Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-11
His Last
Stake
A Story of Monte
Carlo
BY EDITH v. ROSS


who Inherited an estate aud 100000
rublcs. into the possession OF which
be entered when ne was twenty one
years old. lie concluded before set
Ting down on the estate 10 take 5000
rubles and visit Rome, Berlin. Paris
and other continental cities. So us soon
as he had arranged his affairs for his
absence he started for Berlin. from
whence he went TO Rome then Naples.
where he sailed for Genoa. and short
time after his arrival at that port was
In the attractive winter resort. Nice.
He had left behind him a tiancee.
Sonia, the daughter Of a neighbor. and
long before the time set for his return
he felt inclined 10 so home. But his be-
trothed was spending some time in 81.
Petersburg. and II he went home he
would find her absent. He felt that II
would be better TO remain away for the
appointed term, NJ the end OF which
the wedding was to take place. There
fore. firing OF Nice. he concluded to run
down TO Monte Carlo
iined, then sauntered over 10 the pa
vilion where gambling was going on.
Al that hour but few persons were
playing, and there was little to interest
him He felt bored. He had mind TO
60 back 10 Russia. He would find Sonia
at St Petersburg and might enjoy him
self there with her far better than
spending his time alone In foreign
lands, He came TO resolution 10 start
on his return trip the next morning.
This would give him but one evening
to get away with.
He asked one Of the croupiers NJ the
gambling table at what hour the play
would be In full swing and was told il
would not be for another hour. To
pass the interval he concluded TO bet
few francs lie covered several Of the
numbers and won on two and lost on
one. He repeated the bets and again
won more than he lost When he had
gained Oh his third bet he began To be
interested
At 10 o'clock he he'd quite II pile OF
winnings before him He looked up
from ii to the faces about him and saw
that while he had been playing the
throng had been gathering. So intent
had he been on the game that he had
not noticed their coming. He counted
his winnings and found enough TO pay
his expenses 10 st Petersburg and keep
him there I'LL II would be time 10 re-
turn TO his home and the wedding.
Then II occurred TO him that IL would
be nice 10 win enough more 10 buy a
present TO take with him for Sonia.
He would 20 by way of Paris and
doubtless see many pretty things there
from which he might select something
to please his betrothed lie laid 10
francs on the table and won Then lie
lost. After that he won quite Il good
deal. when he struck had luck and lost
nearly every bet he made. At = o'clock
In the morning he Ind lost all the
ready money he had with him.
The next morning instead OF starting
for home he drew 1000 francs on his
letter OF credit and went TO the gam
bling pavilion 10 reccnp. He played
all day and when evening came had
won back his losses 10 within - francs
Then another streak Of bad lnck struck
him. and by midnight he had lost the
1900 francs he had drawn In the morn
Ing.
Within few days Orlofr had sunk
what remained Of the 5000 ruhles he
had put aside for his Journey and had
draw n on his funds ~ home for 100000
more With this acquisition he won
and lost considerable for he played
high Week after week passed while
he was seen constantly AZ the gaming
table.
Meanwhile the time for his return
and his wedding came round. and he
did not appear to claim his bride. He
wrote her that he would be unayoid-
ably detained Not having the heart TO
give the real reason. he said that he
was ill aud that his doctor had advised
his remaining IN the genial climate Of
the Riviera TIL spring had appeared In
Russia In order that his sweetheart
might not know that he was NJ Monte
Carlo and suspect the true cause Of
his lingering abroad. he sent bis letters
20 Nice for mailing.
Sonia was naturally very much tron-
blcd Had she any one 10 attend her
she would have gone AZ once 20 Nice.
II would not be considered proper for
her 20 go alone 70 join her lover. so
COR awhile she waited hoping that his
health would improve aud his doctor
would consent 10 his return 10 Russia
Then one day she heard that Peter
had been making heavy drafts ON bis
funds NJ home aud had mortgaged his
estate. She delayed no longer. nut
started nj once for the Riviera. These
drafts had caused her 20 suspect that
her lover had been caught IN the mael-
strom OF Monte Carlo. and she deter
mined at starting that " she did no,
find him at Nice size would 90 ~ once
10 the gambling resort
One night Orloff staggered into the