The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-04-17


J BILE. andsafter glance at the state of tn
game, place pile of golden ounces on
card, which almost invariably, won tn,
very next moment. This lasted sc vera
days, and he began to be considered in
vincible, when suddenly his good forum,
!, deserted him, he lost as fast, or faster
than he had previously won; SO that ate
, fortnight of incessant bad luck, it wa
estimated by certain old gamblers WHIT
had taken an interest in watching his pro
ceedings. that he had lost not only al
his winnings but very considerable sum
in addition. Rafael, who rarely PLAYED
and then only for small stakes urged his
, friend to discontinue game which he
found so losing; but Vallejo laughed al
his responsiveness, and treated his losses
as trifing ones which single DAYS good
fortune might retrieve. Gambling is
: scarcely looked upon as vice in Spain
and young Solano saw nothing unusual OF
blamable in the counts indulging in his
afternoon juego, or in his losing his mon
ey il it so pleased him 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 unim-
Iportant, that it never occurred tn him to
mention il to his father or sister and
they, M their part, never dreamed of
|inquiring in what way the young men
passed the few hours Of the day during
which they absented themselves from their
society .3 H #a ,e
| f.HI xrh; ll1s : F:
the habit of frequenting was situated on
the third floor of house in a narrow
street leading cut 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 minister's
counts and marqnises, and even grandees
of Spain were in the habit of repairing
tnither to while away the long winter
evenings or the sultriness of the summer
day; and the play was rroportionate to
the high rank end great opulence of most
, of the players. The bank was held, as is
, customary in Spain, by the person who
offered to put in tue largest sum, the
keeper of the room being remunerated
by certain tax upon the cards. TAI
which, in this instance, was heavy one,
: in order to compensate for the luxury
displayed in the decoration and arrange
ments of the establishment. The three
rooms were fitted up In che most costly
manner; the walls lined with magnificent
pier-glasses; the floor covered in winter
with rich carpets, aud in summer will
, the finest India mating; the furniture
was of the newest French fashion. Splen
did chandeliers hung from the ceiling
musical clocks stood upon the side.tables
+ the gilt balconies were filed with the
rarest exotics and Towering plants. Tive
of the rooms were devoted to play; in the
! third, ices and refreshments awaited tht
. parched throats of the feverish gamblers
On scorching June afternoon, about &
month after Valleja arrived at Madrid
, the Mexican and Rafael left Don Jose'
dwelling, and bent their steps in the
usual direction While ascending tht
: well-worn stairs Of the gaming house
young Solano could not forbear address
ing a remonstrance to his friend on tn,
subject of his losses. Although the count
perfect command over himself and hi
, countenance made it very difficult for 81
young and inexperienced man as Rafae
Q to judge of what was passing in his mind
: the latter, nevertheless, fancied that TO
! three or four days past there had been
change in his demeanor denoting unessi
. ness and anxiety. 1t was not that be wa
!, duller or more silent; on the contrary, hi
! conversation was, perhaps, more brillian
and varied. his laugh louder and NOR
q frequent than usual, but there was a hol
: lowness in the laugh, and a strained ton
= la the conversation, as if he were com
Polling himself to be gay in order to driv
away painful thong him
a self with many words and forced merri
ment. Rafael attributed this to the an
:. noyance caused by his heavy losses, AM
;. now urged him to discontinue his visit
4 to the monte. table, at least for time, o
! until his luck became better. The coun
!. met the suggestion with smile.
, "My dear Rafael" said he gaily, "yo
# surely do not suppose that the loss of
q few hundred miserable ounces would b
+ sufficient to annoy NE for moment? A
q to abandoning play, we should be puzzle
40 then to pass the idle hour or two follow
, ing the siesta. Besides that it amuses m,
"a But do not make yourself uneasy; | sha
4 do myself no harm, and, moreover, I il
o. tend this day to win back all my losings
o feel in the vein"
e IL heartily hope you will do as you in
tend" said Rasael, laughing, quite rta'
. sured by his friends careless manner; anC
p as he uttered the words, the count pushe
n open the door and they entered the mont
: room.
g The game was already in full activit
d and The play very high; the table strewe
1t with showey Spanish cards, on which, il
% stead of the spades and diamonds fami
3 lar to most European card players, CUR
80 and vases, sabres and horses were depic