Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-11-21


his hand towards Valleja.
i am waiting for Senior Conde,'
said he.
For me'' replied yalleja. 1T is
unecessary.'
'There are about twenty thousand
dollars iii the bank,S said tfle Marquis,
leaning forward and affecting to count
the rouleaus lying before him, and
some eight thousand staked by these
gentlemen. Will you Senoria be
pleased to place similas SUN upon
the tablet
Several of the gamblers exchanged
significant glances and half smiles
The rule of the game required the
player, who endeavo'ed, as Vallejo
was doing, to annihilate the bank at
one fell sw oop TO produce a sum equal
to that which he had chance of car
rying off. At the same time, in socie-
ties like this one, where the players
were all more or less known to each
other-all men Of rank, name and for
tune-it was not unusual TO play this
sort ofdecisive coup upon parole, and
if lost, the money was invariably forth
coming the same day.
Vallejo smilsd bitterly.
4 thought l had been sufficiently
known here said he, 'to be admitted
to the same privilege as other players.
Rafael, added he, turnidg to his friend
and handing him key, your fathers
ten thousand have melted, but | have
packet of notes, and considerable Sc
curities to considerably more than the
needful amount, in the brass-bound
box in my apartment. Will you have
the kindness to fetch them for n1ea I
do not wish to interrupt my observa-
ton of the game.
with pleasure replied Rafael, ia
king the key, and eager to oblige his
friend.
'And, Perhaps continued Valleja,
smiling and OBTAINING him as he was
about to hasten out of the room, 'per-
haps you will not object to tell these
gentlemen that, until you return with
the money, they may take Luis Vale
jas word for the sum he wishes to
play
Most assuredly l WILL answered
the young man hastily; "and | am on
ly sorry that the Marquis should have
thought it advisable to put any thing
resembling slight upon friend OF
mine and my fathers, 81 offer you my
guaranty for the sum Count Vallejo is
about to play
The old Marquis bowed his head
"That is quite sufficient, Don Rafe-
ell said he. 81 have the honor of
knowing you perfectly well. His Sc
noria, the Count Vallea, and / am GER
tain that, on reflection, neither he nor
you will blame me for acting as l do,
when so heavy sum is at stake.''
Don Rafael left the room. The for
NAL Marquis removed the piece of
money from off the pack, and took up
the cards with as much dry Indifference
as if he were no way concerned in the
result of the important game that was
about to be played. Vallejah saunter-
ed to the window, humming tune be-
tween his teeth, and stepping out
pushed the awning a little aside, and
leaned over the balcony.
The banker began to draw the card;
one after the other, slowly and delber-
ately. Nearly half the pack was deal
out, without king or an ace appear
ing. The players and lockers on
We're breathless with anxiety; the fal
of pin would have been audible. -
The tune which The count continued
to hum, from his station on the balcony
was heard, in the stiffness that reigned
as distinctly as though it had been
Numbered out by whole orchestra
Another card, and another, were drawn,
, and then the-decisive one appeared.
The silence was Immediately changed
for a tumult of words and explanations.
Que es eso?' said Valleia, turning
half round and smiling, as he spoke, lat
superb flower, which he had just
plucked from one of the plants in the
balcony. whats the matter''
'The ace said the person nearest
the window, who then paused and hes
itated.
sWell!' said Valleja, with sheer,
the ace-what them 1t has won, |
SUPPOSED
1T has Won
'.nuy bien! It was to be expected
it would. since | went on the king. y
And, turning round again, he resumed
his tune and his gaze into the street.
sHa de serrieo, said the Spaniard to
another of the players. He must be
~,ob Il would he sl,A3a,1+ ., I'll, Al,