Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-14
1T would have been useless. The ore

millions OF rUubles for his liberty, and wa:
pitilessly refusedl Yet the Count receives
but small annual tribute from this man
only few roubles; but these great lordi
find cruel pleasure in counting the number
Of their vassals, and have absolutely depend
ing on their caprice millionaircs whose for.
tunes they could ruin at word | have
borne my hard lot with the fortitude of g
Christian. / have sought to forget it in bust.
ness, and travel, and deeds of charity. bu,
now my courage fails for love-and the
woman who accepts me for husband. must
accept the chain of slavery
After moments pause, the young Rus
sian said:
Prince Goloubskoff, have said possesses
an estate On the borders OF the Volga. 1t
counts only fifty hearths; yet he will not
sell it at any price. But the price play, is
with him an unbridled passion, for which
he will sacrifice everything. In the fever
ish excitement of this passion, he may be
led to risk this estate. IL he does SO, he
may lose. In this village was born-my
father was born there--my family are still
there-gain this village for me-Man, Eng
lishman, Christain-under this triple title |
put my fate in your hands--you have an un-
limited credit over my purse-take every
thing-triumph at any price-if fate should
be against you, if must lose everything
and yet remain a slave, will bless you for
having tried to break my chains
Il accept the task said Sir Rally grave
ly.
This Dightr
NO; this night circumstances will not
serve. They will play lansquent. Besides
have an engagement with O'Bearn. But
the night after, think a favorable occasion
will offer naturally between Goloubskoff and
myself. He wall not recoil, l Judge, by the
temerIty he showed yesterday. will pro-
fiji bv it,
Thanks! Sir James, said Swerkoff, -and
now we must separate Your friends will
seek you, and would avoid meeting them
-Four days alter this Conference Il dense
crowd was collected n one of The gaming
halls around small lab under the rogunda;
al which were seated two players. They
were Sir james Rally and Prince Gooubs-
doff. For two days these'two had been con-
tending for Victofy-nJw at Lansquent. now
al faro, now at ecarie-and the losses OF
Rally, amounted TO 100000 roubes. The
game at present was ecarie, and had been
four against four, but the betters becom NJ
alarmed though II prudent to resume their
stakes. They were renewed by the Prince
aud Rally, and the Ike now amounted to
tl,ar nd Sn 1.
The ca.ds were shufded and distributed;
the trump card was hearts, they were to be
renewed twice.
Fire sparkled from the eyes of the Prince,
but those Of Rally were impenetrable. 1t
was not man, but statue; the expression
never changed.
'Hearts!' said the Prince.
Il have it,
'Hearts!' he replied.
Here ii is.'
'Heartsr again.
'Hsre.;
Hearts,
Rally leaned back in his chair, looking
with Indifference on the table at the heap
OF gold, to which the hands of the Prince
were eargerly extended.
The 10y of Goloubskoff amounted to in.
toxiratlon
You will not qui, playing, [ hope, Sir
James, ne said, IAN Englishman never aband-
ons the field OF battle
Never, Prince! nor Russian either. Isl
it not sop
1t Is national prejudice with us: but
perhaps you would like to change the game
Will faro too suit youE
Faro let it be-
ne TWO ad'ersaries entered the list again.
Inc Prince held the bank and gained 90
ooo rubies. His good fortune seemed fatal
lty. Yet the perfect cslmness of the Enr-
hshman Was not less astonishing. He pur-
sued his object with the impassibility of his
compatrlots before the French battallions at
waterloo, when Wellington seeing his
soldiers tall one after the other took out his
watch and said: They die so many minute;
nave yet sucn number of men; it will be
an hour before the last one falls. Blucher
will have time to arrive and the victory is
mine.'
Rally dealt in his turn. This time for
tune passed over to his side. He gained
he doubled bis stake, and gained. He had
Just gathered up $4,000 rubes when he an
hounced that he had trippled his stake.
Inc Prince was too good a player to re-
coil. Rally still gained. Goloubskoff still
played On, till he had exhausted all the notes
al his disposal. He then proposed to play
on credit, chalking the stakes on the table.
Rally accepted, and gained three times in
success on.
'By 81. George he cried, 4 have gained
600, 600 roubles.'
4 Congratulate you,' said the prince. with
vicious contraction Of the countenahce. u
he began TO suffer.
You will not quit playing. hope A
Russian never aband0ns the field of battle
Never, Sir James, as told you. But
shall we change the gamel The air is stiff
ing here. Let us 60 into the garden; You
have reputation as marksnar. Suppose
we try shot!'
Rally, who saw the feverish agitation of
his companion. readily accepted Besides
custom required that be should be at the
disposal of his adversary.
In moment the hall was emptvs
Two thousand roubles.'
agreed; but have no gold, and must not
exhaust my credit at the bank of vienna.
which is quite indispensable to me-
Then Twill. wager 200 900 roubles against
one of your estates.'
DO you wish to become Muscovite pro-
prietorr
1T is mere whim, like any other
'And one which | am not disposed to
thwart. have something of that value
near Moscow. It is on the declivity of
bill, from which you can see admirably the
yet smoking ruins of the holy city. have
also one at two miles from Vologada--'
Rally shrugged his shoulders. 'It is too
cold,' he said.