Newspaper Page Text
‘ ™ vljf ““ ...... ... ... -i
NEWS & PLANTERS’ GAZETTE.
D. O. CIAYTINCJ, Editor.
No. 44.-NEW SERIES.]
< News and Planters ’ Gazette.
, terms:
Published weekly at Two Dollars ami Fifty
Cents pgr annum, if paid at the time of Subscri
bing ; or Three Dollars if not paid till the expi
rutibn of three months.
No paper to bo discontinued,unless a ! the
option of the id litor, withouttlie settlement of
all arrearages.
O’ (jitters, on business, mutt-begostpmd, to
insure attention. IYO communication, shall he
published, unless we are nttide acquaintpa with
the name of the author.
TO ADVERTISERS.
Adesrlisements, not exceeding one square, first
insertion, ft ■ enty-five Cents; and for each sub
sequent insertion, Fiflij Cents. A reduction will
be made ol twenty-five percent, to those who
ad*grtise iy the year. Advertisements not
limited witen handed in, will be inserted till for
bid, ana 1 charged accordingly.
Sales of Land and Negroes by Executors, Ad
ministrators and Guardians, are required by law,
to be’advertised, in a pqbiic Gazette, sixty days
|sreviousto the day of snie.
The sales of Personal Property must be adver
tised in like manner, forty days.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors of an Es'.ate
must be published forty days.
Notice that application will be made to the
Court, ot Ordinary, for leave to sell Land or Ne
groes, must be published for four months—
notice that application will be made for Letters
of Administration, must be published thirty days;
and Letters of Dismission, six months.
M&ii ilrrangtmcnts.
POST OFFICE, )
Washington, Ga., Sept. 1, 1843. $
EASTERN MAIL.
lathis route, Mails arc made up for Raytown,
Double-Wells, Crawfordville, Camack, Warren
ton, Thompson, Dearing, and Barzelia.
ARRIVES.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 9, A. M.
CLOSES.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 1 A, P. M
WESTERN MAIL.
By tlris route, Mails are made up for all Offi
ces. i South- Western Georgia, Alabama, Mis
sissippi, Louisiana, Florida, also Athens, Ga and
the Norm-Western part of the State.
arrives—Wednesday and Friday, by 6 A. M.
closes —Tuesday and Thursday, at 12 M.
1 ABBEVILLE, S.C. MAIL.
By iiiis route. Mails are made up for Danburg,
Pistol Creek, and Petersburg.
arrives.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, by 1 P. M.
CLOSES.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 0 A. M.
LEXINGTON MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Centre
ville, Btate Rights, Scull-shoals, and Salem.
arrives —Monday and Friday, at 9 A. M.
[closes —Tuesday and Saturday, at 9A. M.
V APPLING MAIL.
Vs route, Mails are made up for Wrights
*boro’, Wiiile Oak, Walker’s Quaker Springs.
arrives— -Tuesday and Saturday, by 9 A. M.
closes —Monday and Friday, at 9 A. M.
* ELBERTON MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Mallo
rysvllle, Goosepond, Whites, Mill-Stone, Harri
soimlie, and Ruckersville.
Arrives Thursday 8 P. M., and Closes same time.
LINCOLNTON MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Rehoboth,
fcStonly Point, Goshen, Double Branches, and
Darby’s.
Arrives Friday, 12 M. | Closes same time.
O’ The Letter Box is the proper place to de
posite all-matter designed to be transported by
Mail, and such as may be found there at the
times above specified, will be despatched by first
post.
CpTTING & BUTLER,
ATTORNIES,
HAVE taken an OFFICE on the North
side of the Public Square, next door to
the Branch Bank of the State of Georgia.
October, 1843. 28
NELSON CARTER,
DEALER IN
Choice Drugs and Medicines,
Chemicals, Patent Medicines,
Surgical and Dental Instruments,
Perfumery, Brushes,
Paints, Oils, Dye-Stuffs,
Window Glass, Bpc. fy-c.
wflXSiltj AmVSTA, Ga.
October 12, 1843. ly 7
HAVILAND, RISLEY & Cos.
Near the Mansion House, Glolc and United
Stales Hotels,
AUGUSTA, GA.,
4 DEALERS IN CHOICE
DRUGS AND MEDICINES,
Surgical and Dental Instruments,
Chemicals, Patent Medicines,
Perfumery, Brushes, Paints, Oils,
Window Glass, Dye Stuffs,
&c. &c.
t Being connected with Haviland,
Keese & Cos., Nevv-York, and Hav
iland, Harkal & Allen, Charles
ton, they are constantly receiving
fresh supplies of every article in
iheir line, which they arc enabled to 6ell at the
lowest market prices.
O’ All goods sold by them, warranted to be of
the quality represented, or may be returned.
Augusta, August 1843. 51
Jt A. matMTS,
EMENTOT,
WILL spend two or three weeks in Wash
ington. Persons desiring his Profession- !
al services, will do well to call soon.
Washington, Wiikes county, )
May 18tli, 1844. f 38
Bargains ! Bargains !!
The Subscriber will sell his Stock
of
Staple and Fancy 9
Foreign and Domestic
GOODS,
At very reduced prices—cheaper than they
were ever offered in Washington before.
If you want good GOODS, at low irices,
call on
WILLIAM S. HEARD.
May 2. 1844. 2m 36
New Spring & Summer
GOODS.
J. MAYER & BROTHERS,
Respectfully inform tha citizens of
Washington and vicinity, that they have
just mceived a
New Supply of
Spring Sr Summer
GOODS,
Consisting of the following Articles, viz.:
Foulard Silk, new style for Ladies’ Dresses, 37]
cents per yard,
Lawns and printed Muslins, 31 to 45 cts. per yd.
Calicoes, of every description, 6to 18jj do.
4-4 French Calico, 25 do.
Fine Irish Linen, 50 to 87 do.
Summer fancy Cassimers, 1 37 to 1 50 do.
Darp ri’ete’ for Summer wear, 87] to 61 do.
Largo ,Ts sertment of Broadcloths, 62 to 665 do.
Ladies’ and Gentlemen's Gloves of
every description, from 12] to 61
Great variety of Linen Cambric
Packet Handkerchiefs, 18-j{ to 61 each.
S;..nioier Stuff for Pantaloons, 12,1 to 37 per yd.
i Lmcn do. do. 374 to 62 do.
Swiss and Jaconet Musims ol every
description, 25 to 62 do.
Scotch Gingham, 31] do.
Also, a great variety of Manches
ter Ginghams, 124 to 18§ do.
All kinds of Laces, Silk and Fil
let Shawls, Neck Ties, of
the latest style, 45 cts. to §7 each.
Ladies’Silk and Cotton Hose of
all kinds, 12 cts. to 61 50
Leghorn and Straw Bonnets of
every description, 61 32] to 4 50
A great variety ol Bonnet and Cap Ribbons,
Marseilles Vesting from 20 cts. to 70
Latest style of Iteady-made Summer Clothing
for Gentlemen’s wear, a large assortment,
Also, an assortment of Summer i late,
Ladies’ Shoes and Pumps of all kinds, from 25
cents a pair to 61 124
Also, a large assortment of Gentlemen’s Shoes
and Pumps, from 62,] to 62 75 cts. per pair
Boots from 62 to 64. do.
Bleached and unbleached Homespun of every
description, at the Charleston prices.
Coffoe, Sugar, Tobacco & Segars, i
Which will be sold as cheap as can be bought \
in this country. ID’ < .'all and see—nothing
charged for showing Goods.
April 25, 1844. 35
~ FIRE INSURANCE.
Tiie new.york contribution
ship FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
have established an Agency in Washington,
Wilkes county, Georgia, and are now prepared
to Insure Buildings and Merchandize against
loss or damage by Fire.
Capital $300,000,
All paid in and safely invested.
Apply to
WILLIAM S. HEARD, Agent,
Washington, Ga.
May 2, 1644. 36
To JHechanics*
ON Monday, first day of July next, will be let
to the Lowest Bidder, the re-building of
Barber’s Bridge on Long Creek, on the Road
leading from Washington to Danielsville.—
Letting to take place at the Bridge between 1]
and 12 o’clock, A. M.
MANOAH BOLTON, O
CLARK TAYLOR, Jun’r. |
JOHN THORNTON, 3
JAMES ARNOLD, I’
JAMES WILLIS, S’
WYLIE M. POPE, 2
L. M. HILL, J 50
June 20,1844. 2t 43
Richmond Hotel .
THE Subscriber, having taken the
fSm a^ove named HOUSE, formerly oc
!tiitUlP cu P‘ e d by Capt. Edward W. Collier, i
jlujK-gi. would be happy to receive the pat- \
ronage of his friends and the public generally. !
The House is situated in the vicinity of many of I
the principal Warehouses in Augusta, making it I
a convenient location for persons visiting the |
city on business. Families can be aceominoda- I
’ ted with retired and pleasant Rooms.
Persons favoring me with a call, will find due
attention, comfortable lodgings, the best fare,
attentive hostlers and moderate charges.
JOHN T. WOOTTEN.
April 25, 1844. 35
FOUR months after date application will be
made to the Honorable the Inferior Court of
Wilkes county, when sitting for Ordinary pur
poses, for leave to sell the Negroes belonging to
the Estate of Mrs. Abi Bentley, late of said
county, deceased, for the benefit of the heirs and
creditors.
THOMAS WOOTTEN, Adrn’r.
June 4,1844. m4ci 41
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING.
WASHINGTON, (WILKES COUNTY, GA.,) JUNE 27, 1841.
j JWs€fU;mmiG.
j THE GAMBLERS LAST STAKE.
A SCENE IN MADRID.
In an inner room of his counting-house,
which occupied a wing of his splendid man
sion in the Calle Alcala, sat lion Jose So- !
lano, one of the richest bankers in Madrid,
ruminating with much self-complacency
upon the profitable results of a rccentspecu
lation. He was interrupted in his medita
tions by the entrance of one of his clerks
ushering in a stranger, who brought a let
ter of introduction from a banker at Mex
j ico, with whom Don Jose had had occa
sional transactions. The letter stated that
the bearer, the Conde de Valleja, was of a
highly respected family of Mexican nobili- !
ty, that he was desirous of visiting Europe,
and more especially the country of his an
cestors, Spain ; and it then went or. to re
commend him in the strongest terms to tlm
Madrid banker, as one whose intimacy and
friendship could not fail to he sought after
by all who became acquainted with his
many excellent and agreeable qualities.
The appearance of the Count seemed to
justify, as far as appea-ance can do, the |
high terms in which lie was spoken of in
this letter. He was about eight-and-t wenty
years of age, dark coniplexioned, with a
high clear forehead, short crisp curlv hair,
an intelligent and regular countenance, and
a smile of singular beauty and fascination.
His eyes were the only feature which
could be pronounced otherwise than ex
tremely pleasing; although large, black,
and lustrous, they had a certain fixity and
hardness of expression that produced an nil
pleasant impression upon the beholder, and
would, perhaps, have been more disagree
able had not the mellow tone of the Count’s
voice, and his suavity and polish of man
ner, served in a great measure to counter
act the effect of his peculiarity.
Doing due honor to the strong recom
mendation of his esteemed correspondent,
Don Jose welcomed the Conde with the lit
I most hospitality, insisted on taking posses
sion of hirn for the whole of the dav. and,
without ■•'low ing him to return to his hotel,
dragged him into the house, presented him
to his son and daughter, and charged lintr,
to use their utmost exertions to entertain
theirguest, while he himself returned to his
occupations till dinner time. At one
o clock the old banker reappeared in the
sala, where he found Rafael and Maraquit
ta Solano listening with avidity to the a
greoable conversation of the Count, who, in
his rich and characteristic Mexican Span
ish, was giving them the most interesting
details concerning the country lie had re
cently left. The magnificence of Mexican
scenery, the peculiarities of the Indian
races, the gorgeous vegetation and strange j
animals of the tropics, formed the subject of
his discourse, not a little interesting to a
young man of three and twenty, and a girl
of eighteen, who had never as yet been fifty
leagues away from Madrid. Nor had the
stranger’s conversation less charms for the
old banker. Valleja had been at Havana,
and was acquainted with scenes,ifnot with
j persons, with which were associated some
i of Don Jose’s most agreeable reminiscence:
j scenes that he had visited in the days of
\ his youth, when he laid the first founda
i lion of his princely fortune. To be brief,
1 the agreeable manners and conversation of
the Count so won upon father, son, and
j daughter, that when at nightfall he rose to
take his leave, the banker put his house a’
his disposal, and followed up what is usual
ly a mere verbal compliment, by insisting
upon Valleja’s taking up his abode with
him during his stay in Madrid. Valleja
raised many difficulties on the score of the
inconvenience or trouble he might occa
sion ; hut they weie all overruled, and the
contest of politeness terminated in the
Count’s accepting the hospitality thus cor
dially pressed upon him. The very next
day he was installed in a splendid apart
ment in the house of Don Jose.
Several days, even weeks elapsed, d u- j
ring which Valleja continued to be the in-:
mateofCasa Solano. He appeared very
well pleased with his quarters, and, on the ;
other hand, his hosts found no reason to re- j
gret the hospitality shown him. lie soon
become the spoiled child of the family ; Don
Jose could not make a meal without Val
leja was there to chat with him about the i
Havana ; Rafael was the inseparable com- ,
panion of his walks, rides, and outdoor di
versions; while the blooming Marquitla
never seemed so happy as when the hand
some Mexican was seated beside her em
broidery frame conversing with her in his
low soft tones, or singing to the accompani
ment of her guitar some of the melodies of
his native country. Indeed, so marked
were the Count’s attentions to the young
| girl, and so favorably did she receive them,
| that more than one officious or well-mean
| ing friend hinted to Don Jose the propriety
: of instituting some inquiry into the circum
i stances and antecedents of a man, who it
| seemed not improbable might eventually ■
; aspire to become his son-in-law. But the j
banker’s prepossession in favor of Valleja
was so strong that he gave little heed to 1
these hints, contenting himself with writing
to his correspondent at Mexico, expressing
the pleasure he had in making the Count’s
acquaintance, and receiving him as an in
mate cf his house ; but without asking him
for any information concerning him. In
fact, the letter Valleja had brought was
such as to render any further inquiries
nearly superfluous. It mentioned the
Count as of a noble and respectable family,
and credited him to the amount of ten
| thousand dollars, a sum of sufficient impor
j tance to make it presumable that his means
were ample.
Before Valleja had been three days at
j Madrid he had obtained his entree to a
| bouse at which a number ofidlers and fash
| lonables were in the habit of meeting to
j play monte, the game of all others most fas
; dilating to a Spaniard. Thither lie used
to repair each afternoon, accompanied by
Rafael Solano, and there lie soon made j
himself remarked by his judgement in play,
and by the cool indifference with which he
lost and won very considerable sums. For
some time he was exceedingly successful, 1
every stake he put down doubled itself; j
be seemed to play with charmed money ;
and bankers trembled when they saw him i
approach the table, and, after a glance at
tb ■ state of the game, place a pile of gol- ‘
den ounces on a card, which almost inva- ‘
riably won the very next moment. This j
lasted several days, and he began to be j
considered as invincible, when suddenly ‘
bis good fortune deserted him, and be lost i
as fast, or faster, than lie had previously
won ; so that after a fortnight of incessant
bad luck it was estimated by certain old j
gamblers who had taken an interest in j
watching bis proceeding, that he had lost
not only all his winnings, but a very con- |
siderablc sum in addition. Rafael, who ,
rarely played, and then only for small
stakes, urged his friend to discontinue a
game which he found so losing ; but Valle- j
ja laughed at his remonstrances, and treat- |
ed his losses as trifling ones, which a sin
gle day’s good fortune might retrieve.—
Gambling is scarcely looked upon as a vice
in Spain, and young Solano saw nothing
unusual or blameable in the Count’s indul
ging in his afternoon, or in losing his mon
ey if it so pleased him, and if he thought an
hour or two’s excitement worth the large
sums which it usually cost him. Indeed,
the circumstance of their visits to the
gaming-room appeared to him so unimpor
tant that it never occurred to him to men
tion it to his father or sister ; and they on
iheir part, never dreamed of inquiring in
what way the young men passed the few
hours of the day during which they absen
ted themselves from their society.
The monte table which Valleja was in
in. habit of frequenting was situated on the
third floor ot a 1, mse in a narrow street
leading out of the Calle Alcala, within two
or three hundred yards of the Casa Solano.
Amongst the persons to he met there were
many ofthe richest and highest in Madrid ;
generals and ministers, counts and mar
quises, and even grandees of Spain were in
the habit of repairing thither to while away
the long winter evenings or the sultriness
of the summer day : and the play was pro
portionate to the high rank and great opu
lence of most of the players. The bank
was held, as is customary in Spain, by the
person who offered to put in the largest
sum, the keeper of the room being remu
nerated by a certain tax upon the cards ; a
tax which, in this instance, was a heavy
one, in order to compensate for the luxury I
displayed in the decoration and arrange
ments of the establishment. The three
rooms were fitted up in the most costly man
ner; the walls lined with magnificent pier
glasses; the floor covered in winter with
rich carpets, and in summer with the finest
Indian matting ; the furniture was of the
newest French fashion. Splendid chan
deliers hung from the ceiling; musical
clocks stood upon the side tables ; the guilt
balconies were filed with the rarest exo
tics and flowering plants. Two of the
rooms were devoted to play ; in the third,
ices and refreshments awaited the parched
throats ofthe feverish gamblers.
On a scorching June afternoon, about a
month after Valleja’s arrival at Madrid, the
Mexican and Rafael left Don Jose’s dwel
ling, and bent their steps in the usual di
rection. While ascending the well worn
i stairs of the gambling-house, young Solano j
could not forbear addressing a remon
strance to his friend on the subject of his
| losses. Although the Count’s perfect com
j mand over himself and his countenance
made it very difficult for so young and in
experienced a man as Rafael to judge of
what was passing in his mind, the latter,
nevertheless, fancied that for three or four
days past there had been a change in his
demeanour denoting uneasiness and anxie
ty. It was not that he was duller or more
1 silent: on the contrary, his conversation
\ was, perhaps, more brilliant and varied, his
laugh louder and more frequent than
usual, hut there was a hollowness in the
laugh, and a strained tone in the conversa
tion, as if he were compelling himself to
be gay in order to drive away painful
thoughts—intoxicating himself with many
words and forced merriment. Rafael at
tributed this to the annoyance caused by
his heavy losses, and now urged him to dis
continue his visits to the monte-table, at
least for a time, or until his luck became
better. The Count met this suggestion
j with a smile.
“My dear Rafael,” cried he, gaily, “you
jdo not suppose that the loss of a few hun
| dred miserable ounces would be sufficient
jto annoy me fora moment ? As to aban
doning play, we should be puzzled then to
pass the idle hour or two following tiie
siesta. Besides that, it amuses me. But
do not make yourself uneasy; I shall do
myself no harm, and, moreover, I intend
this very day to win back all my losings;
I feel in the vein.”
• “I heartily hope you may do as you in
; tend,” said Rafael, laughing, quite reas
i sured by his friend’sebeerful, careless man
’ ner : and. as he uttered the words, the
! Count pushed open the door and they i
tered the nionte-ro Ks.
The game was already in fu; -i ti.
and the play very high; the table slrev
I with the sl'owy Spanish cards, on wliic.
instead of the spades and diamonds familiu
i to most European cardplayers, suns am!
j vases, sabres and horses were depicted in
! various and brilliant colors An offic rof
; the royal guard and a dry, snuffv old mar 1
j quis held the hank, which had been v
j successful. Largo piles of ounces and )!
! four and eight dollar piocos were on the
green cloth before them, as well as a roll
1 of paper nearly treble ofthe specie. Twen
| ty or thirty players were congregated round
the table, while a few unfortunates, whose
j pockets had already been emptied, were
solacing themselves with their cigars, and
i occasionally indulging in an oath or impa
| tient stamp of the foot when they saw a
| card come up which they would certainly ;
j have hacked—had they had money so to ;
■ do. Two or three idlers were sitting on
I the low sills of the long French windows,
reading newspapers and enjoying the fra
grance of the flowers ; protected from the
j reflected glare of the opposite houses, on
j which the sun was darting its rays, by
awnings of striped linen that fell from a
j hove the windows, and hung over the out- !
i side of the small semicircular balconies.
After standing for a few minutes at the I
table, and staking a doubloon, which he in
! stantly lost, Rafael Solano took up a paper .
! and threw himself into an arm-chair, while :
Valleja remained watching with keen at
tention the various fluctuations of the cards.
For some time he did not join in the game,
rather to the astonishment of thi other play
ers who were accustem and to see hirn stake
his money as soon as he ntered the room,
with an unhesitn o •: t-r'dot rs and confi
dence. Halfau Im i r passed m this man
ner, anti the prt sur •: cf Vail -ja was be
ginning to be forgotten • hen lit suddenly
drew a heavy rouleau of gold from his
pocket and placed it upon a card The
game went on ; Valleja lost, and with his
usual sangfroid saw his stake thrown into
the bank. Another followed, and a third,
and a fourth. In four coups he had lost
three thousand dollars. Still not a sign of
excitement or disposure appeared upon the
handsome countenance of the Mexican ;
only an officer who was standing by him
observed, that a pack of the thin Spanish
uaids, which he had been holding in his
hands, feii to'he ground, torn completely
in half by one violent wench.
The four high stakes, so hoiulv olaved j
and so rapidly lost, riveted the observation
ofthe gamblers upon Valleja’s proceed
ings. Every body crowded round the ta
ble, and even the slight buzz of conversa
tion that had before been heard, totally
ceased. His attention attracted by this
sudden stillness : Rafael rose from his
chair and joined his friend. A glance to
the increased wealth of the bank, and the
eagerness with which all seemed to he a
waiting Valleja’s movements, made him
conjecture what had occurred.
“You have lost,” said he to the Count,
“and heavily, I fear. Come, that will do
for to-day. Let us go.”
“Psaw,” replied the Mexican, “a mere
trifle which you sail see me win back.”—
And them turning to the banker, who was
just commencing a deal.
“The king against the ace,” said he.
For the uninitiated in the mysteries of
monte, it may be necessary to state, that
by uttering these words Valleja hound him
self, if an ace came up before a king, to
pay an equal amount to that in the bank,
1 as well as all the winnings of those who
had backed the ace. If, on the other hand,
the king won, the whole capital ofthe bank
was his, as well as the stakes of those who
bet against him.
There was a general murmur of aston
ishment. The bank was the largest that
had ever been seen in that room since a
certain memorable night, when King Per
dinand himself, being out upon one of the
nocturnal frolics in which he so much de
lighted, had come up in disguise with an
officer of his household, and lost a sum that
had greatly advantaged the bankers and
sorely diminished the contents of his Catho
lic Majesty’s privy purse. . There were
at least twenty thousand dollars on the ta
ble in gold and paper, and besides that,
scarcely had the Mexican uttered the name
of the card he favored, when on the strength
of his previous ill luck, some of the play
ers put down nearly half as much more
against it. The two bankers looked at
each other ; the guardsman shrugged his
shoulders and elevated his eyebrows. Both
movements were so slight as to be scarcely
perceptible; hut they were, nevertheless,
excellently well observed and understood
by his partner, the high-dried old Marquis
sitting opposite to him, who laid the pack
of cards upon the table,, their face to the
cloth, and after placing a piece of money
on them to prevent their being disturbed
by any chance puff of wind, opened his gold
box, and took a prodigious pinch of snuff, i
Having done this with much deliberation, |
he let his hands fall upon i> s knee -an-i i
leant back in his cha r with a conn;> -.urn
expressive of inexhaustible u.niene.- The |
players waited for nearly a ir.i ur , :■
then began to grow inipn'k-ni of ‘he d--i..v
At the first question put to the M;<.rqie
to his motive, h w aved ais hsnd to-va-d.e
Valleja.
“I am waiting for the EenorConde,“ said
he.
“For me ?” replied Vallf ja “It :s mi
jnecessary.”
“There arc about twenty thousand Hc l-
M . J R. AI” fll I, 1* r inter.
•n the hank,” said tire Marquis, lean*
■ mg Uii-.iiJ, and affecting to count the
is lying beilvre him, “and some eight
tb : t.iki dbv these gentlemen. Will
> tv-nora be pleased to place a similar
iin upon tiiF table*? ‘
to ’ a. 1 f tin* gamblers exchanged sig
-1 nrtie . biici i- and ha 1F smiles. The
on e, ot tin _ me re quired the player who
•'i ‘'im on red, as Valleja was doing to anni
hilate the hank at one fell swoop, to produce
a .sum equal to that w hich he had a chance
of carrying off. At the same time, in so
cieties like this one, where the plavers were
all more or less known to each other, —all
men of rank, name, and fortune,—it was
not unusual to play this sort of decisive
coup upon parole, and, if lost, the money
was invariably forthcoming the same day.
Valleja smiled bitterly.
“I thought I had been sufficiently known
; hero,” said he, “to bo admitted the same
privileges as other players.” Rafael, ad
ded he, turning to his friend and handing
him a key, “your father’s ten thousand
dollars have melted, but I have a packet of
notes and current securities to considerably
more :han the needful amount in the brass
bound box in my apartment. Will you
have the kindness to fetch them for me?
i 1 do not wish to interrupt my observation
of the game.”
“With pleasure !’’ replied Rafael, taking
the key, and eager to oblige his friend.
“And perhaps,” continued Valleja,
j smiling, and detaining him as he was about
■ to hasten out of the room, “perhaps you
will not object to tell these gentlemen, that
until you return with the monev they raav
take Louis Valleja’s word fur tiie sum he
wishes to play.”
“Most assuredly I will,” answered -.tie
young man hastily ; “and 1 am onlv sorry
that, the Senior Marquis should have thought
it advisable to put anything resembling a
slight upon a friend of mine and my fa
thers. Gentlemen !” he continued, to the
hankers. “I offer you mv guarantee for
the sum Count Valleja is about to plav.”
The old Marquis bowed his head.
“That is quite sufficient, Don Rafael,”
said he.
“I have the honor of know ing you per
fectly well. IJis Senior, the Count Valle
ja, is only known to rue as Count Valleja,
and I am certain that, on reflection, neither
he nor you will blame me for acting as I
do, when so heavy a sum is at stake.”
Don Rafael left the room The formal
i Marquis removed the piece ot money from
j off the pack, and took up ♦* • .-n ’-ds wi'h as
much dry indifference as if lie were no way
concerned in the result of the important
game that was about to be played. Valle
ja sauntered to the window, humming a
tune between his teeth, and stepping out,
pushed the awning a little aside, and leaned
over the balcony.
The hanker began to draw the cards,
one after the other, slowly and deliberately.
Nearly half the pack was dealt out with
out a king or an ace appearing. The play,
ers and lookers on were breathless with
anxiety; the fall of a pin would have been
audible ; the tune the Count continued to
limn from his station on the balcony was
heard in the stillness that reigned, as dis
tinctly as though it had been thundered out
by a whole orchestra. Another card, and
another, was drawn, and then .he deci
sive one appeared. The silence was im
mediately exchanged for a tumult of words
and exclamations.
“What’s the matter,” said Valleja, turn
ing half round, and smelling, as he spoke,
at a superb flower, which he had just
plucked from one of the plants in the bal
cony.
“The ace”—said the person nearest the
window, and then paused and hesitated.
“Well •” said Valleja, with a sneer,
“the ar:.—what then ? It has won, I sup
pose.”
■lt has won.”
“It was to bo expected it would, since I
worn to the king.” And, turning round,
again, ho resumed his tune and his gaze
into the street.
“He must be rich,” said the Spaniard to
anotherof the players, “it would be diffi
cult to take the loss of thirty thousand dol
lars more coolly than that.”
Five minutes elapsed, during which the
bankers were busy counting out their bank
in order to see the exact sum due to them
by the unfortunate looser. When the jingle
of money and rustle of paper ceased, Val
leja looked round for the second time.
“How much is there, Senores ?” cried lie.
“Thirty thousand four hundred and thirty
dollars, Senor Conde,” replied the old Mar
quis, with a bow of profound respect for
one who could bear such a loss with such
admirable indifference.
“Very good,” was the Count’s answer ;
“and here comes the man who will pay it
you.”
Accordingly, the next minute a hasty
step was heard upon the stairs. All eyes
were turned to the door, which opened, and
Ry fa -I Solano entered.
Wnere is the Count ?” exclaimed he, in
j hurried voice, and with a discomposed
I countenance.
Again every head was turned towards
; ; . window ; but the Count had disap
; -if -■ , At the same moment, from the
• t below, which was a quiet and tin
quented one, there arose an unusual up
| t -)a, and noise of voices. The monte play
i c ... to the windows, and saw several
:vr..*Ki.- collected round a man whom they.
I were reusing from the ground. His skull
I was gh,fully fractured, and the pave-.
1 men; around sprinkled ith his blood.
i VO I l Vi E XXIX.