l the royal guard and dry, snutfy old mar
: quis, held the bank, which had been very
, successful. Large piles Of ounces and O
5 four and eight dollar pieces were on the
! green cloth before them, as well as a roll
Of paper nearly treble the value of the
specie. Twenty or thirty players were
] congregated around the table, while a few
unforlunates, whose pockets had already
l been emptied, were soiacing themselves
with their cigars, and occasionally indulg
, ing in an oath or impatient stamp Of the
foot when they saw a card come up which
1 they certainly would have backed-haC
: they had money so 10 do. Two or three
e ldlers were sitting on the low stills of the
/ long French windows. reading newspapers
2 and enjoying the fragrance Of the flowers
] protected from he reflected glare Of the
. opposite houses, on which the sun was dart
ing its rays, by awnings Of striped linen
=, that fell from above the windows. and hung
$ over the outside of the small semi-circuar
balconies.
5 After standing for few minutes at the
! table, and stalking doubloon, which he in
SANITY lost, Rafael Solano took up paper
, and threw himself into an armchair, while
t Vallejo remained watching with keen atten-
ton the various fluctuations of the card
; For some time he did not Join the game,
rather TO the establishment of the other play
ers, who were accustomed to see him stake
his money as soon as he entered the room,
with an unhesitating boldness and conf
dence. Haitian hour passed in this manner,
and the presence of Vallejo was beginning
TO be forgotten, when he suddenly drew a
heavy roleau of gold from his pocket, and
placed it upon a card. The game went on;
Vallejo lost. and with his usual sang .trod