St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-04
Old Accounts.
A STORY OF rHE NEW YEAR.


the latest hours-for they were sleep
less times, as many can remember-the
streets were almost wholly deserted
and exposed to view but few stray
| individuals whom actual necessity had
called abroad. The rest were clOseted
indoors and Judging by the light at the
windows, were endeavOring to Danish
! from their minds all sense and TecOllec-
lection of the outward gloom. Yet
| there was little cause for joy; many a
! household mourned, many IA heart was
crushed with woe. But the season was
| imperative in its claims, and shed the
| halo of its comfort over all, forming a
| bright parenthesis between the two
eternities of past anxiety, and the dark
and whitening uncertainty which vailed
the future. 1t it not however in the
private parts of the city, nor III a pri-
vate house, nor even in private room.
that our story opens, but in one of the
public resorts of the most public thor
ougbfares, which at that time were
thrOnged day and night by eager, anX-
| iOus crowds, discussing the events of
the day, and the probabilities of the
morrow, with the stern, excited utter
est of the times.
On the particular evening relating 10
| the events we are about to describe,
| this hotel was more than usually crowd
ed. Soldiers had arrived from camp,
and had taken every vacant loom i'll
the building; and in addition to SOL
diers were contractors, suffers, paymas-
ters, and other public characters whom
the times had ssembled-alasi to the
detriment of the times Many of these
were lounging in the hall of the hotel,
discussing nOisily, the latest events of
the war, and predicting all kinds of
imaginable issues while the rest, or
greater number rather, were smoking
and chatting in the large billiard-roOm
of the establishment, engaging in the
game itself, or grouped around the
players who were most distinguished by
their skill, and who afforded special in
terest.
Among the latter were two young
officers: one twenty eight or thirty
years of age, the other between twenty
and twenty-five; fine, manly fellows,
both of them, who had done brave ser
vice. and who looked prepared to en-
counter us many hardships and dangers
as the country might still further exact
of them. The darkness of the one cOu
trasted strongly with the fairness of the
other, and at times impaired to his fea
tures-esPecally when he frOwned-
such a stern and sinister expression,
that many would have judged him, al
though perhaps unjustly, inferior to his
adversary, and unworthy of any sym
pathy as regarded the contest.
The latter was all frankness and good
nature. with Il soft and almost feminine
expression of cOuntenance, suggestive
of much feeling. They were both of
them deeply interested in the game.
SO equally were they matched, that it
seemed as if the issue merely hinged om
some chance stroke or opportunity,
which usually decides the contest be
tween even players. Both were play
ing with the greatest skill and caution,
and the plaHdits of the lookers-on
whenever a brilliant stroke was scored,
increased the zest and aTdOr of the com
batauts. There was quite crowd as
sembled round the table, and such was
the excitement which prevailed on ev-
cry side that large Sums of money were
| already staked on the result. The in
terest of the game, moreover, was in-
| creased by the large amount which was
| staked by the players themselves. This
was their second game, and the light
| haired cOmbatant, who had won the
sympathy and confidence of all from
| the commencement, stood fair to win
the sum of five hundred dollars on the
issue. He won ii; and again cballeng-
ing his opponent, commenced Il third
game. The stakes were doubled, and
/ Tn It,h in
consequence, that the more prudent of
the lookers-on began to murmur and
| disclaim among themselves, while bold
er members followed the example of the
players, doubling their stakes, and tax
ing closer and more personal interest
in the proceedings. This time fortune
declared itself in favor of the dark con-
testant. lie did not seem to he the bet
ter player of the two, but be played
more carefully, was more at ease, and
had his feelings under stronger control.
| His adversary, on the other hand, was
becoming more and more nervous and
excited, and altogether less reliable he
was losing his self-mastery besides, and
PLAYING wildly and extravagantly, as il
his better Judgment had fOrsaken him
All this, combined with the effects OF
the wine which he was freely drinking
tended to convince the lockers on that
he would have but little chance if he
continued and those who had lately
bet on his success moved mOodily away
to other quarters.
Before commencing a new game {
brother officer stepped up to him. and
drawing him aside, endeavored to leaC
him away. 1t was of no avail. Aftel
challenging his cOnquerOr to play an.
other game, lie continued the cOntes
and lost. Again he played, and still
the same result until ut length his las
remaining sum-which he had stakeC
with trembling hands-was swept away
all-all he had in the world aud ht
and fate were left to fight it out al
alone.
a murmur of sympathy arose from
the crowd as he retired but he took n,
notice of it. He walked, or staggere,
+ rather, to the extreme end of the room
and there sitting down, endeavOred tt
. collect his scattered thoughts.
5 He could not realize his loss at first
T. Bnd put his hand in his pocket, think
: ing it was all a dream, and that tn
= mOney must be still there. Alas i
: was only too true! Then, for the frs
: time the real sense of his position fash
; ed across him. He did not think or ear
for himself. But his wife-his daTIin
7 wife That was her money. her on
i and only means of support, which sh
Il had counted on, and on whose securit
: she had doubtless lived since he ha
a left her. What would she do now. i
E. these hard times, confronted by tb
J. sorrow and anxiety which his rash an
% heartless act would bringi
God knows how much he suffered