The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-04-17
THE 1. QUEEN OF SPADES. 1.

~ VAuCA#OA II1uSt w 111lsl11, lOIUlu-
ding the officers under his command
from attending the Union club, where
gambling is extensively carried on,
and following upon the order Of Chan
cellor Bismarck in 1876. closing all
public gambling places in Germany,
has led to many discussion as to the
extent to which gambling is carried on
inSSother Ing parts Of the world.
An old diplomat, who had resided a
number of years at st. Petersburg, be-
ing one of a recent company, aYerred
thatsthe 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
BILE, received no credit for it, and the:
public man who did not, now and then,
run the risk Of being ruined, was con-
sldered to be a stingy fellow, and was
lightly esteemed by his acquaintances.
#as'I know Of one instance" continued
the. speaker, ''truthfully showing the
straits to Whichya liberal player in
Russia was reduced. 1:sHs%1. ,.sf
80 At a grand ball, on one occasion, to
which had been invited, a lady was
pointed OF to me as the Princess All
gustinoff. She was q charming Wo-
man, in spite of her age, still pleasing
through her well stored mind and
faultlesS manners. , , { zsSs zsSs. 5.:@
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 high posi-
ton & A., -, = 1s ~ i ,..
.5t1Peterhoff, her af1ianced, was fine
officer, having reached the grade Of
major general at an age when most
officers are serving as captains and
lieutenants. But he did not play. He
was often rallied about it, and the car
himself had expressed wonder thereat,
saying Come, general, let us have a
game of preference $50
This was an invitation not to be re-
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 czar, coughing. You must
learn them, my dear general. A little
play drives off ennui, There's August
il0ff who has reached the apex Of
perfection in preference. He must in
struct you.
B ''Augustinof was the Jest player at
court skillful aud inscruta-
BILE, q 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 own GOODNESS
and prudence. Peterhoff was hot
headed, and played with dash u hich
cftentimes made his game famous for
the amount Of his winning IS and losses.
&: Gambling in a short time became a
mania with him, aud had it been Eeces-
sary he would have paid men to play
with him. On the occasion I am about
to describe he was found late in the
evening at the gaming table, where he
had passed most Of the day. He had
won from his adversaries without; in
terruption. Piled up before lin were
almost 100, 600 rouhles. not to speak of
200 promises to pay from brother off,
GERS.
= 'In a burst of exultation he ex-
claimed: I will stake my days win
nings upon the chance Of a single
gamer g..'.- -ss5 .&s ~
"sHow much 2 inquired Auyustinoff,
who had just entered therool:l. j.
""rhree hundred thousand rubles,
in round numbersv -.-, ~1
:':1 accept your offerv exclaimed the
imperturable Augustinoff. <~s FL.
'"The game, for some time, was
equally we'll conducted. After an hour
or so Gen. Peterhoff was noticed to
move toward Augustinoffl 100000 ru-
bles. Hardly had the night reached
the hour of 3 when the beWildered gen-
eral had lost every ruble of his days
winnings.
Now for retaking the CITADEL! he
exclaimed. !.
s.The game continued. the gains of
AugustiAoff continued, and before the
dawn Of day-and the nights are long
in Russia-the aid-de-camp Of the car
had parted with his vast landed prop
erty in the central provinces, his pos
sessions in Moscow and his castle at
Ukraine.
/, Rising from the table, he filled and
emptied his glass several times,
walked up and down the room, passed
his fingers nerYously through his hair,
finally returning again to his seat.
Opposite still sat Augustinof who APP
peared to be amusing himself with
cutting and dealing the cards.
Pending over him, Peterhoff said. in
a low whisper: Tt is not yet day, Au-
gustinof. Do not rise.
"tAnd is there yet left some hidd den
treasure, general 2 Il
With livid lips and contracted brow,
he gasped: And are you ready to- take
it, Augustinof? You love the same
woman as 1.-The woman to whom I
am engaged.
The cards were again taken up, but
both seemed loath to begin-Augustin-
of, probably at the thought that the
princess might not fulfill the condi-
tions Of the victory. Peterhof ut the
thought of his wrecked career and
future despair.
4s'sA At the cut the antagonists pause,
like Wrestlers overcome with fatigue
and impending defeat. The trick bal
anced at the first deal.
5ssA bold play was now yentured. on,
by Peterhon which should have given
him victory. tt brought him defeat
however. Els frenzy had passed
sway. He was covered with profuse