Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-11-24
TALES & SKETCHES.
THE CAPTAINS LOSS AND THE
WIDOWS GAIN.


the stars were Just beginning to twinkle
overhead, like diamonds on a canopy of
azure, two young men were standing to.
gether engaged in conversation on the steps
of the Black Eagle, fashionable hotel in
one of the principal streets of 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 a
gentleman.
$50 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"
"And tomorrow, them continued the
huzzar, 81 am to congratulate you on the
command of accompany, 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 boy" continued he, twirling his
jet black moustache, "your uniform will be
u passport to the smiles of the fair. But
you already seem to have made your way to
the good graccs of Madame Won Berlinger
the rich widow, who resides at this hotel"
bah she is forty," answered Ernest
carlessly.
"But in fine preservation, and beauty
for all that" said Captain Steiufort. "Ba
ron Won Dangerfeld was desperately in love
with her, but within a few days the widow
seems to have cut him. You are happy
man, after ALL"
"Undeceivc yourself, my dear Christian,
said Ernest blushing, 81 have only flirted
with the handsome widow. My hand il
already engaged to charming girl, Meen;
Altenburg, the playmate of my infancy
adopted and reared up by my father an
to marry her as soon as | get my company.
"And what is to support you, Captain
Ernest?'
"AIy pay, of course. and the income of tn,
moderate dowry my father proposes to give
his favorite. So you see my lot in life il
settled"
"Precisely So" replied the Captain. "Bu
since you are free this evening, l engag,
you to pass it with me. Have you got an,
money about you ?"
"A good deal. Besides the price of m,
commission, which is safely slowed away il
bank notes in this breast pocket, l have
handful OF ducats about me, with which
propose purchasing some trinkets for m!
bride. But have a gold piece or two tha
! l can spare if"
pooh pooh I'm well enough provi
ded,n answered the Captain. "You know
this is payday Come along"
"But whittier 2" 2. 80
| "You shall see."
With these words, the captain thrust hi
arm within that of his companion, and tn
pair walked off at rapid rate. After pass
ing through several streets, Steinfort halted
and rang at the door of a stately mansion
| 1t was opened by a servant in handsom,
livery, and the young gentleman entered
! and went upon stairs.
| Walstein soon found himself in a seem
very different from any of which he had eve
dreamed in his simple rustic life unto hi
fathers farm, Around large deal tabl
covered with cloth were seated more thar
a dozen of persons Of different ages, all 81
| intent upon what was going forward, tina
the captain and his friend took their seat
unnoticed. At the head of the table sat
man, in gray wig. with a pair oe greer
spectacles upon his nose, before whom lay
pile of GOLD, and who was busily engaged
in paying and receiving money, and in Civ
| ing an impetus to small ivory ball whicl
spun at intervals, its appointed course. Wal
stein soon learned that this was a rouge G
nOir table. The gentleman in the gray wi:
was the banker. -.r
snake your game, gentlemen" said tbi
individual, "while the ball spins. You
luck's as good as mine. It's all luck gentle
men a rouge et n0ir. Rouge co nOir, gentle
men, the finest in the world. Black wins
it's yours, sir-twenty ducats and you hav
doubled it. Make your game--back or red.
"Try your fortune, Erncst,n said the Cap
tain. Hl ,t'
Ernest mechanically put down few du
cats on the red, ~. li
"Red wins,' said the banker, in the sam
monotonous tone. "Make your game, ger
ltlemen, while the ball rolls"
Why need we follow the fortunes of Ernes
on this fatal evening, as he yielded step b
step, to the seduction to which he was nos
exposed for the FIRST time in his life Lon
after Steinfort left the gambling house, b
continued to play, His luck turned. ii
had soon lost all his winnings, and the mt
ney set apart for his bridal presents. II
had broken the package of bank notes, tll
money he had received from his father ft
the purchase of his commission, aud thoug
he saw bill after bin swept away before h
eyes, he continued to play, in the desperai
hope of winning back his losses. At lengt
his last ducat was gone. He rose and lei
! the room, the last word ringing in his e'
being: sls - 81
,Make your game, gentlemen, while IL