Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-03-01


me for a moment? As to the aban
doning play, we. should be puzzled
then to pass the idle hour or two
following the sies!a. Besides that
lit amuses me- But do not make
yourself uneasy; J shall do myself
no harm,' and, moreover, intend
this very day to win back all my To-
sings: I feel in the vein.' 3
Il heartily hope you may do as
lyou intend said Rafael, laughing
quite reassured by his friends care
less manner; and, as he uttered the
words, the Count pushed open the
door and they entered the monte
room. ~
The game was already in full ac-
Etiyity, and the play very high; the
table strewed with the showy Spanish
cards. on which. instead Of the
spades and diamonds familiar to
most European card-players, suns
and vases, sabres and horses, were
depicted in various and brilliant col,
ors. officer of the royal guard,
and a dry, snufy old marquis held
the bank, which had been very sue
cessful. Large piles of ounces, and
Of four and eight dollar pieces were
on the green cloth before them. as
we'll as roll OF paper nearly treble
the value of the specie. Twenty or
thirty players we're congregated
round the table, while few unfor-
'tunates, whose pockets had already
been emptied, were solacing them
selves with their cigars, and ocea-s
sionally indnlging in an oath or i'm
patient stamp Of the foot, when they
saw the card come up they would.
certainly have backed. had they mo-
ney to do it. Two or three idlers
we're sitting on the low sillssof the
long French windows. reading news
papers and enjoying the fragrance of
the flowers; protected from the re-
flected glare of the opposite houses,
on which the sun was darting its rays
by awnings Of striped linen that fell
from above the windows, and hung
over the outside Of the small semi
circlar, balconies.
After standing for few minutes
at the table and stalking a doubloon,
which he instantly lost, Rafael Solano
took up paper and threw himself |
into an armchair. while 1Yalleja re- |
manned watching. with keen atten-
ton, the various lamentations of the
cards. For some time he did not
join the game, rather to the aston
ishment Of the players, who we're ac-
customed to see him stake his mon
ey. MS soon as he entered the room, /
with an unhesitatiDg boldness1 and
Half an hour passed in
this manner,o and the presence OF
Valleja was beginning tobe forgotten,
when he suddenly. drew a heavy rou-
leau of gold from his pocket and pla-
ced it upon card. The game wen-
on; Valleja lost, and with his usual
sngJrmd saw his stake thrown into
the bank. Another followed, and a
third, and a fourth. In four coups |
he had lost three thousand dollars.
Still not sign Of excitement or
discomposure appeared upon the
handsome countenance of the Mexi-
can; only an officer who was stand !
ing BY him observed, that pack OF
the thin Spanish cards, which he had
been holding in his hands, fell to the
ground, torn completely in half by
one violent wrench. j
The four high stakes, SO boldly
played and SO rapidly lost, riveted
the observation of the gamblers upon
Valleja's proceedings Every body
crowded round the table, and even
the slight buzz Of conversation that
had before been heard, totally ceased.
His attention attracted by this sud-
den Stiffness, Rafael rose from his
chair and joined bis friend, A glance
at the increased wealth of the bank,
and the .eagerness with which all
seemed to be awaiting Valleja's move
ments, made him conjecture what had
occurred. g bio s
.You have lost" said he to the
count, "and heavily, l fear. Come:
that will do for to-day. Let US 60. i
ssPshs!' replied the Mexican, "a
mere triae. which you shall see me
win back And then turning to
the banker, who was just commencing
:, .1nn1f