The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-12-20


or d. more startling reflection Wha, would
Sir Edward. Hitler. and Apsley think Of him.
dragging them to play. and winning their
money. without giving them an opportunity
Of retrieving their losses! The more he
though, Of II, the more was he embarrassed;
and az he tossed about on his bed, the sns
picion flashed across his disturbed mind. that
he was embroiled with gamblers. With what
G. edit could ne skulk from the attack he had
himself provoked? perplexed and agitated
with the dilemma he had drawn upon himself
he came to the conclusion, thai, at all events,
he must invite the ba,onet and his friends TO
dinner TINT day. and give them their revenge,
when he might retreat with honor, and for
ever. Every one who reads these pages will
anticipate the event. Gaming is.sr magical
stream; ifyou debut wade far enough into il,
to wei the soles OF your feet, there is au in
fuence in the waters, which draws you ir
rcsisibly in, deeper and deeper, till you are
sucked into the roaring vortex. and perish.
lfit were not undnly parodoxicaI. one might
say with respect 10 ginning. tha, he comes 10
the end. who has made q beginning" Mr..
Beauchamp post ipone the business which he
had himself fixed for Transaction that evening.
and received Sir Edw ard who had found
out that he could noto venture from home nj
nights his friends ~ith all appearance
Of cheeriulness and cordiolny. In his heart
he felt all at ease; but his nnessincss vanish
cd with every glass Of wine drunk. His
guests were oil men of ofconversation, and they
took care TO select the most interesting top
ics. Beanchamp was delighted. Some slight
laughing illusions wero made by Hitler and
Apsey to their overnight's adventure; but
Sir Edward coldIy characterized IL as "an
absurd affair" and told them they deserved
TO suffer as they did. This was exactly the
signal for which Beauchsmp had long been
waiting; and he proposed in a moment that
cards and dice should be brought in to finish
The evening with. Hitler and Apsley hesiia.
ted; Sir Edward looked al his watch and talk
ed of the opera. Beauchamp. however, was
peremptory and down they ell sat--and TO
hazard!-- Besnc hsmp was dSedly determined
to lose that evening hundred pounds, inclu
Give Of his overnlght's winnings; and veiled
his purpose so f,insily, that his opponents
saw in moment "wb hat he was after" Mr.
Apsley laid down the dice box with haugh-
~ air. and said. MIR. BeauchsInp, do not
understand you, sir be pleased besides, to
recollect at whose instance we safe dow to
this evenings hazard"
Mr.. Beauchamp laughed il of, and protest.
ed he did his best. ApsIcy. apparently eats
| fed, resumed his play, and Their victim Jetf
himself in their meshes--ihat the ''spare Of
the fow Ter was upon him" They played
with vssous success for about two hours; nd
Sir Edwa ard as listIessIy iDtimsting his in
tenion TO have a throw for the first time,
"for company's sake" when the card Of n
young noblcman, one of the mos, prof gate
ofthe pruHigaie set, whom Bcauchamp had
known at Oxford, was bruugh, in
"Ah! Lord--n'exclsiincd Sir Edward.
with joyful surprise, ian age since saw you!
How very strsnge-how fortunste that
should happen to be here! Oh. come, Beau.
champ, ,"-seeing his host disposed to utter a
| frigd mot at home, ,'--"come you must ask
him in! The very best fellow in life!" Now,
Lord----and Sir Edward were bosom friends,
equally unprinciplcd. aud that very morning
had they arranged this most unexpected vsit
of his lordsh,p! As soon as the ably sustain
ed excitement and enthusiasm Of his lordship
had subsidized, he Of course assured them that
he should leave immediately. unless they
proc eeded with their play. aud he stationed
| himself as on locker beside Benuchapp.
The Internal crew now began 10 see they
had, il "slI their own way" Their tactics
might have been finally frustrated had Beau
champ but possessed suflicieqi mora courage
to yield to the loud promp,ings of his better
judgment, and firmly determined To stop in
time. Alas! however, he had taken into his
bosom the torpid snake and kept II. there
till il revived. IN the warmth Of excitement
he forgot his fears; and bis decsying propen
sites play were rapidly resc0sltated. Before
The evenings close he had entered into the
spirit of The game with as keen relish as a
professed gRmcstcT!--With o sort Of phren
zy he proposed bets. which the cautious bar.
one, and his cosdutors testaied, and at last
refused to take! About 3 o'clock they sep
arated and on making up their accounts. they
found that so equally had profit and loss
been shared. that no one had lost or gained
more than 20i Beauchnmp accepted seat
IN Lord------'s box at the opera for the next
evening and the one following that he en-
gnged to dine with Apsley. Aft0r his geusts
had retired, he betook himself to bed, with
comparatively none of those heart smtings
which hso kept him sIcepless tho night BE-
fore. The men with whom he had been play.
ing we're evidently no professional gamblers,
and he felt himself safe IN their hands.
To the opera. pursuant to PROMISE be went,
and to Apsey's Al The f"rmer he recog.
n'zed several ofhs college acquaintance; nd
arshe latter's house he spent delightful ev-
enIng, never having said better thugs, and
never being more fai'eringly attended 70,
and the nights socIsl enjoyment was wound
up with friendly rubber for stakcs lapgha
bly, small. This was SIR Edwards scheme,
for he was not, il will be recoIlected, TO
"frighten the bird" The doomed Beau.
champ retired to rest, better salts fled with
himself and his friends than ever; for he had
transacted little real business dnrIng the
day; written two letters to the country. and
dispatched them, with a pair Of magnificent
bracelets, to Ellen played ,hew whole evening
at unpretending whist, and won two gum
cas-, instead Of accompanying Lord----and
Hitler 10 the establishment in----strcet,