The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-11-29
lFmR cAprA1M's LOSS,
WIDOWS GAINl (
AND THE

Cpy Oh azure, JWO young uleH Were Scs'ho-
ing together, engaged in conversation, on
tho steps of the Black Eagle, a fashiona.
bic hotel in one of the principle streets OF
4 the 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.
$50 all is completed at the Ministry OF
War, except the signature of the commits
1 sion, and the payment Of the purchase
money 2" said the soldier.
! "Exactly So"
/ "And tomorrow, then," continued the
huzzar, "I am to congratulate you on the
command of a company, and salute you
as Captain Ernest Walstein."
The last speaker was Captain Christian
Steinfort, an officer who had seen some
two years service.
"Ah! my boyp' continued he, twirling
his jet black moustache, "your uniform
will be passport to the smiles of the fair
But you already seem to have made your
way to the good graces Of Madame Won
Berlingen, the rich widow who resides at
| this hotel"
aBah! she is forty" answered Ernest,
carelessly.
"But in fine preservation, and beauty
for all that" said Captain Steinfort. "The
Baron Won Dangerfeld was desperately
in love with her, but within very few
days the widow seems to have cut him.
You are the happy man, after all"
"Undeceive yourself, my dear Chris
tian," said Ernest, blushing. "I have
only firted with the handsome widow.
Ny hand is already engaged to a charm
ing girl, Meena Altenberg, the playmate
of my infancy, adopted and reared up by
my father. 1 am to marry her as soon as
| I get my company"
"And what is to support you, Captain
Ernest ?"
"My pay, of course, and the income of
the moderate dowry my father proposes
to give his favorite. So you see my lot
in life is settled"
"Precisely so,' replied the Captain.
"But since you are free this evening, l
engage you to pass it with me. Have
you got any money about you?"
GA good deal. Besides the price of my
commission, which is safely slowed away
in bank notes in this breast pocket, have
q handful of ducats about mo, with which
[ propose purchasing some trinkets for
my bride. But I have a gold piece OF
two that can spare if"
"Pooh! pooh! Pm we'll enough proYi-
ded," answered the Captain. "Youknow
this is pay day. Come along"
"But whither?"
sYou shall see."
With these words the Captain thrust
his arm within that of his companion,
and the pair walked off at rapid rate.
After passing through several streets,
Steinfort halted and rang at the door of
stately mansion. It was opened by q
servant in handsome livery, and tho
young gentlemen entered and went up
stairs.
| Walstein soon found himself in scene
very different from any of which he had
ever dreamedin his simple rustic life up
on his fathers farm. Around a large
deal-table covered with cloth were seated
more than dozen of persons 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 a man in gray wig, with
a pair of green spectacles upon his nose,
before whom lay a pile Of gold, and who
was busily engaged in paying and receiv-
ing money, and in giving an impetus to q
small ivory ball which spun, at intervals,
| its appointed course. Walstein soon
learned that this was rouge:et-noir table
The gentleman in the gray wig was the
banker.
"Make your game, gentlemen" said
this individual, "whiIe the ball spins.
Your luck's as good as mine. It's all
luck, gentlemen, at rouge-et-noir. Rouge
et-noir, gentlemen, the finest in the world.
Black wins-yours, sir-twenty ducats,
land you have doubled it.. Make your
game-black or red 2"
"Try your fortune, Ernest, said the
captain.
Ernest mechanically put down few
ducats on the red.
aRed WINS" said the banker, in the
same monotonous tone. "Make your
game, gentlemen, while the ball rolls"
Why need we follow the fortunes OF
Ernest on this fatal evening, as he yield
ed, step by step, to the seduction to which
he was now exposed for the first time in
his life2 Long after Steinfort left the
gambling house he continued to play.
His luck turned. He had soon lost all
winnings, and the money set apart for
his bridal presents. He had broke 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 his eyes,
he continued to play, in the desperate
hope Of winning back his losses. At
length his last duoat was gone. He rose
and left the room, the last words ringing
in his ear, being:
| uMnIxa ,ror1r o.ama ranflaman while