The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-15

young girl, and so favoraby did she receive tnem,
that more than officious or well-meaning friend
limited to Don Jose the proprety of instituting
some inquiry into the circumstances and antece-
dents of man, who il seemed not improbable might
eventually aspire to become his son-in-law. But
the bankers prepossession in favor of Vallea was
so strong that he gave little heed to these hints,
contenting himself with writing to his correspon.
dent at Mexico expressing the pleasure he had had
in making the counts acquaintance, and receiving
him as an inmate to his house; but without asking
for any information concerning him. In fact the
letter Valleja had brought was such as to render
any further inquiries nearly superhuous. 1t mem
toned the count as Of noble and respected family,
and credited him to the amount often thousand dol
lars, of sufficient Importance to make it pre-
sumabe that his means were ample.
Before Valleja had be zen three days at Madrid he
had obtained his entree to house at which num-
Der OF idlers and iashionables were in the habit of
meeting TO play monte, the game OF all Others most
fascinating to Spanards Thither he used to repair
each afternoon accompanied by Rafael Soano, and
there he soon made himself remarked by his judg-
ment in play, and by the cool indifference with
which he lost and won very considerable sums. For
some time he was excerdin gly successful Every
stake he put down doubled itself; he seemed toplay
with charmed money; and the bankers trembled
when they saw him approach the table, and after a
glance at the state OF the game, place pile of gold
en- ounces on a card, which almost invariably won
the very next moment. This lasted several days.
and he began 10 be considered lnvincible, when
suddenly his good fortune departed him, and he lost
as fast, or faster, thanhe had previously won; SO
that after fortnight of ncessant bad luck, it was
estimated by certain old gamblers who had taken an
interest in watching his proceedings, that he had
lost not only all his winnings, but very considera-
bic sum in addition Rafael who rarely played,
and then only for small stakes, urged his friend to
discontinue game which he found so losing; but
Vaea laughed at his remonstrances ,and treated his
losses as ri1ing ones which single days good for
tune might retrieve. Gambling is scarcely looked
upon a vice in Spain, and young Solano saw
nothing unusual or bameable in the counts indulg-
ing in his afternoon je"gO, or his losing his money
iii so pleased him, and if he thought an hour or
two's excitement worth the large sums which it
usually cost him. Indeed, the circumstance of
their visits to the gaming room appeared to him so
unimportant, that it never occurred to him to men,
ton it to his father or sister; and they, their
tpart, never dreamed Of enquring in what way the
young men passed the few hours Of the day dur
ing which they absented themselves from their So
cety.
The monte-table which Valleja was in the habit
ofrequenting was situated on the third floor of
house in narrow street leading out of the Gale
Albala, within two or three hundred yards of the
Casa Solano. Amongst the persons to be met
there were many the richest and highest in Mad
rid; generals and ministers, counts and marquises,
and even grandees ofSpain were the habit of re-
pairing thther to while away the long winter even
ings, or the sutriness of the summer day; and the
play was proporonate TO the high rank and great
opulence of most of the players. The bank was
held, as is customary in Spain, by the person who
offered to put in the largest sum, the keeper Of the
room beng remunerated by certain tax upon the
cards; tax which, in this instance, was heavy
one, in order to compensate for the luxury display
ed in the decoration and arrangements of the estab-
shment. The three rooms were fitted up in the
most costly manner; the walls lined with magnf-
cent pier glasses; the floor covered IN winter with
rich carpets and in summer with the finest Indian
mating; the furniture was Of the newest French
fashion. Splendid chandeliers hung from the CELL
ing; musical clocks stood upon the side tables; the
gt balconies were filled with the rarest exotics and
Towering plants. Two of the rooms were devoted
to pay;in the third, ices and refreshments awaited
the parched throats of the feverish gamblers
On scorching June afternoon about month
after Yaeja arrived at Madrid, the Mexican and
Rafaelle left Don Jose's dwelling, and bent their steps
in the usual direction. While ascending the WE'LL
worn stairs of the gaming house, young Solano
could not forbcar addressing remonstrance to his
friend on the subject of his losses. Although the
counts perfect command over hmselfand his coun-
enance, made it very difficult for so young and in
experienced man as Rafael to Judge of what was
passing in his mind, theatter, nevertheless, fancied
that for three or four days past there had been
change in his demeanor denoting uneasiness and
anxiety 1t was not that he was duller or more ST.
lent; on the contrary, his conversation was, per-
haps, more brilliant and varied, his laugh louder
and more frequent, than usual, but there was ho-
lowness in the laugh, and more strained tone in
the conversation, as if he were compelling himself
to be gay in order to drive away painful thoughts
Intoxicating himself with many words and forced
merrment. Rafael attributed this to the annoyance
caused by his heavy losses, and now urged him to
discontinue his visits to the monte-tabe at least for
time, or until his luck became better. The count
met the suggestion with asmie.
.'My dear Rafael" cried he gay. "you surely
do not suppose that the loss of few hundred MIS-
cradle ounces would be sufficient to annoy me for
moment. AS to abandoning play, we should be
puzzled to pass the idle hour or two following the
siesta. Besides that, it amuses me. But do not
make yourself uneasy. Ishall do myself no harm;
and, moreover, intend this very day to win back
all my losings feel in the vein."