The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-25
MY UNCLE's SECRET.

-uf MI UNCLEyS SECkEIs
"Above all, avoid two things" said
Uncle Richard-it was our last evening
together before my departure for college,
and my venerable uncle, who had sup
piled the place of father to be ever since
my earliest recollection, was giving me
his parting advice-"never gamble and
never fight a duel'
Both vices were sufficiently prevalent
then to render such counsel to Young
man leaving home less super1uous than
it might appear at present g.,
81 am very anxious to impress this in
junction." he continued after thought
full pause, land can think of no better
mode of doing so than by relating an in
cident of my earl y manhood, which has
left its shadow on my whole life SINCE"
l had long surmised that some mystery
enshrouded Uncle Richards youth. On
a certain day every year he would shut
himself in his room from morn till even
ing, and when he reappeared his face
would wear look so saddened that it
was easy to perceive he had been COM
muning with some secret sorrow.
On one of these. occasions, when he
had forgotten to lock the door as usual,
| suddenly entered his chamber He was
seated with his elbow on the table, sup
porting his forehead with his left hand,
and gazing intently on miniature held
in his right hand. t......t.
He looked up quickly at my entrance,
and shall never forget the intensely
painful expression of his features, while
great tears were coursing down his fur
rowed cheeks.
With a hurried apology l withdrew,
and heard Uncle Richard turn the KEY
behind me.
"Was uncle ever married?" / in
quired of Aunt Rachel, who kept house
for him, and to whom | related what
had seen.
Never" she replied
81 wonder whose picture it was" re-
marked, seeking to draw out something
that might satisfy my curiosity. 81 :
But Aunt Rachel knew nothing of any
picture. She had married young, and
while her husband lived she and Uncle
Richard resided far apart, and of that
period of his life she knew but little. She
only knew it was connected with some
hidden grief which he had always shrunk
from abiding to, and concerning which
she felt it would pain him to be ques-
toned ., .... a..
II was several years older than you
are at present." said Uncle Richard,
''when | went to spend the winter in
New Orleans, -eity-whose- fashionable
gayeties-to say nothing of their attend
ant vices-were then unrivaled outside of
Paris. ID &c 4
Zone evening curiosity prompted me
to visit a noted gaming house-an estab-
lishment 'frequented by the card playing
elite. had nothing of the gambler in
my disposition, but had, heard so much,
of such places, and of, the magnificent
style in which they were conducted, that
wished to see and judgefor myself
Not desiring to appear a mere in
truder, | sat down at one of the tables,
intending to risk few dollars, as a sort
of admission fee. Opposite sat two young
men-one was fair complexioned, and
prepossessingly handsome; the other
dark, with sinister eyes that glanced fur
lively from beneath a pair of heavy, black
eyebrows.
Il lost several stakes successfully, my
dark-faced vis-a-vis as uniformly win
ming. felt little piqued at what inn
agined was a covert sheer as he pocketed
bis gains.
81 put down heavier wager, and
this time detected my successful adver-
sary in the act of 'Sttpptng' a card /
rose excitedly, and openly taxed him
with cheating,
I'm an instant all was in an uproar.
Before it had subsidized l felt touch on
the arm, and looking round, found my
self confronted by the. object of my accu-
sation, of whom l had lost sight in the
confusion.
az demand immediate satisfaction
he said, in a tone low enough to avoid
attracting notice. ,.-h
''' owe none to a cheat and swind-
ler,' Ireplied, shaking of his hand with
unconcealed disgust. ~ -.
g Perhaps you will not refuse it to
me-, interposed the fair-faced youth, who
had been the others companion at the
table. . q ..
g "A glance at the speakers counten-
ance convinced me that however ques-
tionable his present associations, he was
agentleman, land that he believed the
charge against his comrade groundless.
= have no cause of quarrel with
you / said, unless you choose to make
one
:" Ichoose 70 discover one, he replied
This gentleman is my recognized asso-
ciate and friend. Therefore your, asper-
sion Of him reflects directly on myself
- disclaim any such reflection, /
returned.