Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-13

or well-meaning friend limited 10 Don
Jose the propriety of instituting some
inquiry into the circumstances and antece-
dents of man, who it seemed not improb-
able might eventually aspire to become his
son-in-law. But the bankers proposes
sion in favor of Vallejo was so strong
that he gave little heed to these hints,
contenting himself with writing to his
correspondent at Mexico, express the
pleasure he had had in making the
counts acquaintance and receiving him
as an inmate of his house; but without
asking any information concerning him.
In fact, the letter Vallejo had brought
was such as TO render any fur
ther inquiries nearly superiluous. 1t men
toned the Count as of noble and re-
spected family, and credited him to the
amount of ten thousand dollars, a sum of
sufficient importance to make it presuma-
BILE that his means were ample.
Before Vallejo had been three days at
Madrid he had obtained his entree to a
house at which q number of idlers and
| fashionables were in the habit of meeting
| to play monte, the game of all others most
| fascinating to the Spaniard. Thither he
used TO repair each afternoon, accompa-
MED by Rafael SolanO, and there he soon
made himself remarked by his judgment
in play, and by the cool indifference with
which he lost and won very considerable
sums. For some time he was exceeding
| ly successful. Every stake he put down
doubled itself; he seemed to play with
charmed money and the bankers trem-
bied when they saw him approach the ia
BILE, and after glance at the state OF the
game, place pile of golden ounces on a
| vi oh r h tbov
next moment This lasted several days,
and he began to be considered invinclb'e,
when suddenly his good fortune deserte d
him, and he lost as fast, or faster, than
he had previously won; so that after a
fortnight of incessant bad luck, it was
estimated by certain old gamblers, who
had taken an interest in watching his
| proceedings, that he had lost not only all
his winnings, but a very considerable
sum in addition. Rafael, who rarely
played, and then only for small stakes,
urged his friend to discontinue a game
which he found so losing; but Valleia
laughed at his remonstrances, and treated
his losses as trifing ones which single
days good fortune might retrieve. Gam
bling is scarcely looked upon as vice in
Spain, and young Solano saw nothing
| unusual or blamable in the counts indulg-
ing in his afternoon .juego or in his losing
his money if it so pleased him, and if he
| thought an hour or tWo's excitement
! worth the large sums which it usually
cost him. Indeed, the circumstance of
their visits to the gaming room appeared
to them SO unimportant, that it never oc-
CURED to him to mention it to his father
or sister; and they, on their part, never
dreamed of inquiring in what way the
young men passed the few hours of the
day during which they absented them
selves from their society.
The mOntetable which Valleja was in
The habit of frequenting was situated on
the third floor of house in a narrow
street leading out of the Gale Alcala,
within two or three hundred yards of the
| Casa SOlanO. Amongst the persons to
| be met there were many Of the richest
and highest in Madrid generals and min
listers, counts and marquises, and even
| grandees of Spain, were in the habit of
repairing thither to while away the long
winter evenings or the sultriness Of
the summer day; and the play was pro-
| portionate to the high rank and great Opu-
! ience Of most Of the players. The bank
was held, as is customary in Spain, by
the person who offered to put in the larg-
Enumerated by a certain tax upon the
cards a tax which, in this instance, was
a heavy one, in order to compensate for
the luxury displayed in the decoration
and arrangements OF the estab-
lishment. The three rooms were fitted
up in the most costly manner the walls
lined with magnificent pier glasses; the
| floor covered IN winter with rich cas-
pets, and in summer with the finest In
dla mating; the furniture was of the new
est French fashion. Splendid chandeliers
hung from the ceiling; musical clocks
stood upon the side tables; the gilt balco-
| MES were filled with the rarest eXotics
and Towering plants. Two Of the rooms
We're devoted to play; in the third, ices
and refreshments awaited the parched
Threats of the feverish gamblers.
On a scOrching June afternoon about
month after alicia arrived at Madrid, the
Mexican and Rafael left Don Jose's dwell
ing, and bent their steps in the usual di-
rectlon. While ascending the well-worn
stairs Of the gaming house, young Solano
could not fOrbear addressing a remon-
STRANGE to his friend on the subject of his
losses. Although the counts perfect
command over himself and his counte-
nance made it very difficult for so young
and inexperienced a man as Rafael to
Judge of what was passing in his mind,
the latter, nevertheless, fancied that for
three Or four days past there had been a
change in his demeanor denoting uneasi-
ness and anxiety. 1t was not that he was
duller or more silent; on the con-
trary, his conversation was, per-
haps, more brilliant and varied,
his laugh louder and more frequent than
usual, but there was hollowness in the
laugh, and strained tone in the CONVEX
satlon, as If he were compelling himself
| to be gay in order to drive away painful
| thoughts Intoxicating himself with many
words and forced merriment. Rafael at
| trlbuted this to the annoyance caused by
his heavy losses, and now urged him to
discontinue his visits to the monte table,
| at least for time, or until mis- luck be-
| caue better. The Count met the sugges-
ton with smile.
'My dear Rafael" said he gaily, "you
surely do not suppose that the loss of
few hundred miserable ounces would be
sufficient to annoy me for moment? AS
to abandoning play, we should be puzzled
then to pass the idle hour or two follow
ing the siesta Besides that, it amuses me.
But do not make yourself uneasy; shall
do myself no harm, and, moreover, l in
tend this day to win back all my losings;
| feel in the vein"
81 heartily hope you will do as you in
tend said Rafael, laughing, quite reas-
sured by his friends careless manner:
and, as he uttered the words, the Count
pushed open the door and they entered
the mOnte-room.