Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-06

my fate in your bands-you have an
unlimited credit over my p1rse-stake
every thing-triumph at any price-lf
fate should be against you, if 1 must
lose every thing, and yet remain slave,
l will bless you at least for having tried
10 break my chains
4 accept the task, said Sir Rally,
gravely.
This night p
No, this night circumstances will rot
serve. They will play lansquenet. Be-
sides, have an engagement with ODE
arm. But the day after, think, ia
vorable occasion will offer naturally, be.
tween Gouloubskoff and myself. He
will not recoil, l Judge. by the temerity
he showed yesterday. ] will profit by
| it,
Thanks Sir James, said Swerkoff
and now we must separate. Your
friends will seek you. | would avoid
meeting them
Four days after this conference, a
dense crowd was collected in one of the
gaming halls, around small table un-
der the rotunda, al which was seated
two players. They were Sir Rally and
Prince Gouloubskof. For two days,
these two had been contended for yicto-
ry-now at lansquenet, now at faro, now
at ecarte and the losses of Rally
amounted TO 2O0,o roubles. The
game at present was ecartc. and had
been four against four; but the betters,
becoming alarmed, thought it prudent
to resume their stakes they were re
newed by the Prince and Rally, and the
stake now amounted to the round sum Of
80, 600 florins.
The cards were shufled and distribu-
ted the trump card was hearts; they
were to be renewed twice.
Fire sparkled in the eyes of the Prince,
but those of Rally were impenetrable.
1t was not a man, but a statute, the ex-
preston never changed.
Hearts p said the Prince.
i have it.
Hearts 7 he replied
Here it is
Hearts J again.
Here =
Hearts i
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,
hope, Sir James, he said an English
man never abandons the field of battle.
Never, Prince nor Russian either.
Is it not so .
1T is national prejudice with us; but
perhaps you would like to change the
game. Will faro for two suit you q
Faro lei it be-
The two adversaries entered the list
again. The Prince held the bank, and
gained 10000 roubles. His good for
tune seemed fatality itself. Yet the ger
feet calmness of the Englishman was not
less astonishing. He pursued his object
with the impassibility of his compatriot',
before the French battalions at Water
loo; when Wellington. seeing his soldiers
fall one after other, took his watch, and
said They die at so many minute; l
have yet such number of men, it will
be an hour before the last one falls; Blu
cher will have time 10 arrive; the victo-
ry is mine !
Rally dealt in his turn. This time
fortune passed over to his side. He
gained. He doubled his stakes, and
gained again. He had just gathered up
80, 900 roubles, when he announced that
he had tripled his stakes.
The Prince was too good a player to
recoil. Rally still gained. Gouloubs-
koff still played on, till he had exhaus-
ted all the gold and notes at his disposal
He then, proposed to play on credit,
chalking the stakes upon the table Rail-
ly accepted, and gained three times in
succession.
BY st. George he cried. Il have
gained 9oo,OQo roubles.'
4 congratulate you, said the Prince.
with nervous contraction of the coun-
tenance. He began to shuttle.
You will not quit playing, 1 hope. |
Prince. A Russian never sbandons the
field of battle
Never, Sir James, as told you. But,
shall We change the game =? The air is
sitting here. Let us go into the garden.
You have reputation as marksman /;
suppose we try shot,
Rally, who saw the feverish agitation
of his companion, readily accepted. Be
sides, custom required that he should be
at the disposal of his adversary.
In moment the hall was empty.
What shall be the stake, Sir James q
Two hundred thousand roubles.'
Agreed, but ] have no more gold
and | must not exhaust my credit at the
bank of Vienna, which is quite indispen.
sable to me-
Then l will wager 600. 600 roubles
against one of your estates