The Washington times., 1923-01-11
BY Vincente BlascO Ibanez
Author Of "TIle Four HOrsenlen
81 the Apocalypse" and Other
81 Novels OF World RenOWn.

Of the Apocalypse" and Other
Novels Of World Renown.
ny Els. she was ugly, like all
the women who gamble
and seem to suffer, at
an ever-increasing rate. the
weight OF years. crushing out
their youth under the stress OF
erection. Every loss meant an
other year, every winning meant
aElook OF tenseness which spoiled
the regularity of their features.
Michael took a certain joy in
noting the wrinkles which fixed
attention formed about her eyes.
Her nose seemed to grow sharp,
aHd two deep Jurors drew the
corners OF her mouth, giving her
am expression of premature old
age All the little feminine touches
disappeared as the hours went by.
ssHer hat tilted to one side; locks
OF hair made an effort to escape,
a. though disarranged by cur
rents of human electricity which
dalter among the roots. She look
ed ten years older.
but a second voice within gave
forth different opinion. Yes,
anbR is very ugly, but 50 interest
ingy. Surely when she arose from
the table she would be once more
t1a6 same Alicia as ever.
aoHe afternoon. on entering the
Casino, Michael had q sense OF
uDmething extraordinary happen
inx. People were talking togeth-
ere asking news, all Of them hur-
sTsssng toward the same table
His friend Lewis passed him
without stopping.
Lit. was bound to happen. She
doesn't know how to play. ex-
pap4ed. it. .
- little farther on Spadeni came
Safward to greet him.
ssshe would never listen to me.
She acts on her whims. She
doesn't follow any system. She y
done for"
Ali the gamblers were talking
- though they were lamenting
suOmebody.s death; but It was a
.auestion of hypocritical compunc-
ssion--inwardly they felt a sense
Of envious triumph on seeing at
IAN end that absurd run Of luck
- ..zf~s
(which had embittered their
evenings.
Misfortune Steps In.
Michael, thrusting his head be-
tween the shoulders Of two on
lockers. saw Alicia at the same
time that she raised her eyes.
Their glances met. She looked at
him with dismay. as though Ia
naent making himself responsible
for her misfortune. "Why did you
abandon meg"
The prince fed: it hurt him to
.aeep her with that humble look OF
rage. ike that of a cornereo
sheep, bleating in pain ana oe-
tending itself.
AT nightfall he returned to the
Casino. A few people were still
taking about the duchess. but In
low tones, with sad gestures az
though talking about a dying per-
son. The crowd had thinned
about the table. He saw Alicia
In the same place. Valera stood
behind her chair, with a sad face,
whIIe Dona Ciorinda bent over
her friend talking. In her ear. He
xuessed her words. She was
pleading with her to come away.
Next day she would have better
luak. But she did not seem to
hear and remained with her eyes
fixed on the few 500 and 1000
franc chips, which were all that
Fepained.
Suddenly she lost her patience,
and turning her head she said
one word, nothing more, some
thing very strong, but nothing
without, precedent in that intimate
friendship which was broken off
at least once every week. Dona
CIorinda Immediately retorted,
looking daggers, and went away
hanghtiIy and disdainfully, while
Valera looked at the ceiling in
despair.
A Bit Frightened.
Michael fled once more. He was
frightened by. the expression on
Alicia's face and the nervous hos.
tility in her voice, which he had
not been able to hear, but which
was easily guessed from tbs
trembling Of her lips. He wan
dered about the rooms for hall
an hour, listening at distance
TO the words of those who were
stff1 talking about the Duchess
One afternoon had been suffi
Gent to sweep away all that she
had won in many successful days
Her misfortune was as extraordi
nary as her good luck had been
She had not won single bet.