The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-02-04
THE QUEEN OF SPADES.

f-'--'iihS &c CAtCllSlNSly SdlllCu viz
and following upon the order of Chan
cell0r Bismarck in 1876. closing all
public gambling places in Germany,
has led to many a discussions As to the
extent to which gambling is carried on
in other parts of the world.
An old diplomat, who had resided a
number of years at st. Petersburg, be-
ing II Of n recent company, averred
that the mania which possessed the
military officers, as well as the whole
Russian aristocracy, during his stay in
the country was something terrible.
An officer, he said, who did not gam.
bic. received no credit for IL, and the
public ma who did not, now and then,
run the risk of being ruined, was con-
sidered to be a stingy fellow, and was
lightly esteemed by his acquaintances.
Il know of III instance" continued
the speaker, "truthfully showing the
straits to which a liberal player in
Russia was reduced.
AT n grand ball, on one occasion, to
which l had been invited, n lady was
pointed OF to me as the Princess Au-
gustinoff. She was a charming wo-
man, in spite of her age, still pleasing
through her we'll stored mind and
faultleSs manners.
Now let me tell you her history.
Mer maiden name was Mary --@-.
She had been selected as maid of hon
or to the cZarina, and was greatly at
tached to her: Her engagement at
eighteen, was, therefore, the natural
consequence of possessing much beau
ty and wealth and holding n high posi-
ton.
"Peterhoff, her affianced, was n fine
officer, having reached the grade of
major general at an G when most
officers are serving as captains II
l%icutenants. But he did not play. He
was often rallied about it. and the ear
himself had expressed wonder thereat,
saying: Come. general, let us have Il
game of preference
This was an invitation not to be rea
fused; but so great an aversion had
the officer to gambling that he did not
know the rules of the game. Not
know the rules of preference" ex-
claimed the ear, coughing. You must
learn them. my dear general. a little
play drives off ennui. There's August
inoff, who has reached the apex of
perfection in preference. tie must i'll
struct you
"Augustinoff was the hest player at
court-prudent. skillful and irscruta-
bic, a man to be avoided at cards. He
undertook with real zeal the instruc-
ton of Peterhoff; but he could rever
infuse into his mind his oolness
AMI prudence. Peterhoff was hot
headed. and played with a dash '. hich
Cftentimes made his game famous for
the amount of his winnings and losses.
Gambling in a short time became n
mania with him, and had it .)een reces-
sary he would have paid men to play
with him. On the occasion | am about
to describe he was found late in the
evening at tie gaming table, where he
had passed most of the day. He had
won from his ~adversIrieS without in
terruption. Piled up before i'm were
| almost 100000 rouhleS not to speak of
200 promises to pay from brother of1i-
Gers.
"In n burst of oXultation he OK
claimed: I will stake my days Win
nin2s upon the chance of n single
game"
"'How much?' inquired Auyustiuoff
who had just entered therooli.
""Three hundred thousand tubles,
in round numbers!
81 accept your offer! exclaimed the
imperturable Augustinoff.
''The game, for some time. was
equally we'll conducted. After IN hour
or so Gen. peterhoff was noticed to
move toward Augnstinoff 1000 ru.
| bles. Hardly hard the night reached
tie hour of 3 when the b%ewildered sen.
eral had lost every ruble Of his days
winnings.
Now for retaking the citadel" lie
exclaimed.
The game continued. the gains OF
.Augustinoff continued, and before the
dawn of day-and the nights are long
in Russia-the aid-de-camp of the czal
had parted with his vast landed prop
erty in the central provinces, his pos
sessions i'll Moscow and his castle al
Ukraine.
"Rising from the table. he filled and
emptied his glass several times
walked up and down the room, passed
Lis fingers n%crvously through his hair
finally returning again to his seat
| OtiDVSltt Sllll sat aug uStIIloh, II tP
peared to be amusing himself will
cutting and dealing the cards.
pending vel him, Peterhoff said, II
a low whisper: 1T is not yet day, Au
gustinOff. Do not rise
"'-And is there yet left some hidd Il
treasure, general?
with livid lips and contracted brow
he gasped: And are you ready to take
it, Augustinoff? You love the same
m as 1.-THE to whom
am engaged
"The cards were again taken up. bur
both seemed loath to begin-Augustin
off. probably at the thought hat the
princess might not fulfill the condi
tions of the victory. Peterhoff at The
thought of his wrecked career an(
future despair.
AT the cut the antagonists pause
like wrestlers overcome with fatigue
and impending defeat. The trick bal
anced at the first deal.
"A bold play was now ventured OF
by P%eterhoff which should have givcI
him victory. 1t brought him defeat
however, His frenzy had passeC
away. He was covered with profls,
rerSpiration.
The agreement was carried out t,
the letter. The ears aid de-caInp
however, obtained permission t jon
The army IN active service. he lie
parted for tee front, and Lr"er re
turned more
And the princess? She paid tn
gamblers debt, and became lie Nj,
~ II I-l H.. -. =