Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-11-05
WHOLE NO. 1889

but they were, heVefthelehs' cAooho"'
" well observed and understood by
his partner. the high.dried old Mar
quis, sitting opposite 10 him, who laid
the pack of cards upon the table, their
face to tho cloth, and, after placing
piece Of money on them to prevent
their being disturbed by any chance
puff of wind, opened his gold box, and
took prod,gious pinch OF snuff
Having done this with much deliber'
alton, he let his hands fall upon his
knees, and leant back in his chair with
countenance expressive OF mex
haustiblo patience. The players wait
ed fer nearly II minute, but then be-
gan to grow impatient ofthe delay
At the first question put to the Mar
quis, as TO its motive, he waived his
hand toward Valleja.
~ am waiting for tho Senor Condc,'
said he.
"For mo =" replied Vallcja. 1t is
unnecessary.
"There were about twenty thou
sand dollars in the bank said the
Marquis, leaning forward, and affect
ing to count the rouleaus lying before
him, "and some eight thousand dollars
staked by these gentlemen. viii
you, Scnoria, be pleased to place u
similar sum upon the table I"
Several of the gamblers exchanged
significant glances and half smiles -
The rule OF the game required the
player who endeavorcd to annihila,e
the bank at one fell swoop, to produce
a sum equal to that which he had a
chance OF carrying of. At the same
time, in society like this one, where
the players were all more or less
known to each other all men OF rauk.
name and fortune--it was not unusual
to play this sort Of decisive coup
upon parole, and, if lost, the money
was invariably forthcoming the same
day.
Valleja smiled bitterly.
81 thought had been sufficiently
known here" said he, "to be admitted
to the same privilege as other players.
"Rafael," added he turning TO his
friend and handing him key, "your
fathers ten thousand dollars have
melted, but have a packet Of notes
and current sureties to considerably
more than the needful amount, in the
brass-bound box IN my apartment.-
Will you have the kindness to fetch
them for me ? I do not wish to in
terrupt my observation of the game
"With pleasure!" replied Rafael,
taking the key, and eager 10 obllge
his friend
"And perhaps" continued Valleja,
smiling, and OBTAINING him aa he was
about to hasten out OF the room, "per-
haps you will not object to tell these
gentlemen, that, until you return with
the money, they may take Luis VAL
leja's word for the sum be wishes to
play"
"Most assuredly, l will, answered
the young man hastily, "and am only
sorry that the Senior Marquis should
have thought it advisable to put any
thing resembling a slight upon
friend of mine and my fathers. Cen
tlemen !" he continued to the bank
ers, II offer you my guarantee tor
the sum Count Valleja is about to
play"
The old marquis bowed his head.
"That Is quite sufficient Don Ratael
said he. Il have the honor of know
ing you perfactly well. His Senoria
the Coant Valleja, is only known 10
me as Count Valleja, and I am certain
that on reflection, neither he will
blame me for acting as ! do, when 30
heavy sum is at stake
Don Rafael left the room. The
Marquis removee the piece off money
from of the pack, and took the cards
with as much indifference as If he
were no way concerned in the result
of the important game that was about
to be played. Valleja sauntered to
the window. hummiug tune between
his teeth, and stepping out, pushed
the awning little aside. and leaned
over the balcony. s,-e .es
The banker began to draw the
cards one after the other, slowly and
deliberately. Nearly half the pack
was delt out, without king or an ace
appearing. The players and lockers
on were breathless with anxiety; the
fall OF pin would have been audible
the tune which the count continued
10 hum from his station on the bal