Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-10


was a pleasure trip through Switzerland and
the Grand Duchy of Baden. Emma started
for Switzerland "like towards 20 into action,
looking back every step" Unable to commu-
cate with her lover, she still hoped he would
be acquainted with their movements, and follow
them; nor was she mistaken, for, to her in
efable delight, Meo took the eighth seat in
the railway carriage. So soon ss the captain
slept, the young couple began their mutual
confessions. Unfortunately for Meo, he had
started on wrong track. He intended to be
most courteous to tho captain and win his good
graces, but he ought to have treated him
roughly, having to deal with man who COM
menced his pleasure trip in this way at the
Hotel des Trois Rois, at Basic.
NJ. Bitterlin was not yet served. He, went
from the dining room to the terrace, unable to
choose table or order breakfast The head
waiter and the landlord both pressed him, and
were unable to satisfy him. Listen to me-"
he said, II wish to breakfast, not like glut-
ton, who makes god Of his belly, or like that
Of gentleman, who looks like an OK in q stall.
Still, L must restore myself after my nights
travel. I am not afraid of expense, and I
should blush to breakfast like that mean
student, who is dipping slice Of bread in his
coffee ..|.
"We have, sir" the landlord said "salmon,
trout, erayfsh," 6c.
"Is your fish fresh, thought I know your
came out Of Noah's Ark Besides, the sauce
makes the fsh, and you fellows never knew
how to compose one. 1t is French science
and you can keep your fish to yourself
The head waiter went on: ''In game we have
roebuck, chamois, hare, partridges The shoot
ing season began this morning."
'No. thank you--killed this morning. Per.
haps you will like me to eat the soles of boots ~
In butchers meat we have roast mutton
and beef, kidneys, outlets" &C.
Yes, and bet you put onion in every
thing" =
Here he approached an inoffs nsive traveller.
who was eating duch and onions with consider
able appetite
"AIS MsIi you .;,s going to eat that stuff sir'"
:. And you will perhaps say it is an exquisite
dish. Well, opinions are free, especially as
the animals OF this canton indulge in the luxury
Of republic. Bnt, allow me to say, in nv
turn, thst man must have a most perverted
taste to eat such rubbish, and call it good in
the bargain
And here the gallant captain ordered the
waiter to bring him what he liked, and the
meal went on tolerably serenely, except that
the butter was not fresh lin SwitzerlandD and
he threw double plate at the walters head.
with this comment: ~ am not fastidious. 1
have drunk horse broth out Of a cuirassier's
helmet. But-here represent the great army
OF France, and the slightest neglect is an in
suit. You see the river that runs below your
barrack; it belonged TO me. conquered it
with my comrades" -'
Within tWsnty-four hours the captain had
special object of aversion in the italian, who
would insist on paying him polite attention.
Still the party proceeded onward, the captain
abusing the inevitable trout till they reached
Lucerne, where the principal sight. according
To our author, Is "honest plantigrade Swiss
lounging about in their Sunday clothes, and
pretty English girls holding up their gowns to
display their red petticoats." At tSchafhausen,
where the party broke up for a short period,
NJ Bitterlin had an opportunity of expressing
all his horror of gambling, for he had never
touched card in bis life, always acting ON the
golden rule when asked to play; II am not
poor enough 10 need your money, nor rich
enough to make you present Of mine" and
he concluded by an assertion that such dens of
iniquity as Baden Baden ought to be put down.
Another of the party took up the cudgeIs and
defended public gambling in a very specious
manner. -F
However plausible his arguments might
have been, they did not alter the captains de-
cision. He laughed at the fascinations of rouge
ct noir, and at length declared he would 90 to
Baden and prove that one man, at any rate.
could be firm. With those doughty resolution,
the French gentleman, WI s,e name was M. lie
Roy, and Meo took leave of the captain, who
promised to follow them 10 Baden in a few days
and prove the frmness of q French soldier.
On reaching Baden, Meo soon yielded to the
temptation. He played with varying luck for
two or three nights, and had staked his last
Louis, whenc aecidently turning his head, he
saw the fsrocious Captain Bitterlin standing
behind him. Horrifed at being thus detected
by the father Of his Emma, who had SO in.
weighed against gambling, the young man
turned and fed. Tho captain had time,
however, to recognise him, and said to him.
aaIf wit ffv
has not the courage of his vice. Why, he has
forgotten his 20 fancs-20 francs at one stake!
two hundred pounds of ammunition bread. y
However, he hedetermined to have hearty laugh
when the Louis was lost but unfortunately
the black gained, and Meo's Louis received a
companion. -.r.. p - .5.-.- :. - = :
"Well, after all, {" the captain thought s.tbe
young hunbug will lose at the second round.
But he was mistaken, and the captain saw so
francs before him. He regarded with contem pt
this gold, stained with the curse of gambling.
1t was quite new, and glistened in the lamp
light; and, on seeing the coins, the captain
thought involuntsrily Of the first four Louis he
franc pieces of yellow gold, very old, very
worn, and rather clipped. His mother had
taken them out OF stocking, and slipped them
into his hand when he went to the wars sWbat
a differences, he thought, between these i'm
morHl counters and those ec.abIe medals
"hiOn haobacr sdncuneQ by labor and
economy" This reflection was interrupted by
the rake bringing him four more Louis. This
aroused a fresh train of thought "ParbIeu,
there's the justice of fortune When was
second captain. I had to fight whole month
to gain the sum this young scoundrel has eot
by three turns Of the cards Fortunately.
there's 80 for the black-snd, no. there's 20
for the red. Two months of my pay in NJ.
Narni's pocket. :" i.~'f - .ftTi'T
So things went on, the black passed con.
tinually, till the captain had 300 and odd Louis
before him, and the room was becoming ex-
cited. Already three or four pretty Young
women had come 10 borrow FIVE Louis of the
captain, and he had received them like ayboar
would the hounds; at length the black had |
passed again and left before him total Of 5,I2e
francs This multiplication of gold scands- |
llzed him! 5000 francs-one year of his income
gained in few moments. A servant brought |
him chair, but though he said he was done |
playing be gradually sank into it, The banker |
6egan dealing again, and gave the black 81. |
NJ. bh'eriin noticed the s0owling face of this |
person, and thought there would be a noble
and chivsirous pleasure in winning from tbese |
immoral enterprises. And when he had 10. GOO 4
francs before him, he regarded himself as
m ffrtn N u rs - 4