New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-01-03
The Gamblers Last Stake.


New GARIIsIr, Ohio
The Gamblers Last Stake.
In an inner room Of his counting house, which
occupied o wing of his splendid mansion in the
Gale Alcala, sat Don Jose Solano, one of the
richest bankers in Madrid. Illuminating with
much self competency upon the profitable re-
suits of Q recent speculation. He was inter
rupted in his meditatons by the entrance OF one
ofhis clerks ushering i'll stranger, who brought
q letter OF introduction from a banker ut Mexico,
with whom Don Jose had had occasional transae-
tons. The letter stated that the bearer the Conle
de Valleja, was of a highly respected family of
Mexican nobility that he was desrous Of visit
ing Europe, and more especially the country ot
his ancestors, Spain; and then it went On to re-
commend him in the strongest terms to the Mad.
rid banker, as one whose intimacy and friend
ship could not fail to be sought after by all WHO
became acquainted with his many excellent and
agreeable qualities.
The appearance Of the Count seemed to Justify
as far as appearance can do, the high terms in
which he was spoken of III this letter He WAS
about eight and twenty years Of age, dark COM
plexi0ned, with a high, clear forehead. short
crisp curling hair, an intelligent and regular
conntenanee, and a smile Of singular beauty
and fascination. His eyes were the only feature
which could be pronounced otherwise than en-
lustrous, they had certain tixity and hardness
Of expression that produced an unpleasant i'm
preston upon the beholder, and would, PERHAPS
have been more disagreeable, had not the mel
low tones OF the Counts voice, and his suavitv
and polish of manner, served il q great measure
to counterfeit the effect of this popularity.
Doing due honor to the strong recommend
ton Of his esteemed correspondent, Don Jose
welcomed the young Condo with the utmost hos
pitalty, insisted on taking possession Of him ion
the whole Of the day, and, without allowing
him to return to his hotel, dragged him into the
house, presented him to his son and daughter.
and charged them to use their utmost exertio,ls
to entertain their guest, while he himself re
turned to his occupations till dinner time At
one o'clock the old banker re-appeared in the
sala, where he found Raphael and Mariouita 81.
lano listening with ayidity to the agreeable con-
versation OF the Count, who, in his rich aud
characteristic Mexican Spanish, was eiyinr Them
the most interesting details concerning the corn
try he had recently left The magnitieence Of
Mexican scenery, the peculiarities OF the Indian
races, the gorgeous vegetation and strange AMI
mails Of The tropics, formed the subjects of his
discourse, not little interesting to young n4n
Of three and twenty, and Il girl of eighteen, WHO
had never as.yet been fifty leagues away ION
Madrid
Nor had the strangers conversation lys
charms for the old banker Valleia had been II
the Hayannah-was acquainted with scenes Il
not with persons, with which were assoeatel
some Of Don Jose's most agreeable reminisceil
ces-scenes that he had visited in the nys Of III
youth, when he laid the first toundatieuo of Ej,+
prineely fortune. To be brief--the agreed liz
manners and conversation of the Count 50 w5l
upon father, son and daughter, that when Mt
nightfall he rose to take his leave the bankn1,=
put his house a s,t disposition, and followed al.
what is usually mere verbal compliment, by
insisting upon Vallejas taking uphis abode with
him during his stay in Mndrid
Valleja raised many difficulties on the score
Of the inconyeniences or trouble he might &c.
casion, but they were all oyerrulel, and the
contest of politeness terminated in the Counts
accepting the hospitality thus cordially pressed
upon him. The very next day lie was installed
in splendid apartment in the house e Don
Jose
Several days, even weeks elapsed, tlnriu4
which Nallela continued to be the inmate Of tie
Casa Solano. He appeared very we'll pleased
with his quarters, and. on the other hand. his
host found no reason to regret the losnitalttg |
shown him. He soon became the spoiled child
OF the family; Don Jose could not make n fne;{
without Nalleja was there to chat with him
about the Havannah; Rafael was the insemrabie
companion of his walks. rides and outdoor
diversions while the blooming Mariquta never
seemed SO happy as when the handsome MrSica,I
was seated beside her embroidery frame. cen
versng with her in his low, soft tones, or singing
TO tho accompaniment Of her guitar some Of tile
wild melodies Of his native country.
Indeed, SO marked were the Count attentions t
to the young girl, and so tavorably did she re.
ceiYe them, that more than one oiiiciGus o. well
meaning friend limited to Don lose the nr6psitt1
OF 1nsttuting some inquiry into the crtuIastan
ces and antecedents of Il man Wha it sccnIet3
not improbable, might eventually aspire Ia he
come his son in-law, But the bankers prenos.
session IN favor of Valleja was SO strong that he
gave little heed to these hints, contentinr him
self with writing to his correspondent 1T Mexico.
expressing the pleasure he had had in making
the Counts acquaintance, and receiving him as
an inmate in his house s,st without asking for
any information concerning him. III fact. tht
letter Valleia had brought was such Il "a
render any further inquiries nearly supertladus
II mentioned the Count as Of noble and rsS. B
pected family, and credited him T. the amount
Of ten thousand dollars-a sum IF sufficient
Importance to make it presumable that lis e
means were ample. Is
Before Valleja had been three days in Madrid E1
he had obtained his eaatree to IL house at which 4
L number of oilers and fashionables were in the s.
habit Of meeting to playmoate, the game Of all 81
others most fascinating to the spaniard. Thitl- E
er he used to repair each afternoon, accom- 4
panied by Rafael Solano, and there he soon &
made himself remarked by his Judgment i'll
play, and by the cool indifference with which lie {,
ost and won very inconsiderable sums
:. For some time he was exceedingly successful
Every stake he put down doubled ITSELF lie !
seemed to play with charmed money; and the
bankers trembled when they saw him approach |
he table, and after glanee at the state Of the
,ame, place pile of golden ounces on !, card e.
which almost invariably won the very next mo- G
nent. This lasted several days, and he began t
o be considered as inyincible, when suddenly /
is good fortune deserted him, and he lost as fast
r faster than he had previously won; so that v
fter a fortnight of incessant bad luck, it was p
stimated by certain old gamblers who had la u
en- an interest in watching his proceedings that d
Q had lost not only all his winnings, huta very n
considerable sum in addition Rafael, who Ii
- played, and then only for small stakes, !