East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-09-23

fool as you look, as everybody knows
The offended party made as if b,
would kiss the proffered palm, ami en-
deavored to explain that he was perfect
ly satisfied; We broke up amidst shout,
of laughter, and in high good humor.
81 have left few men at my rooms
to night" said Mounijoy," "and if you
will join them in game at vingt-et.un
come at once, before gates shut"
| was anxious to see the sort of com
pany he kept, and adjourned according
y to his college rooms. Six or seven
men were sitting round his table as he
entered, whom he had left with some
unselishness, | am sure) to sup with
me; they had been eating nothing, al
though food was piled in penty on a
piano la the corner, but number oi
empty bottles proved their thirst. They
did not interrupt their game for mo
ment, but one of them moved his chair
to give us room.
Eleven; now then for tcn!" roared
the dealer. Fifteen curse my luck
and nine; overdrawn, by Jove.' A
peal of JOY rose from the rest "You
only pay me skiv, though said one,
mournfully; "a fver for me" said anoth.
er; and "yon pay twelve pounds, six
pounds on each card y added a third.
They were playing then good deal too
nigh for me, and as ! should have
thought for Mountjoy also. declined,
therefore, joining the party, but stood
with my back to the fire, aud watched
the game.
Vingt-et.uu, like other matters which
depend mostly upon luck, is consider
able trial for the temper. and the pres
ent company did not seem to have much
patience to spare; they were more or
less in wine, too, and exhibited great
contrest in their manner TO the quiet
aud friendly fashion in which cards are
(and should be) usually played at col
lege. The chief cause of this was, that
they were playing for higher stakes that
.hey could well afford, that is to say,
gambling.
The eternal ''makc your game" and
81 double you,n were the only words
that Mountjoy spoke, as dealer, but he
spoke them like curse. Despite the
heat of the room aud his intense excite.
ment, his face shone, beneath the bright
light of two or three lamps, as white as
alabaster, and his thin hand shook over
the pack like lily on the dancing Cam;
he kebt the deal for short time only,
and lost heavily even then, and when he
was player he clutched at the cards DO
fore they reached him, like drowning
man.
shaded my face with my hand, for
was deeply panied, and watched him
ntently; he had usually "stood" upon
his first cards without drawing
another, but he seemed suddenly t.
change his plan, and "drcw" again and
again.
"Nine--sixteen; surely you must be
over" said the dealer.
+" No." said Mountjoy, thank you
| stand"
Now, on that occasion I happened tc
sec that Laurence icds over (bein9
twenty-two), aud that he received Tho
stakes instead of paying them. M!
blood rushed To my head, and l hear'
my heart beat for moment at tn
sight, but drove the idea of its lein:
intended from me, and watched in hop'
that it would not be so again. No
thank Heaven, he is over this time
and throws his cards up with "a sigh
aud now he wins, and uow--as L live
he is " content at twenty-five, and
again receives instead of pays no
twice nor thrice this happens, bu
twenty times--he is cheating wheneyel
there is an occasion to cheat.
The night--or rather the day-wear'
on, and still the players sit unweariedl!
their lips are parcbed, their eyes arr
heated, and they scarce can take VI
their cards but not till dawn breaks IL
through the thick curtains and athw ar
the dying lamps, does any one leave hi
seat then two of them depart 70
morning chapel--for this is an oppoI
tunity of attending early prayers tina
rarely occurs to them--and the res
drop off their perches presently, lik
mouting birds aud am left alone wit
uim who was my friend, who cheats hi
guests and his companions.
"Devilish dssipated, amt it ?" sal
he, yawnIng.
"Devilish !" said
"And what cursed luck I've had
twenty pounds ready, and fifty pounds
worth of autograph gone besides; bu
Lord love you, I've had worse luck tha
that, aud shall again; and if / don
mind il, why should you, old chap
Don't look so confoundedly Writ uous,
he odded, angriIy (for | was looking a
feltG you've done the same befor
now
Never the same Mr. Mountjoy,"
replied
"What do you mean,' sail he, hast
ly, but without rcnarking on the way
had addressed him; "you've never gan
bled-do you mean to say that?
like your impudence."
Gambled, perhaps" | answere
"but never cheated, sir
At that word, his wan cheeks bur-
, like two living Goals, and he dropt in
an oru.cha air beside me y;fhout a wo-