The herald., 1896-05-03
MADAM LIKES CARDS,


He YVES loug-suifering husband. cne wht
when others said marital bliss" smiled
grim smile, for he knew whereof they spoke
aai he hrrriedly shifted his evening papci
before his face es he caught his wife's eyt
upor him. lie knew ere she opened he,
mouth that something unpleasant was tt
be asked Of him, and he balanced himself
as uongoosa does. ready TO leap away IN
| any direction from the expected attack
| His wife smiled tnnocentIy. so he was pre-
| rarsd for the wo:st.
"John," che said, when are you gcing 70
teach me to play eards?"
! He drew the paper still nearer to h.e
face.
Listen 10 this!" re said, with great ap.
parent Interest. IT Eever heard Of such a
| thing! Here's man."
John" said his wife s:efnIy.
lie blushed and the paper dropped un.
| needed IN his lap.
I'VE nigh. as we'll begin now." said hi.
| wife.
II saw the etrongest thing on State etrset
This afternoon" he began.
John" said his wife.
|
rose sadly from his chair and began 20 clca-
! tho books from the card table.
What Do you want to lecrn?" he asked
"Euchrs?"
at doesn't sound very wicked" said his
] wife doubtfully
! "Poker?" no suggested.
That sounds too wicked" said his wife.
I'll teach you California Jack" he de-
! c!ded. at seems 10 nll the requirements OF
sou- ding wicked, Sut not vcry wicked. Sit
down.
She drew tip chair and took her place.
He looked across the table at her with the
expression Of ma brought face to face
with a political landslide.
There are four things which count" he
eaid impressyely. "The ace is high"
'Why Is it high?" she demanded.
"Recause Il L. the ace." he eeid. "And
the deuce Is low because it IS the deuce
and the Jack ia Jack because 1t is the jack
Do vcN understand. or ehall explain fur
thcr?"
why I.'s dreadfully easy" she said 81
thought playing cards was bard.''
mo" he said. ".here have been men who
could play with as many as three decks at
once. That makes three points. IT., other
is called game. 1t is computed by means OF
the csvds above the ten. Each ten counts
ten
That's awfullv casv" she said.
~ is. Nc answered. eXCTuC!atlHSly
easy. The Jacks each count one. the queens
two. the kings three and the aces four
The reason for these things cannot give"
He said tae last hurr,adly, for her mouth
vas already half omen. She closed II again
and HIS heart leaned within him. Then he
dealt the cards. She watched the operation
with great interest. but she said not word.
ut is your lead" he said eve will play
this hand with your cards where I can see
them. You will learn more that way"
We will not" she said. "Cf course you
would win"
He eieted. but he accepted the Inevitable
when vou win trick" he said, "you
r:rst take the card which is In sight on the
deck"
Whether want It or not?" she asked.
whether YOU want u or not" he an
,vnred
Fc watched her closely. She betrayed
hesitation
What shall lead ?" she asked.
do YOU remember the trump" he said.
She nodded. Fe cid not press the matter
further. II ekc was prevaricating he did
not care to know g.
That le the tray Ct clubs" he naid. "I.
YOU feel that 1t would benefit your hand to
hold It lead hiah: otherwise lead low and
let NE take it,
LET you take it! she exclaimed
Never"
sho toak the trick ard he drew the king
g: trilnps. Ec locked al her closely. Sho
did rot krow that Il was the king CT trunips
iIo eighed again deeply.
The hand wen. sASwly on. AS the last
card wcs played tie doorbe!l j.ng!sd excit.
ody.
"Both girls are out." she call
ITe rosc cbeiieniy.
Think over what I have told you" hc
sa,d land Try to remember whrt said
rbomt counting he game. When get back
will COUNT the cards."
She nodded and he left tho room heavily
IN few inrutes he returned
ut was q man VITA collar buttons so.
falr." he vclurtcered
She looked Up and smiled.
Il didn't 1a. fer you" she said ~
counted ;ie cards 1,vsclf. There are j.s.
nfty-,wo. o."Chicago Tribune.