The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-08-15

misery, need not be followed np.---
Suffice IL to say that n passion, FL.
ry, an actual phrenzy Of play, alb
sorhcd every faculty Of my sotil--
mine was worse than u Prometllean
fate 4 was gi,awed aud detouied
by an inward fire which nothing
could allay. Alas not even poyer-
~ and the want OF materials could
quench II. An my career OF prospo.
rity, ! fell not tho fraud r was prac-
tlsing upon my wife, for meant to
make my peace with ten OF. twenty
Thousand pounds in my hand. Il u sin
corc renunfiation nf gaming in my
heart but now that was bringing
ruin upon her aud my children. the
sense OF my faIsehood aud treacbcry
embittcrihg tlc anguish of my loss,
/ plunged ne into an nnutterahlc re-
morse and agony of soul. Still L
wanted courage TO make the fatal
revelation, and ~ last only impaired
IL TO her in the coWalliice Of ilnpen-
ding disgrace.
nAipaAlne Dnsboulisrs says very truly,
IsOhd gameatifs hegiu by heing dufes aud
eod - beng hnates, AID | am sllout 10
confirm II by an aHuaul 10 which nothing
should hate inpelled mr. bit the nope Of
lettering others hy an ekp0sure nfny onu
delinquency. A female relation hld re-
| mttcd ne seeen hundred pounds 10 puf-
ehaae into the French funds, with winch
sum ia ny pocket unfortunately called az
the Salon des Elransers in my way 10 the
stock brokers', " my evil genius suggesting
In me that there was glorious opportunity
otiecpvering my heavy louses,l snatehed tho
NOTES from my pocket, threw them nn the
table just before lhr dealer began --and lost
stunned by the blow, | went home in II
state of calm despair, communicated ths
whole % my wife 10 ~ few words ms posi-
BILE, aud ended by declaring that she wass
begsar, AND her husband disgrhccd forever,
MOI yet, my dear Charles replied the GO.
| nelous wnndn, her eyes beaping with alec
tnnato forgiveness mot yet may stll
eKclaim with the t'iepch lling after the bat
tie Of Parin, we have lostesety thing but DOR
honor and, while we retain Mat, our los-
ses are but IA a grain Of sand. w. may
be depressed by fortune, but We can oply
be di-graeed by Uur3olse5. hs To this Sc
ven hundred pounds, take my jensls--tbsy
will sell for fnore than IL required it our
present misfbrtunes induce u8 10 ny from
Parts, aud abandon this pursuit. they VIII
asahFdly become the greatest blessing ~
our lllr'
No reproach ever passed her lips, or lin
gered ~ her eye; nor did tail Ia observe
the delicacy which mingled up her own
late with nine, girOVe 10 south my feeling,
10y isGulsing my individual guilt under lbs
cloak Of JOINT inBfortllnu. Noble minded
woman hezentlus himself, could npt have
devised morc crurt fate than 10 tis thee
10 a soui 50 dead 60 shame, aud SO dcfunet
10 gratitude as mine
Nlll not the reader lnaih and detegt me,
wen worse tban | do myself, when IN
form him, that in retorn for al this magma
nimlty, hid the detest9be baseness 10 lin
ger IN PARIS, 10 haunt tie gaining table, To
teatnre the mfrlehed d alninss Of my pnrse
IN the ottger rom. 10 bueome an habiHai
borrower of palfry sunls under pledges Of
repay ment, nlueh knewi had mol the
means Of redeemiug, and 10 submit tamely
II III" tndigoity Of palpabr culs from my
aeqpaintanefs IA the pubic streets From
frequently ene0untcrrpg ~ the Salons, | had
formed 4 slighf Friendship with Lord +
Lofd -, SIR 6 ", Coz T.,
nd particularly via, poor ) --t, before
he had contaminated his fine tortaae, - de.
blliiated hts frame by paralysis brought on
by an&iely aud was npou. terms of mt
macy Win others OF my c0nntrymen, who
with yHtiong success, bat much more am
pie MEANS lhan myself, were making offer
inss 10 the damon Of Rouge II .Noir.
aAopld this brief memoir fall beneath the
eyes ofany ofmy quondam freods they may
not linpussihly derive benefit from itspe.
rasai al all events, they may be pleased to
know that have not forgot their kindness
srs. ] am aware that | abused their conf.
dence aud wafe out their patience hut
never anticipated the horror To which tho
exhaustion of my own means, and tue ina-
bilhy to extot more from others, would
reduce me. The anguish Of my losses, tlis
misery OF my degradation, the agony OF
mod with which reflected upon my inl-
ppseIiohcd wife aud family, were nothing,
absolutely nothing, compared 10 tho rack
ing torment af being compelled 10 refrain
! from gaming IL sounds Incredible, but It
| Is strictly lfe. To ait at the table with
empty pockets aud sec others playing, waa
absolutely Insuppoltable. | eu'ied even
! the hea, lest losefs--cOold have found an
Antagonist, | would have sambled for an
eye, an arm, Il leg. for life itself thou
sand devils seemed 10 be gnawing at MY
| heart--l believe | was niad--I even hope
| nds.
icsi have taskcd myself 10 detail my
moral degradatiop aud utter prostraiion of
charaeter with a fideity worthy of kous
scau himself, aud | feel it a duty not to
shrink from J, complete exposure. After
night possed ia the state of MUD baye
been describing IN one of those haunts
which | was justly cnliied to dennminate d
heli, wanderedo ut Al day break towards
lie Point de Jeba, as If ! could cool my
parehed lips and bnping hf..ii by the hca-
! ~ sho"er that was fallng As the drip-
| ping rustlcs passed nlu "n then market
| hnr..e einpinr and tYni.iIln iAnir hallIi.