The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-05-27
THE CAPTAINS LOSS AND
WIDOWS GAIN.

THE CAPTAINS LOSS AND
WIDOWS GAIN.
At nightfall, on an autumnal evening when
the stars were jus: beginning to twinkle over
head, like diamonds on canopy of azure
two young men were standing together engag.
ed in a conversation, on the steps of the
Black Eagle, fashionable hotei in one oi
he principal streets efthe gay and celebrated
city of Vienna. One of them wore the rich
uniform OF an Austrian huzzar, the other was
clad IN the civic costume OF gentleman.
So all is completed at the Ministry OF
War, except the signature of the Commission.
and the payment of the purchase money ?'
said the soldier.
Exactly so.''
sand Tomorrow, thon.' continued the huz-
Ear, l am to congratulate you on the COM
mand of company, and salu tie you as Cap
tain Ernest Walstein'
Ine last speaker was Captain Christian
Stelnfort, an officer who had seen two years
service rf-
"Ah! my boy!H continued he, twirlrg
his dark moustache, "your uniform will be q
passport to the smiles of the far But YOU
already seem to have your way to the good
graces of Madame Won Berlingen, the rich
widow who resides at this hotel
Bah she is forty" answered Ernest
carelessly.
'But in fine preservation, and beauty for
all that said Captain Steinfo-t. :. The Bar
on Van Daugsrfeld was desperately in love
with her, but within few days the widow
seems rather to have cut him. You are the
happy man, after ALL
''Undeceive yourself, my dear Christian"
ssid Ernest, blushing, - l have only hrted
tha
ready engaged to charming girl, Meena
Altenburg, the playmate OF my nfa ncv, adop-
ted and brought up by my good father lam
to marry her as soon as / get my COMPANY
'.And what Is 10 support you Captain
Ernest? %
Ny pay, of course, and the income of
the moderate dowry my father, who is well
enough off for farmer, proposes to give his
favorlte. So you see my lot in life is settled"
Precisely SC" replied the Captain. But
sincesyou are free this evening, | engage VOC
TO pass il with NE. Have YOU got any money
about you?',
"A good deal Besides the price of nv
company, which is safely slowed away in bank
notes in this breast-pockef, have a handful
of ducats about me, with which | propose
purchasing some trinkets for my bride Blu:
l have gold piece or two that / can spare,
il"
"Pooh! Poohl Tn well enough provided y
answered the Captain. s. You know this is
payday. Come along.
But whither?"
you shall see.
With these words the Captain thrust his
arm within that of his coy1panion, and the
pair walked off at rapid rate. After pass
ing through several streets, Steinsort halted,
nd NJ tho door Of
1t was opened by servant in baodsome livery
and the young gentleman entered, ana went
up sta rs.
Walstein soon found himself in scene
very different from any of which he had ever
dreamed IL his rustic and simple life upon bis
fathers farm. Around a large table covered
with cloth were seated more thana dozen per
sons of different ages, all so intent upon what
was going forward, that the Captain and his
friend took their seats unnoticed. At the
head of the table sat man, in a gray wig,
with pair of green spectacles upon his nose,
before whom lay pile of gold, and who was
busily engaged in paying and receiving
money, and il. giving an impetus to a small
ivory ball which spun, at intervals, its ap-
pointed course. Walstcin soon learned that
this was a .rougeet- noir table. The gentle
nan in the grey wig was the banker
Make your game, gentleman said this
Individual, "while the ball spins. Your luck 5
as good as mine. It's ali luck gentlemen,
at rouge et-noir. Rouge et-noir, gentlemen,
the finest in the world. Black wlns-its 5
yours, sir-twenty ducats and you've doubled
it. Make your game-black or red
"Try your torture, Ernest" said the ap-
tain.
Ernest mechanically put down 4 few ducats
on the red.
"Red WINS said the banker in the same
monotonous tone. make your game gem
tlemen, while the ball rooIs.''
Wey need we follow the fortunes of Ernest
on this fatal evening, as be welded step by
step, to the seduction to which he was now
exposed for the first time in his lite? Long
after Steiufort left the gambling house, he
continued to play. His luck tn ned. He had
soon lost all his winnings, and the money set
apart for his bridal presents. He had broken
the package Of bank notes, the money he had
received from his father for the purchase of
his commission, and though he saw bill after
bill swept away before bis eyes, he continued
to play, in the desperate hope of winning
back his losses. At length his last ducat was
gone. He rose and left the room, the last
words ringing in his ear, beings
Make your game, gentlemen, while the
ball rollsf'
Despairing and heart-stricken the young
man sought his hotel and his chamber. On
the staircase, he encountered Madame Won
Serlingen, but he saw Fer not-his eyes were
giazed-he did not notice or return her salu-
tation. He threw himself upon his bed, with
out undressing, and toward morning fell into
an unrefreshing and dream peopled slum-
Der.
When he arose late the next day, he looked
at himself IN the glass, but scarcely recog-
nized his ow face, SO changed was he by the
mental agonies he had undergone When he
had paid some little attention to his toilette,
he received message from Madame Won
Berlingen. requesting the favor of ALI inter
view in her apartments. He mechanically
obeyed the summons, though ilkftted to sus-
tain a conversation with lady.
The widow requested him to be seated.
Mr.. Wals.ein," said she, with a smile,
"you are growing very aHant. met
you last night upon the staircase, b1t though
spoke to you, you had not a word or a nod
for me-" si a. 'Tsi
"Last night, madam, answered the u,.for-
tunate young man, Il was beside myself
o, madam-if you knew all..', &
81 do know all, replied TIE lady.
what! that had bet n gambling-that
had thrown away-yes, those are the words
EVERY ducat Of the money my poor father
furnished me with to purchase my commits
sion."
fes-l know all chat. But the loss is not
irreparsble." - 49,
Pardon me, madam. My father, though
repated wealthy, is unable to furnish me with
similar sum, even if l were base enough To
accept it at his hands,"
But if some friend were to step for.
ward ~
"Alas! know none"
.a ',t .5s.s .-.re7 ~