Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-11-19
From Hoods Magazine.
THE GAMBLERS LAST STAKE.
A SCENE Is MADRID.

In an inner room Of his uniting housc,
which occupied wing Of his splendid man
sion N the Gale AcaIa, sat Don Jose So
ano, one OF The richest bankers in Madrid,
rumlnaing with much self complucency
upon the proiitGbe result of certain spec
ulation. lie was interrupted in his medi-
tations bv the entrance Of one Of his clerks
ushering in stranger, who brought letter
Of Introduction from Il banker at Mexico,
with whom DCn Jose had had occasional
transactions. The letter stated that the
bearer, the Count dc Eullcja, was Of a high
ly respected family Of Mexican nobility,
that he was deslrous Of visiting Europe,
and more especially the country of his an
ccs'ors, Spain aud il then wen' on to re-
commcad him in the strongest terms to the
Madrid banker, as one whose intimacy and
friendship could not fail to be sought after
by all who became acquainted with his nu-
merous excellent aud agreeable qualities.
The appearance of the count seemed 10
Justify, as far as appearance can do, the
high terms in which he was spoken OF in
his letter lie was about eightand twenty
years of age, dark comple1ioned, with q
high, clear forehead, short crisp curling
hair, an intelligent and regular countenance
aud a smile OF sngul If beauty and lasclna-
ton. Ills eyes were the only feature which
could be pronounced otherwise than pleas
inu-although large, black, and lustrous,
they had certain iiXity and hardness OF
expression, that produced an unpleasant
impression upon the behoIder, and would,
perhaps, have been more disagreeable had
not the mellow tones Of the counts voice,
and his suavily and polish of manner,
served in a great measure 10 counteraci
the effect OF this popularity.
Doing due honor 10 the strong recon-
mendation OF his esteemed correspondent,
Don Jose welcomed the Young condo with
the utmost hospitality, Insisted on taking
possession of him for the whole Of the day,
and, without allowing him TO return 10 his
hotel, ragged him into the house, presented
him TO his son and daughter, and charged
them TO use their utmost eXertons 10 enter
tain their guest, while he himself returned
10 his occupations until dinner-,ime. Al
one o'clock the old banker re-appeared in
the saa, where he found Rafael and Mari
quita Solano listening with avidty TO the
agreeable conversation Of the count, who,
in his rich and characteristic Mexican
Spanish, was giving them the most inter
esting details concerning the country he
had recently left. The magnifcence oil
Mexican scenery, the peculiari:ies of the
Indian races, the gorgeous vegetation and
strange animals of the tropics, formed the
subjects of his discourse, not little inter
esiing to young man Of three and-twenty,
and girl of eighteen, who had never as
yet been fifty leagues away from Madrid.
Nor had the strangers conversation less
charms for the old banker. Nallejah had
been ut the Havannah was acquainted
with scenes, if not with persons, with which
were associated some of Don Jose's most
agreeable "reminiscences, scenes that he had
visited IN the days of his youth, when he
laid the first foundation of his princely for
tune. To be brief: the agreeable manners
and conversation Of the count so won upon
father, son, and daughter. that when at
nght-fall he rose TO take his leave, the old
banker put his house a 81 disposition, and
followed up what is usually mere verbal
compliment, By insisting upon VaIlea's ia
king up his abode with him during his stay
in Aadrld. Vallejo raised many difficulties
on the score Of the Inconvenience or trouble
he night occasion but they were all over,
ruled, and the contest Of poli,eness termi-
mated in the counts accepting the hospital
lily thus pressed upon him. The very next
day he was installed in splendid apartment
IN the house Of Don Jose
belore Vallejo had been three days at
Madrid, he had obtained his entrec to a
house at which number Of fashionabIes
and idlers were in the habit of meeting to