The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-02-05

and travel, and deeds of charity but
now my courage fails, for love-and
the woman who accepts me for hus-
band must accept the chain Of slavery" +"
After moments pause, the young
Russian resumed. Prince Gouloubs-
koff, 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 Prince plays, and play
with him is an unbridled passion, for
which he will sacrifice everything. In
the feverish excitement of his passion he
may be led to risk this estate. If he
does so, he may lose. In this village |
was born-my father was born there
my family still lives there. Gain this
village for me-Man. Englishnian, Chris
tian- under this tri pie title put my fate
in your hands-you have an unlimited
credit over my purse-stake everything
triumph at any price. If fate should
be against you, if must lose everything,
and yet remain slave, l will bless YOU
at least for having tried to break my
chains
l accept the task said Sir Rally.
gravely.
This night q
No, this night circumstances will not
serve They will play lansquenet. Be-
sides, have an engagement with
O'Bearn. But the day after, think a
favorable occasion will offer naturally be-
tween Gouloubskoff and myself. He will
not recoi, | 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, l would avoid
meeting them
Four days after this conference, a dense
crowd was collected in one of the gam
ing halls, around a small table under the
at which were seated the two
players. They were Sir James Rally
and Prince Gouloubskoff. For two days
these two had been contending for vic
tory-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, thought it
prudent to resume their stakes they
were renewed by the Prince and Rally,
and the sum now amounted to 10000 .
1orins.
The cards were shuffled and distribu- T
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 man but statue the ex-
preston never changed.
- Hearts !" said the Prince.
Il have ii.
Hearts - he replied.
Here it is.
Hearts again -
"Here -
Hearts !"
Rally leaned back in his chair, look
ng with indifference on the table and
the heap of gold, to which the hands of
Prince were eagerly extended,
The joy of Gouloubskotf amounted to
ntoxication "you will not quit play
ng, hope. Sir James," he said can
never abandons the field of
battle"
"Never. Prince nor Russian,
either. Is il not SO 90
1T is natural prejudice with US
,ut perhaps you would like to change
he game. VIII faro for two suit you ?"
Faro let it be-
The two adversarles entered the list
Igain. The Prince held the hand, and
gained 10000 rubles. His good for
une seemed fatality itself Yet the per-
ect calmness OF the Euglishman was
lot less astonishing. lie pursued his
'bject with the impassibility of his com
PATRIOTS before tho French battalons at
Waterloo, when Wellington seeing his
soldiers fall one after another, took his
watch and said They die at so many
minute have yet number of men
-Blucher will have time TO arrive-the
,ictory is mine -
Rally dealt in his turn. This time
ortune passed over TO his side. He
doubled his stake, and gained again
He had just gathered up 10000 rubles,
when he announced that he had tripled
lis stake.
The Prince was too good player TO
'ecoil. Rally still gained. Gouloubs-
loff still played on, till he had exhausted
III the gold and notes at his disposal
lie then proposed to play on credit,
chalking the stake upon the table. Rail
" accepted, and gained three times in