Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-24
THE ACE OF HEARTS.


permanent of refined civilization aud
savage barbarism, they do the most
astounding things in the most unex.
pected way.
II was thus Boris Mirskow amazed me
yesterday by relating in the coolest, most
nonchalant manner the strange end OF
his Irritation with the Princess de z.
Now this handsome blonde Boris is
delightful comrade. charming, suave,
with the doll baby face Of woman, the
last one in the world would ever inn
agine such a wild, extraordinary ad-
venture could happen to. 1t makes me
shudder to think of it.
"You knew the Prince de 2" he
said; at least you knew him by reputa-
ton. A cripple from birth, nailed to his
chair, he had but one passion in life
gambling. His feeble hands had barely
strength sufficient to hold and shuttle the
cards. In return, his head was extremely
cool, his intelligence more than ordi-
narily clear. No one knew better than he
the combinations of ecarte. He was
called the Moltke of gamblers.
"As TO the Princess, what Partisan does
not know her and her historyP When
was taken into her favor they said was
the Goth, only counting the distinguished
ones.
"The Prince took everything in the
most philosophical manner. He made o
point of seeing not ling."
IF the Prince was the Won Moltke OF
ecarte, the Princess was the Robert Hou
din Of coquetry.
"The Princess has q favorite maid, q
Tzigane, as devoted as tame panther,
but, alas, a cruel panther still.
@One evening as this girl was showing
me to the boudoir of her mistress, she
said q know not Why, i love you ]
burst out laughing. She repeated, j
love you, and have loved you long time.
am determined you shall not see the
Princess any more
In spite of her sharp accents and the
savage light in her yellow eyes, could
only see her ugly, tawny face, and laughed
more and more, gently repulsing her.
"'You will not listen to meT she said,
ciinging to my arm and kissing my hand.
"As laughed still more, she suddenly
raised up, grinding her teeth, and said in
low, determined tone, as she threw
open the door Of the boudoir, You will
repent this, monsieur
An hour later as was sitting beside
the Princess in a grand divan, covered
with blue fox, we heard great clamoI
in the anteroom which preceded the
boudoir, 1t is the voice of the Prince.
Can IL be possiblep said the Princess.
Yes, it was the voice of the Prince, ex.
claiming in sharp tones: Come, put ms
down; you are mad you make me i'll.
Put me down, tel you
"Other voices were heard, confused
noise of cries and approaching footsteps
but above all this buzzing uproar could
be heard the furious falsetto of the
screeching Tzigane: You shall see.
Everybody shall see. Don't dare to touch
me, not one Of you. II you do. will
strangle him. Quick, open the door.
"The door was violently thrown open.
About dozen people entered the room,
friends of the family and domestics,
Tzigane in the midst of them carrying
the Prince In her arms like puny child.
/ understood all. In her fit of rage, with
the violence of a tempest whirling q
broken leaf, she had brought the Prince
here by main force, and, throwing him
on the floor, howled, Now see for your.
self. Say, do you seer
@'Seize her. said the Prince, and send
her to the mines.
@sWhat does that matterr she cried,
holding her wrists for the manacles.
What do care, now that / am re-
vengedf Then turning to me, she
added. 4 told you would never allow
you to see the Princess. again
"They raised the Prince and placed
him in an arm chair. He ordered every
one to leave the room except two friends
he begged to remain, then turning to me
he said:
al could kill you, Monsieur. as have
the right to do. But / do not wish to
punish you in that way. / demand
reparation by arms
II had desire to laugh. A duel with
that poor cripplei and what kind Of
duel, as he could hold neither sword noi
pistol in his feeble hands.
~The Prince understood my thoughts,
and replied: DO you think me mad OF
more generous than am. The duel
offer you is very possible, as you will
see.' Touching bell servant entered.
AGO and bring me pack OF cards
from the salon, he said.
-When the cards were brought and the
arm chair Of the Prince had been drawn
up to the table, he motioned me to q seat.
and with calm, almost affabIe air, said !:
we are now going TO play a game Of
cards, Monsieur, and the one who loses
shall kill himself before 70 O'Clock TO.
morrow. Do You accept, mon cherY
] accept. What game shall we playr
'Ecarte, IL you please so be it. For
how many pointsg Five
@The game commenced, witnessed By
the two friends and the Princess. who
drew near, drawn in spite Of herself By
the singularity Of this strange duel.
The Prince was my master, that was
plainly to be seen, but chance favored me
Ia the most surprising way. Soon wa
were 70 4"
~Parbleu, said / to Boris, @no need to
finish your story. can guess it; as you