The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-05-28
became more gloomy and cross than


perturbable smile. He ewongame after
came, and tantalized his adversary
bv his cruel wit. Although Tcheretzoff
possessed five or six millions OF roubles
in lands and seriS, it could easily be
seen that if the game was to continue
in the same way, he would soon be
without a kopeck in the world.
At one moment it seemed as if his
luck had returned. He had won twice
in succession, and recovered several
hundred thousand rOubles. Every
body advised him to play no further,
and content himself for that night
with his luck But such advice was
the most certain method OF making
him continue.
"Retire from thegame, he cried "at
the very moment that my luck isre-
turning shall not leave this table
until daylight"
Il pledge myself to do the same, re
piled Augustinoff.
The game continued with renewed
animation. Such struggles have q
terrible resemblance to duels-to-the
death. Each adversary watches the
other, seeking to divine in his eyes the
secret of his next play. Each tries to
hide his own thought, he yields, ad-
vanCes, retreats again;-eyes flame,
hands tremble. 4 single mistake
would be irreDarable. Every play is
calculated; all consequences are reck-
oned and cards rapidly fungdown
in order to disconcert the adversary.
Finally, one of the two becomes con-
fused; he feels his luck departing from
him; he staggers; he succumbs. 1t IS
all over with him;-the game is lost.
III.
Thus, in that memorable night, sue
cumbed Tcheretzoff. Long before the
dawn began to glimmer-and the
nights in st. Petersburg are long!-he
had lost all that he possessed; his
house upon the grand Moskaia, his
fine estates IN the central province,
and even his beautiful chateau in the
Ukraine, where he used to raise the
finest horses in the empire, and lived
like a king when he went thither, with
his young wife to visit his serfs and
receive the revenue OF his lands.
But what gambler ever believes he
has lost, so long as there yet remains
to him anything to lose? Tcheretzoff
could not stake the diamonds of the
princess; and he had already pledged
all his own,-even the diamonds of his
decorations, and a fine jewel he wore
upon his fnger-a rich gift from the
car.
He rose up all dazed, took a glass,
filled and emptied it several times in
succession,-walked thrice around the
room, and returned to take his place
before Augustinoff, who sat there
quietly shuffling the cards, as if wait
ing for another adversary to contin-
ue the game.
But when he saw Tcheretzoff again
in front of him, Augustinoff arose in
his turn.
"It is not yet day, said Tcheretzoff,
--"why do you get up?"
"You cannot play any more; you
have lost everything"
Glow do you know?"
"Have you some hidden treasures?"
"Yes, have hidden treasures.
And continuing in a whisper,-a
strangled whisper that barely escaped
from his livid lips, he said:
"You love my wife!"
1M.hto v iito told told you sorF pa
Nobody; / know it-Ihave not now
even the means OF nourishing her-I
will play you for her-I will stake her
against all that you won from me this
evening"
A flash as of lightning famed and
passed in the eyes of Augustinoff; and
for the first time his handsome and
passionless gamblers face evinced the
emotion of his soul.
81 accept" hesaid.
But his voice now trembled like that
ofhis adversary. Emotion choked the
words at his throat-they came forth
only with difficulty.
He continued
"Still, accept only under two con-
ditions. The first is this. My stake
is insufficient; / add to it 500, 600
roubles because / cannot add any
more. Secondly, you must have the
divorce obtained. taking upon your
self all responsibility for it. The rep
utation of the Princess is without spot;
she must not be touched by so much
as the breath of an evil whisper
IL accept the conditions" replied
Tcheretzoff. The first is flattering to
my wife, the second is fattering to
myself. 1t shall not exceed my geners
osity."
At the moment of taking up the
cards, Augustinoff was seized with q
singular nervousness. He seemed
fearful to begin contest of which the
woman whom he loved was at stake.
Was he afraid Of losing? Or did he
fear a disdainful rejection by the
Princess Of the terms to which she had
unconsciously been made a party--a
contemptuous refusal that would an
nihilate the fruits ofvictory in his very
grasp2 All these feelings blended in