V/aaSIOZDAZIA 74) [From Hoodisme g azinal e Gambler's last Stake. A SCENE IN MADRID. la i nne r room . of his counting which OccOpied a w i ng of his , mansion i n ale Castle Alcala, Jose Solano, one - of the richest in Madrid, :ruminating 'with : If -Complacency upon the pro sults of a recent speculation. interrupted in his. meditations entrance of , one of . his clerks in a stranger, whotbrought a i introduction from a - banker at h with`whom Don Jose had had WI transactions. The letter that the bearer, the Count de was of a highly respectable' If Mexican nobility, that he was is of visiting Europe, and'more Ily the country of his anCestors, and it then,Went on to recom its in 'the strongest terms to the Tanker, as pile whose intimacy friendship could not fail to be after by all. who -became ac ed his many excellent and le qualities. Appearance of the count seemed ify, as far as appearance can do, ;h terms in which tie was spoken 'is letter. He was about eight :enty years of age, dark complex with- a high, clear, forehead, crisp, curling hair, and intelli td _regular countenance, and a if singular beauty.and fascination. ea wete the-only feature which- Je pronounced' otherwise than iely pleasing; although large. and lustrous, they had a ce'tain and hardness of expression that :ed an unpleasant iinpressiOn up ta and would, perhaps :en more - disagreeable, had not :Ilow tones of the count's voice, suavity and polish of manner, a great measure to counteract zet of this peculiarity. tag due honor to the strong re .tntlation of his esteemed corm , tra, Don, Jose welcomed the Conde with the utmost hospi insisted on taking possession •of tr the whole of the day, and, it allowing him to return to his. dragged him, into the house, pre him to his son and daughter, irged them to use their utmost is to entertain their guest, while let* returned , to his occupations ,ter time. At one o'clock the taker reappeared in the sala,where tad Rafael and Mariquita Solano . tg with avidity to-the agreeahle nions of the count, who, in his characteristic Mexican Span- , giving them the most I:items :tails concerning the Country he :eent'y left. The magnificence Mexican scenery, the peouliari the lindian races, the gorgeous tion and strange animals of the ;formed. the subjects of his dia. ,not a little interesting to a young three and twenty, and a girl of who had never as yet seen Ines away from Madrid. Nor '4e stranger's conversation less for the old, banker. Valleja at the-Havano: was acquain scenes, if, not with persons, Lich were associated some of , se's most agreeable yerniniscen enes that he had visited in' the his youth, when he laid the ion of hisprincely fortune: To the agreeable 'manner of con . and the count so Won. upon son and daughter, that when at II he arose to take his leave, the put his house ast udittpoqiiion, lowed up what is usually a mere lmpliment, by insisting upcin staking up his abode with him his stay in Madtid. V-alleja my difficulties on the score of ;enienee or trouble he might : but they avers overruled, and st of politeness terminated in accepting the. hospitality Jially pressed upon him. The ! , :t d a y h e was installed'in' apartment in the house of Don II days. 'even weeks, elapsed, thich Valieja continued 'tti be tte of the Casa Salano. He ' very well pleased 'with- hie on the other. hand; his hosts reason to regret the hospitali• n him. He soon became' - the !hild of the family ; Don J9fie a make/a meal without Vail* re -to chat with him about-the Rafael was the inseparable lon of hi's walks, rides, and:oat , etsions ; while the= bit:km - king never seemed , so" happy as • happS7 Mellon' was seated • , _ . el lihk .ire 2 .. 4 k ~.,.. ~. ...., :,, :.,..., 1....„, ,'..t ... „ ~,,,,,:.,;:.., , :,.,,,,,, ; r, ii,,, , i _ -..-1 ~ -:, - .2 - .:.:0" ,, ..e."- Il e 3 / 4 ,e1 , .;,-. 1 „, -- J • - ~l en`L:b. ' " • :W. .. .; '7 : :I ' ..... - ,1•: , ., 3 -:''-' *;.3,1.0 ' ; 3.0."-: - 1: 1, .. ,J 1.....:-.,ii'.3 i ili . .C., ? ! , i.“) I 1 .... 1 * se Ab, I ilik,' ....„.I,i'i !! 1.) 1-, ( i - -- . •‘.,:-'.,, , • -,;i : "' -3; ' , . -31 !"::"''' , '7: • ' , -#4l'`.l . i '..,;" 3 -; 7. ;:-.. -.-_, -..•:=,,. :.! ' . :4 i ,i, , : ,.___ •-• : .:(,, ;111, ,,,- ,-„.- A 3: ~_,•',', • l i c i t C,I (Z ' 6 . ) .. •'' ~ , ''. • ''' .' • : ~.: ,:.;;,1 . " - , ~. ....w .. a _ , • ,;.` l, 7- ' 7, --- ' ar- a' . --- -' Pi t. :',--f _ .• ..I - 1 . 7' • ' - 1- ' .1 1 V: ' ,43 3 `4' -:, r.',, eill . ........: , ~---, :- , ... : , ~ : 3 1 - 3- . _ .„ 3 -.. - , 3/..;• ...',.: t, . ~ .. 1 . ~.,, , i i ff ,:: J.,, I.,i a . .. 1111 ~ , `,- : .._ th , ;:,. : 1::: , ,-, c.. : t:.• :1 rii: 1.-,:,' -:%.' LI J'•• .1 . , t- - --' ' 1 , ' '' . 1 1 ': ~ - • I `, / • ".. ''''' '' ' I beside' her embroidery frame conversing with her in his low stSft tones,: or-sing ing to the accompanitTent of her guitar, some wild melodies ti his native coun try. Indeed, so marked were the ccitint's attentiona to.the young girl, and no-fa vorably did she receive them. that more than one officious . ;or well-meaning friend hinted to Don ose the propriety of instituting some inquiry into the ciicumstances and antecedents of a man :who, it seemed 'not briprobable, might eventually aspire to became' his . son-in-law. But the banker's prepos. session in favor of Valleja was so strong that he gave little heed , to these hints, contenting himself with writing to. his correspondent at 'Mexico', expressing the pleasure he had had in making the count's acquaintance, and receiving him as an inmate to-his house ; 'but without asking 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* noble and -respectable familyr and credited him to the amount of ten thousand dol. lars,-a sum of sufficient importance to make it presumable that his means were ample. Before Valleja had been three:days at Madrid he had-obtained,his entree, to a house at which .a number, of idlers and fashionables were in the: habit of meeting to play monte, the:lat. - Tie of ajl others the‘most fascinating to the Span iards. Thither he used to . repair each afternoon, accompanied by 'Rafael Sor lano, and there he ioommade , himself remarked for his judgment in play,.pno by the cool indifference with which he lost and won considerable sums. For some time he' was exceedinly suceess ful. Every stake he put down , doubled . itself ; he seemed to play with charmed, money ; and the bankers trembled ' when they saw him approach the table, and after a glance at the state of the game, place a pile of golden ounces on a card, which almost invariably - won the next moment. This lasted several days, and he began to be considered as invincible, when suddenly his good fortune departed him, and he lost as fast. or faster, than he had previously won ; so thai after a fortnight of inces sant, bad luck. it was estimated by cer tain old gamblers who had taken anin terest in watching his proceedings, that he had lost not only all Ins winnings, but a very considerable sum in addition. Rafael,•who. hid rarely played, and then only . for small stakes, urged his friend to discontinue a game - which be found so losing ; but Valleja laughed at his remonstrances, and treated his loti see as trifling ones, which a single day's good fortune might retrieve. Gambling is scarcely looked upon as ..a vice in Spain, and young Solano saw nothing tinusual or blameable in the count's in dulging in his afternoon jeugo, or his losing his money if it so pleased him, and if he thought an hour . or two's ex citement worth the , large sums which it usually cost him. Indeed. the cir cumstances of their visits to the gaming room appeared to him so unimportant, that it never occurred to him to mention it to his father or sister; and 'they, on their part, never dreamed of inquiring in what way the young men passed, the few hours of the day during which they absented themselves from their society. The monte-table which Villeja was in the habit of frequenting was situated on the third floor of a house in a nar row street leading out of the' Calle Al balat within two or three hundred yards of the Calla Saloon. Amongst the per sons to be met there were many of-.the richest and highest in- Madrid ; gener als and ministers, counts and-marquises, and•eveif grandees of Spain were in the habit of repairing thither to while avia,y, the long winter evenings, or ' the . sultri flees of the summer day ; 'end the, play was proportionate to the high rank and great opulence er the players. The bank was held, as is customary Spain, by the person , who offered to put in the largest sum, the keeper of the-room being remunerated by a eer tain tax upon the cards, a' tax which, in this instance; was a - heavy one, • in order to compensate for -the luxury dis played in the decoration and arrange ments of the establishment. The ihree rooms were fitted up in the most costly manner ; the wallxlined with the' ost magnificent, pier glasses ; the. floor co , .vexed in winter with rich carpets, . 11 0. in summer with the finest,lndian mit fing ; the. furniture was the newest French-fashion. Splendid ichandel Len; hung' from the ceiling; musical : clocks stood' On, the:side-tables ; the. gilt bal. 'conies were 'filled with'. the.rarest tics andfloweriag plants.. 1 1, w0.:01 . 4he rooste..were . . devoted -; -; In ,the‘ =EI !Grip. itegardiess itirliateascibtioiitikinraity - -„• •• • • Dskip WZBAZIND — 14 . OBVIEM P ZEi PAW MEORIPEICEP Os' 1a46, third, ices and refresblnenta awaited the parched.. threats of; the fererished gamblers.. , On a - scorehingJune afternoon, about a mout h a, r ter a eja arrive a rid, the Mexicali and 'Rafael left Dini - Sose's dwelling, and bent , their steps's in the nsual direction. , ascending the well-worn stairs of the gambling .house, young Solano could not forbear addres.' big' a remonstrance to his' friend on the •subject of •his' losses. Although the count's perfe_ct command over -himself, and his countenance, maga it very difft culefor so young and inexperienced a man as Rafael Jo judge of' what was passing in his Mind; the latterneVer theless, fancied' that kir three or four days past there had been a change , in his demeanor denoting ,uneasiness and anxiety. It was not that he was duller or more silent ; the . countrary, his conversatiob Was; 'perhaps, more bril. tient and varied, hut-laugh , louder and more frequent, than usual, but there was a hollowness in the, langfkand a strained tone in t he' cOnverietioe, as if he were compelled hiniself to belay in ordpr to drive away painful thoughts--; intoxicaung,himself with many words' and forced merriment, Rafaelattribu T ted dile to the' annoYance' 'causeclliy his heavy losses, and nevi urged hillito discentinuer- hitu Visits to the-manta:4a- Wei at least for a , tiate,or until his.luck became- ; better. T s he „ cnt met - the „ .ou suggestion with a mile. My _dear Rafael;" 'cried' he; gaily; you surelydo:not itipptise `that - the loss of a:few hundred miserable ounces would be sufficient to annoy fcir a moment.__Aa to• abandoning play,• we should'be puzzled.to Writhe idle - hour ~ or two followifig the siesta ': '= Besides that, it amities Built° not make yourself uneasy., -Lshall do.myself uto harm ; and, moreover..l intend this ve ry day to win back all,myloosings. , feel in the vein." ' ' I heartily hope' you may do as poi] intend,!' said Rafael, . laughing, quite reassured by his friend's careless plan ner ; and, as he uttered the words, the count pushed open the door, and they entered thimonte-rooni. - The game was already in full activi; ty, and the play very high ;- the table strewed with the showy Spanish cards, on which, instead of the spades and diamonds familiar to most EirOpean card-players, suns - and' vane, sabres arid horses were depicted- itr various and brilliant colors. - An:officer of the royal, guaril a and•a dry, snuffy, old mar 'tills, held the bank, which had. been very successful. Large piles of ounces _and of four and eight dollar pieces . were on the green cloth before them, as well as a'roll of paper nearly treble the val ue of the specie. Twenty or thirty players were . congregated round the ta .7 . We, while a few unfortunates, whose pockets had already,_been. emptied, were solacing themselves with their cigar', and occasionally indulging in an ' oath or impatient stamp of the foot when they saw a eard'come vrhiCh they would certainly have backed—had they money so to do. 'Two or three idlers were sitting.on the low sills of the long French windows, reading newspapers and enjoyin,g the fragrance oldie flowers—proteited from•the re flected glared- the opposite houses, on which the sun was darting its rays, by awnings of striped linen that fell from abobe thepvindows, and hung over the Outside' of the Small semi-circular=-bal conies. • - • -- • After sledding for a few: minutes •at the table, and staking a doubloOn,which he instantly lost, Rafael tolano took up a paper and threw himself into an arm chair, while. Valleja remained watching with keen attention the various flucalit- Lions o the card., For some time -he did not-join the game, rather to the as tOnishmeni of the. other players, who were accustomed to see him stake his. money, as Axton as he entered the room, with an unhesitating boldness and' con fidence. -Half an hour passed in this manner, ap . d the presence of Vallejo was beginrpng to tie forgotten, when'he suddenly thew a heavy 'Aeon of gold from his pocket and ~ placed open a card. The, gi me went on ;..ltalleia lost; and with his usual sangfroid saw his stake thrown into . the bank. An.: other followed. and a third, ands fourth. In four coupe he had lost ihree'thiiiisand dollars. Still not-a sign of-excitement' or discernposura .appearell 'upon,.tite handsome countenance of thepexicark; only ,an,officer who], Was stadding by him Wearied," that a - peek of the thin Spanish - Cards, which he had been_hold ing- in his • hands t , Ifell; to:the 'gteund,. lorn'completslyiohalf:by one ~violent ,wrericb: The four high stakes. so ooh ly "play- ed aid.sO'ritpidis• kat; rinetetithe'ob ,,-- - : • Mi MUM emation of theere,t l Pol),Yel,lol. l s ;proceedings.'. Rvefy body ::crawdbd - round - the, table, and - even the alight. buta•of =conversation that • hail beret° been-heard,- totally ceased. :- Rio atten lion 3 0 1 '1; 10 , t)Y hif-fladden,s,lii!neeC Rafael rose fiom hi s ,eltair , and joined his friend. A gltirice at the increased wealth of the bank, 'and 'the 'eagerness with which call seemed to be-awaiting 'Valleja's inovements, made him Om. je.cture what had occurred .....- , " you have lost;" Said, ' he to s the count; " arid " heaioily; I fear. Come, that will do for to-day. ', Let us go."- ".Psha V", replied the Mexican, «a , ,mere trifle, which you shall see me win back." And then turning to, the hanker, who ,ivas just commencing a .$ Copoi" said he, the king agairist the ace." For the ; uninitiated, in the mystery of Monte, it . maY be necessary to state,that by uttering•these words Valleja bound if an ace canto up' beforril a king, to pay an equal amount to that in the bank,,as i well as all , the winnings, of those who hid backedthe ace ; If, on the' Other hind,' the king won, the where capital of - the bank was his, - -as Well as the :.stakes these who bet against Capctel rey. There ,wos a general murmur of.las tenishMent. The baOk waithe largeit thee hid beenseen in- that !labia Slime certain memorable tiight f ! , when Ferdi nand himeelfi.being out: upon :one of , his,,nocturnal frolics in w,hich he so much delighted, had come up in is guise with an officer of his house-hold and ha linit a sum 'that had greatly ad vantaged, the- bankers; andscirely di minished the contents -of lite Catholic Majesty's private Ipuree. There was at least thirty, thousand dollais on the table in gold 'and ' and besides that, scarcely' hid the , Mexicitt .uttered the mine of thereird-he favored, when, on the strength of his llliluck, . somnof the players put . down ; "nearly as much more against it. The two bankers looked 'at each other ; the,guirdsman shrugged his shoulders' and elevated his ..eye brows. Both movementswere so slight as to be scarcely perceptible ; but they were, nevertheless. exceeding ly well:observed and understood 'by his partner, the , high dried old Marquis,- sitting opposite .to him, who laid the pack of cards 'upon the tableoheir face to the cloth, and after placing npiece of rponey.iin them to prevent their be ing disturbed by any chance of puff wind, opened his • gold box andlook a prodigious pinch° of snuff. Raving done this with much deliberation, he let his hands fall upon his kmies,and lean ea hack in his,chair ivith a countenance, expreisive of inexhaustible - patience, The players waited for nearly a' nainute r but then" began to grow- impatient for the delay. At the first question put to the Marquis, as to his motive in waving his hand towards Vallejo. I am waiting for the Senor Conde," said he. “FOr.me t” replied Valleja. unnecessary." • - , 4 , There are about twenty, th,Ousand dollars in the bank," Said the Marquie, leaning forivard; and •affeiting to count the rouleaus lying - before. him, and some eight thousand_ staked by- thE, , se gentlemen. you , sum be , pleased to place a similar upon the tablet" • Several'of the gamblers exchanged significant, glances and half 'smiles:— The rule °film game required* play -er, who endeavored, as , Valleja , was do ing, to annihilate the - birik 'at one fell swoop, to produce a Gain equal to that which he Will a chance of carrying off,' Ai the same time,,iti societies: like. this one, Where the . plsyevs were all more more or less known to each other—all men of rink; name , and' fortuneit. Vias not unusual "to play this-kort of detisiii coup upon parole; and, if lost, the‘nto= ney , was, invariably...forthcopting..the same, dny. , , , . Vallejo sidled bitterly., ' I . thong : ld bad :been snfrleierttlY known hem." to, the same privilegemc.other players: Rafael," added be. turnintAbia friend end handing him tt,key, !. your fatheeti ten thnueand . have reelted.litit I bait), a paeket'Ofinites; and eansideiable'tie'en'd titles to eousiderably T more than' the needful. sinourtt, in' thObrass-bountlibox in iny pOrtment. beve.tbe k intiess.te fetch dtq u i for me? not - Wish to game.F' -:: • •••• -`, • '4 With - pleasurei7 Rafael;: taking the tligyv.attil eager, t 9 oblige his • continued Jrallej a, einiling:trnd yl fAI _47 krtt trET r 7.i g L. - - • ..;,...1 1 ~ . ti: k .„-,- , :,..,-,: ~,. . 7 .-. , ~,, .. r -.0 -It' -4f - ,4 - j1 4,:51 .4' la - • , :,..,,,;-, 7„'-', : s „ 1:'..1f.ttii,z . ...i,14,:Ei: it a-19 I, . - T y, .: 1•.2' ~,, . ....,u,, ..,, - , -;.-7.--- --'''.: - `sl • " -- ',-.±--', - i --- - - : . " . 1 . .11,- ~../. .' 11'41-4e,' t t 1 I.l.ll.; , itfPlir , F ~, W. % - c. I'l-; ''.: 24- ,' \ •-!rr 1- ' . ' t _.;.- \ . , .. -.• ‘., ..... i - .' ,6. 6 ......0" , - LI ' -, '; - . 21' , .. , 1.;';'11 ‘..-rten .t .- 1-::-,11; , .1 - 4 1 -1.:,- , i•-...17,1 , ;- , :uh if Ttr,..1'.. , ,';`,-; I,' ?e;415.r. 1 ... _ RENE ME ME --- , _about il,:hieiteCcint cif iha rciomvl4 OP :haMt , Y n r w. 1 1 40 1. gbiOc!!_ii? c.ol,ithese „gentle . i tin,that„ .nutil ynu,rl: . iturn.,,sith the Money; they meg take ' Luid Val leja's tVord . for the mum he, wisher to play:" j • . 4.. , :M• st.assuredlyt-will:"` ansiveted the ' , ming man. iastifyi; and. I am,onlY ,sorry that the Senor' L . Marquis , should have th ought' it advisable to iiin any thing . - reeembling n'iliglit'iqicen a fiiend of mine and'iuy father's; Gentlemen 1" he continoed,,tcr the' bankers," it toiler you Joy' „guaranty fer the sum_ Count Vallejalis about to p ay." • j _ The ,old Marquis bowed his head._ 44 .. Thit is quite sufficient, Den Ha -1 fael," emit' he. . is 11 havolhe Minor of 'knowing ypu perfectly well: -, His Sen oria,, the Coeut , Valles,,,,is, oniy, kuown to me as Count . Valleja, and I am Cer-. Lain - that, on reflectien, neither he nor you will blame ' inel for acting as I -do, when:o heavy a stO is at stake.n - DOOl I'afae' left-the room. The for. : pal Marquis removed the piece of mon eyleam off the pack, and took ip, the cards pith as much; dry inilifference ma if he were no way concerned in- the result eithe impoitint tame that was about to be..phlyed.l: Valleja sauntered to the window, huraming.,.a tune, be tween his ._ teeth, I:aid ,steping out, pinthe ' the awnin g; little 'aside,.and Iclanetl over the balcony. • ' -. The bankeeliegan to draw the cards, one after the other,' slowly and dabber. .erittely.- . Nearly .half the pack ;was dealteut, without a king or an ace ap peering. The players and 'pokera, on were 'breathless ‘vith'inxiety ; the Fall . of a pin would. have ' been ' audible.-- The - Anne which the; count continued to hum, From his station on, the. balcony, was heard, in the stillness that reigned, as distinctly as thotigh it had been thun dered !oat by a whole Ortheetra. Anoth erf card, and another, were drawn, and then-bhedecisive one appeared: ,The elienCe ,Fras_ immediately changed for a 113ffillit of words and exclamation. . - . S 1 Que es viol!' said "Valleja, turning half round, and smelling, .as he spoke, a 4 stiperb " flower - which he' had just plucked from one a the plants in the, balcony.aa What's the matted". aa The ice-9' said the person nearest the Windovi, who then paused and hes itated. Well, said Vallejo, with' a sneer; on the ace--what then?' It htts won, 1 suecose ?'- . " It has won." 14 Mi.& Lunn! It was to be expect. edf it! would, since I - went on the king." Andltuining round again, he resumed his tune and his gaze into the street. Ha derser rieo," said the Spaniard to another Of the players. «He Must be rich. It would' be difficult to take the loss" of thikv thousand dollars more welly. than that." 'Five minutes elapsed, .during which the.hankers were, busy : counting; out their in order to sea: the exact stithl due them by'the nefOrtnnite When the jingle of money -end rustle of'paper ceased; Valleja looked round, for the second time. much l ie there, Scanner cried' he. ',..lThirty thousand four hundred arid thirty dollars lost Senor Conde," ripli ed-tlie old Marquis,: with a bcrw :ofvo f4.9ud respsct for, one, who could bear such a loss with !such adinirstle Judi& ference. . ' Very good," Was- the-Count'i slyer, ." an& here - comes -the' man :who Will pay it you." • Accordiagly..the next. - minute e has- ty &tip Was. heart.% openshe steirs. All' eyes wcreltirued to -the ` doer, Which': opened. and Rafael Soleil° enered. 61 r . IV here irthci Count,r exclaimed he,hurried !Oar!, tau) witbtlieetna• posed countenance. • , Again everylieeil "was turned tewaids the, window , but'the Count - lied r disirij peered. -' At the4stitner moment -in !'the street below, which -was a' quiet and unfrequented one, there arose an unu nOise of , voices. The, manta ,PlaYere refilled Ito' 'thei" - wlnilows, and setv several'pertinne collected reuntla' matt whottilthei-were `raising: from` tire :ground, .Ris,skell was, &lightly,. Irani tailed, and ,the parementaroued spri)i)c-i tet with hie blood. Rafael and some Others hurled &wit' befere ifiey • reached the'street,'Colint Luieleralleit had expired.. The gambler's laststake had been his -.. ; ; I When. young Solano . reached hie father's_ house, and repairin g his fat 4. er-"enpirtment,-i'"OPtined ',the 'desk Which Vallepi' lied girete hint the' keyi: fikund'that itcentained.iteithertioteit: nor any thing else of value, but merely: slew warthlesiyapers. Aetooisbedtt title; and in siate:ofh s prepossession la :favor; of the. aunt, teehtrghiesiislnF ENE t;zl, IE-'11; ;0DZUNP0ci21041174=0;44,01790, ~:.~ii r` [i ~f •;:n