The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-27
AN OLD GAMBLER.


Belgium matter of no small difficulty.
1t was o'clock in the evening, and was
coming out of the Faubeurg de Cologne
on my way to the Place de la Monnaie Oh
urgent business, not, however, so urgent
as to prevent my going into the first CT
gar store of the Rue Neuve and buy one
of those londres which are the last re-
source of foreigner in Brussels, and
bad one to boot. l had hardly got into
the street again when an old man, who
had been standing in the store, rushed
toward me with his arms extended, and
cried out, with a very pronounced
italian accent:
"Ah, my dear friend, here you are!
Your are my Providence-my savior"
who are you?" I asked 81 don't
know you, and you mistake me, doubt
less, for some one else.
Oh. no. I am not mistaken, and al
though 1 am ignorant of your name,
have seen you frequently at Spa You
ought to remember Capt. Gondin well.
You have looked at me more than once
playing roulette"
I looked more attentively at the man
who called me his friend and his provi-
dence, and remembered having, like
many others, remarked this singular
type of o passionate gambler at the Sale
de la Redoute.
Capt. Gondino none ever knew in
what army he had served) was heavy,
fat Neapolitan, recalling to the mind a
vulgar resemblance to Rossini. His
face. although somewhat bloated, shone
out lustrous and rosy between two tufts
of white silken hair; his gray and watery
eyes had crafty expression badly hid
den under an appearance of good
naturedness; his nose was fine and
straight, his lips thin and pinched, chin
round and jovial, and walk careless
while a slight swagger, not altogether
without grace. completed physiognomy
which inspired as much of sympathy as
of repulsion.
One could read on the old mans fea-
lures the traces of long battle between
his good and bad instincts, but Satan
prevailed and left his mark. His cos
tune correspondent exactly to his moral
appearance. A hat, elegant in form but
almost worn out, an immense gray cloak,
rusty pair of black pants and an enor-
nous cane, ivory handled. Such was
the dress of the Signor Gondino.
"Speak, and above, all, be brief, for 1
am keeping an appointment, and fear to
be be late"
II cannot confide it to you here" he
answered, "but be so kind as to come as
far as where l live, and 1 will tell you
all"
am in a great hurry, and perhaps it
I,a hot hat
morrow
''No, no; live very near here. In
minute we shall be there. Come, l
beg you; you will save an unfortunate
man"
well, let us make haste"
When we were in the middle of the
street l asked
(which way is it to where you live?"
1T is useless to go farther, my dear
friend" he aswered. taking off his hat.
1--WE are there"
These words, pronounced in low,
half-desponding, half sarcastic tone Of
voice by this unhappy sexagenarian, the
snow which beat in his face while his
white hair grew winter with those which
fastened to it, the forloi mess and dis
tress of this old man, completely iso-
lated in the middle of the vast city, and
in such weather, softened my heart.
''Have you dined at leastI' was my
first question.
"Alas, no. arrived from veryiers at
3 o'clock, and only took cup of coffee
this morning"
1t did not take long to tear a leaf ont of
my pocketbook, on phich / wrote my adj
dress, together with the following to my
wife: ''See that the bearer gets dinner,
and bed. / shall be home within an
hour"
Here" said to the CAPITA take
this to my wife; she will see tina you get
what you need, and tomorrow we will
see what is to be done"
"Ahl knew WE'LL" he cried, pressing
my hand, II knew well you were my
savior; my heart told me So"
was kept longer than / expected on
business. When l got home, Gondino,
who had partaken of a hearty meal, was
sleepingly soundly. Ny wife was await
ing my return anxiously, for she had
found her visitor, but little to her taste.
l explained to her in few words how /
came across him, and told her the next
morning would see about getting rid Of
our new boarder.
The next day the Captain came down
stairs in excellent humor, and took
breakfast with us. 1t was then that
began to question him as to what he con-
femplated doing.
For thirty years" he replied. II
have lived on q system which i employ
in gambling houses. have a combine