Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-10
THE PROMISE.


that you don't intend to try your luck
at Trente ct Quarante or Rouletteg'
Eyes, my dear doctor, there is moth
ing in the world thai could tempt me to
change my mind, and you win have no
| ticed that don't even go near the gam
ing table,"
Il had noticed that, but never
| thought there was anything behind that
| but simply believed that you wanted to
| look around little before starting TO
| play yourself DIR. Bermulphi replied.
| looking kindly at the young man who
was sitting opposite him on the terrace
| outside the Hotel D'Angelterro at Monte
| Carlo.
Capt. Count orlof was Russian,
| a tall, handsome man, about 30
here was in his face certain melan-
| choly expression, but what especially at
/ tracted ones attention was a broad
| streak of white hair running from his
forehead to the back of his head which
| was very conspicuous as the rest of his
hair was jet black.
| Il suppose it is impossible TO be at
Monte. Carlo and not to talk of gam
bling, the young officer said, after a
moments silence, ''eyen if you don't
gamble yourself. I'll tell you the reason
| why | never play or, rather the reason
| why l never play any more and then
| you Will at the same time find out about
| this streak of white hair which / know
has aroused your curiosity several times
/ Twelve years ago | was lieutenant
IN cavalier regiment garrisoned at
| Kharkaw.
1T was in the middle of January that
| applied for furlough to visit an uncle
| of mine who had been my guardian since
my parents died. His estate was situ-
ated at Ukrine not far from the town of
| Lebedin, where there was a regiment Of
| Infantry.
When the adjutant, who lived in
| kharkaw, heard where / was going he
| asked me to carry with me 10000 rou-
bles and turn them over to the adjutant
| of the infantry regiment at Lebedin 1t
| was quite natural to turn the money
! over in that way, and | declared that /
would do so with pleasure. / put the
| money in a stout satchel which | had
| brought especially for that purpose and.
/ happy as could be, | started ON my Jour
/ ney. looking forward with pleasure to
! be able to spend a whole month in the
/ country without any military drills. The
railroad at that time ran no further than
4 hlerp, and with two other gentlemen ii
was necessary for us to continue ON our
way in sleigh Both of the others were
| going to Liebedin.
Il had met one of these gentlemen
/ several times before in Kharbow so
clety. tie was known as president and
general manager of large Russian COM
| pany at Moscow, and was received every
| where IN the best society in the town
where my regiment was garrisoned. He
/ was handsome and representative man,
who had many friends, and we began to
| get quite intimate during the trip.
II didn't care very much for my other
/ companion, who was rather silent and
who Kept to himself as much as possible
( lie had besides piercing expression in
ms eyes which seemed to penetrate your
/ inmost thoughts The president and |
| carried on a very animated conversation,
/ as IT happened that he like /, was very
much interested in hunting and said that
| he. expected to spend part of his time
doing so near the estate of my uncle.
The winter of 1885 was very severe
N the southern part of Russia, and es-
/ peeially IN Ukarnie. Everywhere we
We're told that for many years there had
| not been as much snow as then. The
roads were very difficult to pass, and
| though we had three excellent horses
| attached to our sleigh we progressed
| rather slowly. When we had covered
| about half the distance and had arrived
| at a station where we were to get a
relay of horses it was already dark. and
| It happened so that the postmaster didn't
have single horse left, having had to
/ PittNS lis Adnl ltiSt at lDe QlsDOSdl VI Il
courier of the Gar. There was, there
| fore, nothing for us to do than to spend
| the night at The station prospect
| which was not very inviting.
| MIR. Barchieloff this was the name
of the insurance director, appeared to-
| be prepared for acci-ente of that kind
| He said that he was used TO spending
most of his time travelling. and ordered
| his servants to serve supper. About half
an hour afterwards we entered the small
waiting room, which had been placed at
our disposal, and were surprised to find
! a splendid spread of roast beef, chicken,
pattles and even Few bottles of cham
payne. This impromptu supper did not
| fail to produce a good effect upon u.s.
and we felt very much better, though
our silent companion still remained as
silent as ever, and partook only very
sparingly of the meal.
After supper we sat down in front of
the omen fireplace with our tea and Gig
arettes. and | enjoyed listc-ing to Bar
cheiloff's many stories of adventure as
well as funny incidents froll society life
at Kharkow and Moscow.
Later in the evening the postmaster
came in to tell us that our beds had
been made in three little rooms next to
the waiting room, but my amable com
panion did not appear TO feel like going
TO bed yet. He lit a fresh cigarette and
said with n smile.
I'm sure you do not feel sleepy as
early as this, and | think that as long
as we sit here so cozily together we
might have a little rum in our tea and
spend an hour or two at game of
cards"
l was willing, and we sat down at the
table and began to play. The silent
traveller did not go to bed, either, but
sat down to read at another table close
10 ours, apparently not paying any at
tention to us at all.
The stakes were rather high. At first
| was in luck, and when / had won a
little over one hundred roubles from
GS-chieloff | began to feel rather bad
about it. The loss did NOT seem to affect
him, however. and he continued to be
in excellent humor, and several times
filed mp my glass with rum.
At last there came time when / be-
gan to feel that luck had turned against
s:1e, but now he wanted 10 win back
what he had lost | continued PLAYING
aud twenty minutes afterwards / had
lost all my money. Then. | don't knew