Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-11-05

peculiarities OF the Indian races, the
gorgeous vegetation aud strange AMI
mails of tho tropics, formed the subject
Of his discourse not q little interesting
to a young man OF three'and't twenty,
and girl Of felghteeen, who had never
az yet been fifty leagues away from
Madrid, Nor had the strangers con-
versation less charms for tho old bank
er VallcJa had been at the Hayannah,
was acquainted with msnes, II not
with persons, with which were asao'
ciated some OF Don Jose'a most agree
able "reminiscences scenes that no had
visited in the days Of his youth, when
he laid the first foundation OF his
princely fortune To be brief, tho
agreeable manner and conversation Of
the Count no won upon the father, son
and daughter, that when at nightfall
he arose TO take his leave, the banker
insisted upon valleja's taking up his
abode with him during his stay in
Madrid. Valleja raised many diilicul.
ties on tho score Of the Inconvenience
or trouble no might occasion but
they were all overruled and tho
contest OF politencss terminated Ia the
Counts accepting the hospitiliiy thus
cordially pressed upon him. The
very next day he was installed in a
splendid apartment in the house Of
Don Jose.
Several days, even weeks, elapsed
during which Valleia continued to be
the inmate OF tho Casa Solano. Hc
appeared very well pleased with his
quarters, and on the other hand his
host found no reason to regret the
hospitality shown him. He soon be
came the spoiled child ofthe family
Don Jose could not make meal with
out valleja was there to chat with him
about the Havannah Rafael was the
inseparable companion of his walks
rides and outdoor diversions while
the blooming Mariquita never seemed
so happy as when the handsome
Mexican was seated beside her embroi-
derry frame conversing with her,
in his low, soft tones, or singing to
the accompaniment of her guitar some
of tho wild melodies OF his native
country. Indeed so marked was the
counts attentions to the young
girl, and 80 favorable did she
receive them, that more than one Of
ficious or well-meaning friend hinted
to Don Jose the propriety ofinstituting
some inquiry into the circumstances
and autecedents of a man,:who it SEEM
cd not improbable might eventually
aspire to become his son.in-law. But
the bankers prepossession in favor of
valleja was so strong that he gave
little heed to these hints, contenting
himself with writing to his correspon-
dent at Mexico, expressed the pleas
ure he had making the counts &C.
quaintance and receiving him as an in
mate of his house but without ask-
ing any information concerning him.
In fact the letter Valleja had brought
was such as to render any further in
qaires nearly superAuous. 1t mem
toned the Count as of a noble and
respectable family, and credited him
to the amount of ten thousand dollars
q sum of sufficient Importance to make
it presumable that his means were
ample. ss.., q et '.. '
Before Valleja had been three days
at the Madrid be had obtained his
entree, to a house which number Of
idlera and fashionables were in the
habit Of meeting to play monte, the
the game of all others most facinating 6
to the Spaniard. Thither he used to
repair each afternoon, accompanied
by Rafael Solano, and there he soon
made himself remarkably his judge
ment in play, and by the cool indit-
ference with which he lost and won
very considerable sums. For some
time he was exceedingly successful.
Every stake he put down doubled it.
self; he seemed to play with charm
ed money and the bankers trembled
when they saw him approach the ia
BILE. and atther a glance at the. state
of the game place a pile of gold
on a card, which almost Invariably
won the very next moment. This
lasted several days, when he began to
be considered Invincible, when sud-
denly his good fortune deserted him
and be 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 gambler,
| :,.k ..nx IL,