The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-08-25

and not at all herself. De Witt, who
usually put them all in good humor with
each other and the world by some funny
story at the beginning of the game, was
grave and preoccupied, and Reinette,
with a desperate feeling that this state of
things was all owing to her, and that it
would never do, told them of Pills queer
fancy that the kings and queens on the
cards looked as if they were dressed up
in the patchwork quilts at his grand
mothers in Vermont, and how he had re-
peated, very solemnly, after looking at
them for long time: CO Solomon, in all
his glory, was not arrayed like one of
these No. certainly not; but then per-
haps Joseph was there is jack of dia-
monds that looks as if he had on his coat
| of many colors." The merriment sue
| ceeding Reinette's good-natured attempt
to enliven the company was very faint.
She felt herself powerless to lift the
cloud of depression, and, sinking back
in her chair, she watched with sort of
fascination the flashing of the Dukes
great solitaire, which made his little
finger look more yellow and claw-like
than ever, as he sorted and dealt the
cards. Then her gaze wandered to his
diamond studs and rested moment upon
the great cluster pin, which flashed like
the chandelier with crystal pendants that
hung just above their heads, and at last
she completed her critical survey by a
glance at his sleeve-buttons, dull and
| sleepy diamonds compared to the others,
and set in furnished silver; but Reinette
knew that they were antique, older even
than the Duke of Brunswick himself,
having been in his family for many years,
| and so having a perfect right to the
! family resemblance of solid worth and
no glitter. Reinette was quite ashamed
of herself for scrutinizing her partners
jewels in this way; it looked as if she
were coolly calculating their value, and
looking at their owner himself from a
purely commercial standpoint. She had
never thought of the Duke in this way
before; but she knew now that she loved
De Witt, and having once identified the
younger man with hearts there was moth
ing but diamonds left for the kind old
friend Of former days. Or perhaps her
reasoning was exactly the reverse of this
Here were two opponents and two kinds
of cards; it was very evident the Duke
had the diamonds, therefore it must
follow that Dewitt had the hearts; the
law Of compensation demanded this.
Reinette could not do so much thinking
without little of it escaping in words
think euChre is ever so much like
life," she said at length.
Because they are both games in
which there is more of chance than skill?"
asked the Duke.
&c Deal JUSTLY" said her mother, with
smile, for Reinette was passing around
the cards.
"'L Love mercy" added De Witt, with
an imploring look in bis handsome eyes
that made Reinette's hand tremble
little, though she went bravely on.
Just like life, you know; one never
knows what is going to turn up"
Suppose you turn for trumps and
find out" said her mother I" You are
getting so interested in your philosophy
that you quite forget the game"
Reinette turned the king of diamonds.
"The fates have spoken; accept the
omen," said Mrs. Pillsbury
DuI MISS IlClnCtIG Can ulSCdTu the
diamond if she chooses" said De Witt,
eagerly.
81 order it up" exclaimed Mr. Pills
bury, authoritatively; and Reinette bit
her lips as she took up the diamond king
and discarded king of hearts. 1t
seemed quite natural to hear her mother
speak as she had done; she was always
nr1p rinCr cnmp hn6U nm
at seems to me-" said the Duke of
Brunswick, "that l would not have done
that, Mrs. Pillsbury; you risk more, you
see. In your place, l should have passed
it; there is every probability that she
would have taken it up"
go no, indeed" said Reinette, de-
cidedly; l should never have thought of
such thing, and you will see that moth
er will take this trick and win as usual"
And so it proved; for Mrs. Pillsbury had
the knave of diamonds, and in the sec
ond round it was discovered that De
Witt, her partner, held the knave of
hearts. Reinette, who had played the
king in the first round, said to him: 81
have no more diamonds, but you may
have the queen of hearts, if you like"
and De Witt replied that nothing could
suit him better. Mrs. Pillsbury next
played the ace of diamonds, and made
the game her own, realizing Reinette's
prediction.
We are all in the dumps,
For diamonds are trumps;
The kittens have gone to st. Paul's,
would be the quotation that would be
suggested to Pills mind, thought Rel
nette, and then she wondered what bear.
ing the fact of the cat-echism having
been adopted by the church tit seemed to
her that this was the only meaning that
could be derived from the figurative Ian
guage which she had just repeated) could
have upon the present juncture. She
had no time to ponder it long, however,
for her mother was dealing for new
game, and had turned up a club. Every
body passed it, and she turned it face
downward in way that made Reinette
shudder-it reminded her of the way
Phil was treated sometimes-and then
the others said Pass" again, and it was
Reinette's turn to name the trump. g.
wish knew which to make it." she said,
"hearts or diamonds"
"Better try hearts this time" said De
Witt; and Reinette, following his advice,
played the right bower, and then the