The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-06-10

filled it an emptied it several times in sue
cesslon-walked thrice around the room,
and returned to his place before Angus
tlnotf, who sat there quietly shuffiing the
cards, as If waiting for another adversary
to continue the game.
But when he saw Tcheretzoh again in
front of him, Augustinoff arose in his turn.
" 1t is not yet day" said Tchere,zoif.-
why do you get up?"
You cannot play any more; you have
lost everything"
How do you know ?"
Have you some hidden treasures"
Yes, have hidden Treasures
And continuing in :. whisper,-a stran-
gled whisper that barely escaped from
his livid lips, he said:
Iom love nay nite"'
Who told you so ?"
Nobody; know it have not now
eve:. the means of nourishing her--I will
play you tor her-I will stake her against
all that you won from me this evening"
A flash as of lightning famed and pass
ed in the eyes of Augustinoff; and foi the
first time his handsome and passionless
gamblers face evinced the emotion Of his
soul
accept" he said
But his voice now tremblcd like that of
his adversary Emotion ch"ke,l the words
they came forth only with difficulty.
He continued =
Still, | accept only under two cnndi-
tions. The first is this NV stake is in
sufficient | add to it SOC, 900 roublrs be-
cause cannot add any more Secondly,
you must have the divorce obtained, tax
ing upon yourself all responsibility for it.
The reputation of the Princess is without
spot; she must not be touched by so
much as the breath Of an evil whisper"
accept the conditions" replied
Tcheretzotf. The first is flattering to my
wife, the second is tattering to myself
1t snail not exceed my generosity"
At the moment of taking up the cards,
.AuguStinotf was seized with singular
nervousness He seeming fearful t" be-
Gin a contest of which the woman whom
he loved was at stake. Was he afraid of
losing: Or did he fear a dis'laniul rricc-
tion by the Princess of the terms TO which
she had unconSci"usly been made 4 party
"a contelnptOus refusal that would an
nihlate the fruits of victory in his very
grasp? All these feelings blended in the
tumult of his mind, and robbed him
of much of that wonderful coolnesS he
! had always shown in ordinary playing.
The game commenced Ii then l>sum-
cd the aspect of a mortal duel, indeed.
\ deep silence rcigncd IN the hall
Each held his breath and nothing could
be heard except the dry sound of the
| l. f,1 .,,l
dicrs mortaly wounded. From time to
time 4 Voice spoke, announcing point
made: then the gliding of the counters
marking it. AT each play the two ad-
versarrs paused, like wrestlcrS overcome
by fatigue AMI trenblin. at the fault of
defeat. The chances seemed equal the
skill evenly proporti"nate. \ bold but
incantouS play was finally made by
| Tchcrrtzotf 1t might have in other eases
brought victory; II oniy ir'i |" defeat.
Then, for tn" first time, this man whom
the fever had possessed for ten lon.
| hours, suddenly assumed IN atttu IT, full
ot noble dignity. He bowed to Angus
tinotf, salutcd him as officer. salute each
other under arms, and SAID shall keep
my word.
1t never so much as occurred to him to
question the validity of his engagement.
But for the parlor of his face, the mist in
his eyes, the lines of pain about his mouth
and forehead, it was easy to see how ter
rible the self restraint and how violent
the agony withn-never can forget the
scene Every instant | expected to see
the man fall, Us if struck by lightning
The pledge was faithfully fulfilled.
TchcrctZntf obtained the divorce-takinr
upon himself all the responsibility OF the
act, and assuming all the faults Certain
| " the most serious fault was that of hav-
ing stakeL his wife on Il game of cards.
In Russia the position of divorced hus-
band is very serious. He is not me rely
liable to a heavy penalty, but even 10 de
privation of liberty. The Cars tavorite
aide -de-camp was not imprisoned but he
was permitted, as a very special favor, to
| Join the forces ut war in the Caucasus.
| He departed, but never returned.
And you ask what was the fate of the
Princess, and what free choice did she
make?
Well it is evident that she must have
acquiesced in the consequences of her hus-
bands losses, inasmuch As she became
Princess Augustinoff. AT Court they
used to say that she found no difficulty
whatever in accepting the conditions of
the challenge. Doubtless it must have
seemed to her that the man who eStima-
| ted her value ut something like 10000 900
roubles, really esteemed her more and felt
Il truer love for her than the man VIII"
had staked her on the Queen of Spades.