Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-24
The Gentlemen's Club.
A Thrilling Tale.

llght evening on the quarter decR-l was U
member of the Gentlemens Club
'rhe deuce you were exclaimed Sable, the
chaplain, who had been pacing to and fro
studying his sermon for the morrow. That
was loug time ago. then, Jack; or else they
soon found you out, chr =.
Not even your dingy cassock would save
you from the consequences of that remark
your Sable reverence, if were member OF
it now said Jack.
Halo! the Steward has served out too
much thunder and lightning in your grow,
tonight returned the chaplain, laughing -
Its lucky for me, tsen, according to your
reckoning, that you are gentleman no lon
ger, eh, JackT
Upon my soul, Sable. | really believe that
if was to fish for laugh in the streets of
London, with your wit for bait, should haul
up a prayer--it is so confoundedly like
preaching. But come, deuce the chatter, if
l am to obey orders and spin yarn
'Yes, yes, pay out, Jack; pay out; and ithis
reverence don like the number of his mess,
let him sing psalms over the taft rail, for the
spiritual edihcatIon of IT Domingo Billy and
his SUITE, observed the first lutf, and Jack
responded accordingly.
well, | was member of the Gentlemen's
Club in 1911; there was five hundred and
sixty OF us, aud we used to assemble at Col
llngford, in the Hay Market. whenever gen.
eral summons 10 the Club WAS issued for the
purpose OF Receiving a new member.
The rules of admission were in no re-
spect arbitrary or proscrlptive. lfa man was
gentleman, he could demand his right to
JOIn us. and yet, sirs, a young nobleman, but
one move from the blood royal has been re-
jected. Our list included one nfember of the
royal family, the President Of the club, with
lords and gentlemen from the upper and low
er houses ot Parliament. gentlemen OF almost
every profession, religion, law aud physic;
officers of the amy aud navy, and
w ell, but what constituted the rite or
form of admission or rejectionF inquired the
first luf.
You must excuse me there, sir; you will
hardly expect me 10 expose the secrets otthe
club, in wasting an hour for the entertain
ment of the qudrter-deck.' said Jack.
On, certainly not certainly not eXcaim-
ed several olhcers ut once. And one ofthem
added, who was familiar with JACKS excel
lent qualities, your speaking of time when
you were member of me club, INDUCED me
10 suppose that Ii was dissolved, for | could
never conceive the idea of your being rejec
ted from the society of gentlemen.
Illlson acknowledged the compliment with
u bow and IA smile and said
The cub has been dissolved; an incident
occurred IN lol7, winch led TO the result.
aud which | will explain after have got
through my present story. The period to
which refer was IN ;he year loll. / hada
sister who was IN her eighteenth year-a
beoutliu. girl, accomplished, well educated,
aud possessing natural quahhcatOrs of a su-
periur order. You will excuse me Tor say.
my ths much OF one whom st,l dearly love,
sad Jack, pare1tneticdny--dud ms still
handsome features Justified the brief tribute
to his sisters beauty.
That daredevil yonder;' he continued,
pointing to muddy VINO was engaged in
spreading a moose OH the lower rafting OF
the mzzen shrOuds, for monkey ch ,ttering
in It's iancifuI descent rom the top, 'tDat boy
Is her Oldest son and as he declares he viii
distinguish himself ln the trst action | shall
take care TO give hIm chance. My sister
was, at this time, the o0Jcct of the very re-
sPectiul attentions "f young man, the son
oi a banker ia l.umOarI street, aud the heir
OF great expectations. T. INN on my re-
turn from heuiterranedn crulso was in.
troaHced. and of course made Il my special
business 10 sound hin la short tune
had pretty well gol the chart Of hs character
In ali It's bearings; aud had been endowed
with power 10 manufacture tie man | would
nave for my sisters husband, 1 really don't
believe / would have t0rned out a superior
article. His manners were exceedingly un
assuming and gentle-eXacty suited To mate
with the exquisite senSlblhty that was pecu-
liarly characters lc of Kate, az | used 10 call
her. Ia person he was what one could call
as pretty will not apply to
a man, according TO my notion--hc was sim
gulurly interesting. There was that in his
appearance which would seem an anomaly IN
nature 10 see associated with vice. His
white and lofty forehead seemed fair front
of a temple devoted to virtue, and through the
windows of his eyes, one might imagine that
her appointed guardian kept parental watch
against an attack from the cruisers that eter-
naly beset the fair sailing craft of that in
fernal city of London. | loved him with
something of tbr love had for my sister
it was not frlendshp--l loved him.
'We were together one night at Covent
Garden Theatre, when a.valued aequant-
ance stepped up to me, and after the usual
cOurtesles. handed me note, at the same
time remarking, that it saved the necessity
of committing 1t to the office introduced
him to my young companion. and afterwards
he left us. The note proved To bean order
to attend at Collingford's on that day week,
to receive a new member into the Gentle
mons Club.
The 'Gentlemens s Club'r exclaimed Hen
ry. (my young friend. ARE you member of
that club!'
! replied in the affirmative.
u have long time been desrous to join
it, said he, 'and now | must insist upon your
proposing me
What thrill went through me as he
spoke these words. When thought o: the
consequences of which he little dreamed-of
my sister
And Hilson abruptly checked himself, as
fhe had unthinkIngly betrayed something
that he should have concealed.
Il sndeavored,' he continued, 'to avoid the
subject, and changed the conversation; but
Heurv continually brought me back. lie