The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-06
THE CAPTAINS LOSS,
]WIDO VS. GAIN.
AND
- A Nh

standing together, engaged III CONVEY
sation, on the steps of the Black Eagle,
a fashionable hotel in one OF the ptlncl,
pal streets of the gay and celebrated
city of Vienna. One OF them wore the
rich uniform of an Austrian huZzat;
the other was clad IN the CIVIC costume
of gentleman. .,.:
of war. except the signature on the
commission, and the payment of the
purchase money said the soldier.
" Exactly so"
"And tomorrow, then," continued
the huzzar, " l am to congratulate you
on the command of a company, and
salute you as Captain Ernest Walstein."
The last speaker was Captain Chris
tan Steinfort, an officer who had seen
some two years service.
"Ah! my boy !" continued he, twirl
ing his jet-black moustache, your uni
form will be a 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"
"Bah! she is forty" answered En-
nest, carelessly.
But in fine preservation, and Il beauty
for all that,o said Captain Steinfort.-
1.-THE Baron Won Dangertield was des
perately in love with her, but within a
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, bushing, 81 have
only flirted with the handsome widow.
NY hand is already engaged to charm
ing girl, Meena Altenburg, the play
mate of my infancy, adopted and reared
up by my father. | am to marry her as
soon as get my company"
"And what is to support you, Captain
Ernest 90
"My pay, of course, and the income
of the moderate dowry that 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, /
engage you to pass it with me. Have
you got any money about you?'
"a good deal. Besides the price of
my commission, which is safely slowed
away in bank-notes in my breast pocket,
have handful of ducats about me,
with which | propose purchasing some
trinkets for my bride. But have a
gold piece or two that | can spare if-o
" Pooh! pooh! Pm well enough pro-
NIucQ, dIlSWClCi tllC SttDlttll. ou
know this is pay day. Come along.n
But whittier?
g You shall see.''
With these words the captain thrust
his arm within that of his companion,
and the pair walked off at a rapid rate.
After passing through several streets,
Steinfort halted, and rang at the door of
a stately mansion. 1t was opened by a
servant in handsome livery, and the
young gentlemen entered and went up
stairs.
Walstein soon found himself in a
scene very different from any of which
he had ever dreamed in his simple rustic
life upon his fathers farm. Around a
large deal table covered with cloth We're
seated more than dozen persons of diff
ferent 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 in
giving an impetus to a very small ivory
ball which spun, at intervals, its APP
pointed course. WaIstein learned that
this was a rouge-et-nOir table. The gen.
teman in the gray wig was the banker.
" Make your game, gentlemen" said
this individual, "while the ball spins.
Your luck's as good as mine. It's all
luck, gentlemen, at rouge-et-noir.-
Rou@e-et-noir, gentlemen, the finest
game in the world. Black wins-it's
yours, sir, twenty ducats and you have
doubled it. Make yonr game-blacil or
red"
Try your fortune, Ernest said the
captain.
Ernest mechanically put down few
dueats on the red.
Red wins,n said the banker, IN the
same monotonous tone. " Make your
game, gentlemen, while the bali rolls"
Why need we follow the fortunes OF
trnest on this fatal evening, as he yieiO-
ed step by step, TO the seduction 70
which he was now exposed for the first
tme in his life! Long after Steiniort
'eit the gambling house he continued 10
play. His luck turned. He had soon
lost all his 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
ior the purchase of his commission, and
though he saw bill after bill swept away
from before his eyes, he continued to
DlaV. in the dpSparata hCpe of winning