The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-09-11
Captain Daniel Moore, about this

letters or Introduction from the minis
ter's London friends. Captain Moore
had partially recovered from severe ILL
ness, but his strength not returning,
country air was recommended by his
physician, one of DR.. Lees old college
friends. The letters informed the rec,
tors family that Captain Moore was
gentleman who, having come into a
large fortune at his fathers death, had
left the army. Mr.. Lee welcomed the
stranger most cordially to his home,
whom he found to be an accomplished,
handsome man.
The man Of the fashionable London
world was, as be frequently said, quickly
won by the sweet woodland violet hid
in the parsonage, and when he returned
to the city, he carried back with him
something beside his healtb-Agatha
Lee--hs wife. He had secured the
first love Of this girls innocent young
heart, and for some time they were
very happy, the only shadow being felt
by Agatha. The shadow consisted in
her husband absenting himself from
home two evenings out of every week.
Several months passed away before the
wife mentioned these hebdomadary
absences, then it was that, after kissing
her. he informed her that he would not
return until very late, when she re-
quested him to remain at homo.
"You little miser, do | not give you
the greater portion Of my societya |
always promised the boys at the club,
that under every and any contingency
they should have two evenings out Of
every week, providing | was in town
and able to visit them. Now, love,
that you know where | spend the even
ings away from you, do not worry
about me-" Thus he silenced her.
She had been introduced and well
received by society, yet she had no
definite idea of club; she knew that
all of her husbands friends and ac-
qnaintances belonged to one, and as
everybody appeared to approve of the
institution, she concluded it must be
the proper thing.
Two years glided swiftly away, un-
til your father was six months old,
when the happy wife and mother first
began to notice the harrassed looks of
her husband. When she endeayored
to discover the cause, he informed her
that the occasion was ill-health and
that he would consult his physician.
The morning following this conver-
sation, which took place as Captain
Moore was preparing to start for the
club-room-a letter was brought to
your grandmother. John, will you
oblige me by taking this key and with
il open the smallest drawer In the es-
critoire, in tho library 2 You will there
discover package Of old letters, tied
up with piece of black ribbon and
lying upon an old pack Of cards, bring
the letters to me-"
John soon returned with the letters
and Mrs. Moore selecting one from the
bundle, handed it to her son, request
ing him to read it aloud for the benefit
of all.
'LoNpo2, June A. 1897,
"My Darling Pet When you peruse
these lines, our boy will be without a
father and you husband, and made
50 by my own hand. | have gambled
| away the immense fortune inherited
from my father. Luck has been against
me for quite long time, but ! con-
tinued to play, hoping to regain part
of my lost fortune. When | left you
tonight, in quest Of physician, it was
! good luck that ! sought, and deter
mined to gamble no more If was for
tunate enough TO Win. One hours
play, and | was in fair way Of retriey-
ing my lost wealth, If | only had
then remembered my resolve, this letter
never would have been written. The
hour had heightened by five minutes
when an old college friend entered. |
had not seen him for years, and after
the customary greetings were over,
hearing of my success, he challenged
me to a game. lost, lost all that |
had won. The gambling fever was
wrought up to its highest excitement
in me as continued playing, until |
lost everything that | thought owned,
even to my watch, My opponent said !;
"'Dan, you assert that you have
staked and lost everything that be-
longed to you; promise that you will
curb your anger, and will inform You
Of possession that will bring back
your luck, and against which ! will
place all that | have this evening won;
will yon promise 7"
HlIaying no idea Of his meaning, |
answered yes, yes, promise anything;
only be quick"
elias your wife ever touched card Y
Ny reply was, that did not consider
that any Of his business.
every well, then, since you refuse
tie only sesame to Fortunias door,
/ ~, i, !, 40 tt,,NtiI III n M n