Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-06
EVENING STAR,
HOW A DUTCH BANKER sAvRn HIS
WIPE

PARIS, December Z, 1854.
A young and very pretty woman de.
buted, as the French say, the other even.
ing at the opera in lodge of the frs,
rank. Many were the lorgnettes direct.
ed towards her, and many were the in,
quiries made by old habi sues concernine
her position, derivation, &c, She is very
pretty, intensely so, if you will allow
me the expression, Colonel, and attached
to her is quite a romantic history which
my ever-industrious friend, Mons. Gui.
not, has kindly placed in print, and will
your permission, l will briefly relate il
to you.
1t appears that some twenty wears
since there resided in the city of Am.
sterdam a Dutch banker, who found
himself in the flower of his age at the
head of fourishing financial establish.
ment, successful in bis enterprises, happy
in his lot, and above all-the climax and
danger of his prosperity-the husband
of young and charming woman.
Devotedly attached to his wife, the
banker surIt unded her with every com.
fort and luxury which he could devise
and procure; he dressed her in the new.
est fashions brought from Paris at enor.
nous expense; he accompanied her him.
self into society, and never refused to in.
dulge her in her taste for ball or spectacle.
The idle loved the toilette, the ball, the
spectacle and even her husband and
thus they dwelt together in the most
amiable manner in the world. After
five or six years of unalloyed domestic
bliss, the husband, believing himself Sc.
cure, defed misfortune. But brilliant
fop-for Dutch fops exist as we'll as Par.
isian-suddenly presented himself and
offered to the young and fascinating wife
most passionate homages. The gallant
had but recently inherited large prop
erty, and he had cunningly placed it all
in the hands Of the banker. 1t was an
adroit plan to facilitate his reception in
the house and furnish him with an Cd.
portunity to faire sa cour to madam.
Young, handsome, rich and entertaining
he rapidly made himself great favorite;
and though repulsed by superb and
desperate defence gained q temporary
place in the lady's heart. Her husband
one bright, unclouded morning, inter-
cepted letter which she had written to
her indefatigable suitor, and in every
line he discovered the efforts of a virtue
which it was necessary to aid. But how
to destroy this dangerous seducer, who,
having, no other anxiety, could employ
his timei and money in doing the amia-
BILE while the unfortunate husband was
out of the way, attending to his affairs
in his pursuit of life? How was he to
free himself and her from this embar.
rasment "In tempest, when the
vessel is in danger of laundering, they
throw the cargo into the sea" reasoned
the Dutchnan his safety lay in q simi-
lar e1pedlent; his resolution was taken.
He did not hesitate for an instant.
He sought and readily found speculations
Of the most hazardous nature, offering
chances of certain loss, and without feal
or remorse he boldly entered into them
But not until having previously, and un.
der divers pretexts, liquidated his &C
counts with all his clients, preserving
only the funds of his young friend, the
intimate associate of his family. and ths
beguiler of his wife. The speculation
produced the anticipated results. Th,
fortune of the banker and the funds O
the gallant were swallowed up in tn,
huge loss. The banker failed, but failed
to all appearances honorably. He hao
been unhappy in his operations, and
nothing remained to him. With what
could the world reproach him? Over.
whelmed with his despair, the young
roue sought no longer the success of his
intrigue. Overthrown from his position
harrasSed by creditors, sad and ashamed
he disappeared from the theatre of his
clipSed glory to seek other resources
and submit to a more humble condition
in life.
The rescued wife did not bend unde,
the disaster; she became, after the re.
verse of fortune, calm and serene, as in
her most brilliant moments. Encour.
age me-" said her husband, sustain
me, and l will yet render YOU riches and
station" Ard as he was an honest man,
esteemed and loved, aid came to him
from every side. Credit and clients were
again at his disposal, and by diligence,
skill, and good luck, in few years he
acquired a handsome fortune. Later.
much later. when the danger no longer
existed, and the lady had passed the ags
of conquests, the noble old chap discov.
cred the obscure gallant and rendered
him a large proportion of what he had
made him lose. He retired at length
from all business occupation, and with
his constant wife passed a happy life
They We're blessed with children, an6
the young and pretty female at the oper.
is their daughter, lately married to q ricl
and noble young man, who receives will
her dowry munifcent and honorably
gained. Yours, FLANEuR.
DESPKRATR AHn RArar nnnp.m