The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-05-27

Mr. Walstein," said the LADY, =" am rich
A loan OF the requisite amount would not af
feet me in the least." s,. ew 81
you would indeed save me BY such generosi
ty, you would be an angel of mercy"
-" What is the amount Of your loss 2" in
quired the lady, calmly, as she unlocked he,
desk. sr,t.,tl -..,gei i.ta %
Three thousand ducats, answered Ernest
"but ! can give you no security for the pay
ment." Fiis'7li
"Your note of hand is sufficient" said the
lady handing the young man a package o.
notes. please to count those, and see if the
cum Is correct. Here are writing materials
Ernest did as he was bid-counted the
money, and then sat down at the desk.
"Write at my dictetion;' said the lady.
Ernest took up a pen and commenced.
1" The date" said the lady.
Ernest wrote i: sEt
Received of Anna Won Berlingen the
F., sum of three thous.nd ,ducats."
Ernest wrote and repeated" three thou
sand ducats."
"In consideration, promise TO marry the
aforesaid Anna Won Berlingen."
$40 marry you :" exclaimed Ernest.
"AS-to marry me !" said the lady. "Am
deformed-am ugly-am | poor?"
-" cannot do it-you know not the reason
that induces me to refuse"
Then go home to your father and confess
! your guilt"
/ Ernest reflected few moments. He could
! not 90 home to his father with the frightful
! tale. 1t was question between suicide and
! marriage, be signed the paper.
snow then, Baron" said the widow to her
| self, as she carefully secured the promise,
"you cannot say that you broke the heart of
Anna by your cruelty. Take tie money,
Ernest she added aloud, 60 and purchase
your commission"
Ernest obeyed. His dreams of yesterday
morning had all been dissipated by his own
act; he felt degraded and broken-spirited
criminal. He had sold himself for gold.
Here comes Captain Earnest y cried q
youthful voice. And beautiful, blue-eyed
girl of nineteen stood at the garden gate ofa
pretty farm house, watching the approach of a
hosesfnan, who, gahy at.ired in a huzzar uni
form, vas galloping up the road. At her
shout of delight, a sturdy old gray haired man
came forth and stood beside her.
Captain Ernestr' he repeated. That
sounds we'll. When VAS OF his age, / only
carried musket in the ranks. l never
dreamed then that a son uf mine coull ever
aspire to the epauette.'
Eruest, waving his hand to Meena Altsn-
burg and his father, rode past them 70 The
Stale where he left his horse. He then rush
ed into the farmhouse, where his father met
him. y - - - -
What is the meaning of this, boy?' be
said . How Wild and haggard you look
And you have avoided Meena-and this, too,
upon yo wedding-day
Ny wedding day. o heayeu' ! shall
die said the young man, sinking into
seat. r.-.- .-s --.,s-f. g. r.3 -
As soon as he could collect himself, he told
his father that he could not marry Meena,
and the reason,--he had pledgyd himself to
another. The old man, who was the soul of
honor, burst forth in riOlent in,preca.ions,
and drove him from his presence. As he left
tie house, the,,untortUnate young man encounf
tered person whom be at once recognized
as the Baron Won Dangetfeld, the reputed
suitor of Madame Won Berlingen.
- hays been locking for you, Captain
Walstein," said the baron, sternly.
And you have found me-" answered the
young man shortly,
"Yes-=and thank heaven you wear that
uniform It entities you to meet a German
noble, end answer for your conduct"
q am answerable for my conduct to no
living man, retorted Ernest:
"Yuu wear a sword
"Yes"
VERY well-if you refuse 70 give satisfac-
ton for the injury YOU have done me. in rob-
bing me of my mistress, will proclaim yo.'
coward IN the presence of the regiment
upon parade"
20. make Yourself easy on that score,
Baron" answered Ernest Life i, of too
little worth, for me to think of shielding it.
IF YOU will step with me into the shadow of
yonder grove we can soon regulate cur ac'
counts.'' Ff&# a
The two men walked silently to the appoint
ed spot, and, without any preliminary, drew
their swords and engaged in combat. The
struggle was not of very long duration, for
Ernest wounded his adversary in the sword
arm and disarmed him.
Are yo1 satisfied y he asked.
II must be for the present." replied the
Barren, sulleuly !'When recover you shall
hear FROM me again"
"As YOU please" said Finest, coldly. '1n
the meantime suffer me to bind up your
arm
The Young man bandaged the wound OF
his adversary, and an he tal,ered from loss of
blood, led him towards the farm house. As
they approached it. two ladies advanced to
meet them -one of them was Meena, the
other Madam Won Berlingen.
.Dangerfield wounded!' cried the litter
| bursting into tears 80, have been the
cause of this; forgive me-forgive me,
Dangerieli, or you s.ill kill me-"
You forget, madam, that you belong to
another"
Il am yours only-I can never love an.
other-nor does The person You allude t."
added the lady, turning to Ernest, "cherish
any attachment to me. !"
''My only feeling for you, madam said
Ere t, with meaning, 'would be gratitude,
were certain paper destroyed"
'What is the meaning OF all this 2" asked
the father of Ern st. coming forward.
at MEANS" said Ernest, tearing to atoms
the promissoTy note he received from the
widows hands, "that / had very ugly dreams
last night. l dreamed that 1'had played at
rouge-ctnoir, and lest the money you gave
me to purchase my commission with, and
then that made TIP the loss by promising"
"Hush T. said the widow, laying her
finger on her lips.
'.Then it was all dream" said tie old
man. a
'.Look at my uniform replied the Cap
tain.
"And what did you mean in the story you
told me just now p
"Foraet it, father said Ernest. "Dear
Meena, look up, my love. 1t is our wedding
day; and if you do but love, I'm the happieAt
dog that wears sabre and q doliman
That very day two weddings were celebrat-
ed in the farm house-those Of Captain Ernest
Walstein with the Fraulein Meena Alien
burg, and Baron Won Danger6eld with the
yet beautiful and wealthy widow. The Cap
tain never tried his luck again at any GAME.
OF CHANCE t''-As4 A
A few facts regarding the habits of Lord
PalmerstoR, the hale and hearty statesman Of
four score years is, related by London cor