Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-07-11
IRAsBURGH, VERMONT, FRIDAY, JULY IL. 1856.

ling halls, around a small table under the
rotunda, at which were seated two play
ers. They were Sir James Rally and
Prince Gouloubskof. For two days
these two had been contending for victo-
ry-now at lasquenet, now at faro now at
ecarte-and the losses of Rally amounted
to 100000 roubles. The game at present
was ecarte and had been four against four;
but the betters becoming alarmed, tho't it
prudent to resume their stakes; they were
renewed by the Prince and Rally, and
the stake now amounted to the round sum
of 100000 florins.
The cards were shufled and distributed
tho trump card was hearts; they were
TO be renewed twice.
Fire sparkled in the eyes of the Prince,
but those of Rally were impenetrable. IT
was not man, but statue, the express
sion never changed.
"Hearts!" said the Prince.
81 have it."
"Hearts! !" he replied.
"Here it is"
''Heartsp' again.
sEHere !"
Hearts"
Rally leaned back in his chair, look
ing with Indifference on the table, the
heap of gold to which the hands of the
Prince were eagerly extended.
The joy of Gouloubskoff amounted to
intoxication "you will not quit playing,
l hope Sir James, p he said san Eng
lishman never abandons the field of bat
tle.''
"Never, Prince nor Russian either.
Is it not so p
at is national prejudice with us
but perhaps you would like to change the
game. viii faro for two suit you ?"
"Faro let it be-"
The two adversaries entered the lists
again. The Prince held the bank, and
gained 10000 roubles. His good for
tune seemed fatality itself. Yet the per-
feet calmness of the Englishman was not
less astonishing. He pursued his object
with the impassibility of the compatriots
before the French battalions at Waterlo
when Wellington, seeing his soldiers fall
one after the other, took out his watch
ora a@i1 = I'l--s- -l;-----4 MANY a min
ute; / have yet such a number of men
it will be an hour before the last one falls
Blucher will have time to arrive, the vic.
tory is mine!
Rally dealt in his turn. This time
fortune passes over to his side. He gained
He doubled his stake and gained again
He had just gathered $4,000 roubles
when he announced he had tripled hi
stake.
The Prince was too good player II
recoil. Rally still gained. Gouloubskof
still played on till he had exhausted al
the gold and notes at his disposal. HI
then proposed to play on credit, chalkin'
the stakes upon the table. Rally &C
cepted and gained three times in success
sion.
"By St. George" he cried, Il hav
gained 100000 roubles."
Il congratulate you," said the Prince
with a nervous contraction of fcountenance
He began TO suffer.
you will not quit playing, / hope
Prince. A Russian never abandons tn
field of battle"
"Never, Sir James, as told you. Br
shall we change the game ?" The air
sitting here. Let us 60 into the gardeI
You have the reputation of marksmar
suppose we try shot"
Rally, who saw the feverish agitatio
of his companion, readily accepted. B,
sides, custom required that he should
at the disposal of his adversary.
In moment the hall was empty.
a "What shall be the stake, Sir James
1.-Two hundred thousand roubles."
Agreed, but ] have no more golC
and | must not exhaust my credit at Il
bank of Vienna which is quite indispe
. sible to me-"
7 "Then ] viii wager 100000 roubl
. against one of your estates"
d "Do you wish to become Museovi
proprietor ?"
IS at is mere whim, like any other"
Sand one which / am not dispos
to thwart. have something of ii
NJ value near Moscow. 1t on the declivi
e of hill, from which you can see admir-
y bly, the yet smoking ruins of the he
a city. l have also at two miles from
V. logda-"
lie Rally shrugged his shoulder. sIt
10 to cold" he said.