News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-05-27

and, after short discussion, it was de-
cided to try how it worked, just for a
beginning. But all Sir Hector's at
tempts to make the General join in were
fruitless. On being vehemently pressed
he declared the reason for his reluc-
tance, the old man at length mod
| estly acknowledged the cause of his
sCruples.
1.-The fact is" he said, ''that have
only gambled about three or four times
in my life, and upon each occasion 1
have won very considerable sums of
money. Now, of course, some one must
have lost, and l cannot bear to think
that I may have been the cause of un-
happiness, and even of poverty"
''But, my dear sir, laughed Sir Hec-
tor, ''some one must win and some one
must lose. If you always win, should
advise you to stick to it. only wish
that always did. ="
The General mournfully shook his
head. 81 have known so much misery"
he continued, "come from gambling
other men may play, that is not my af-
fair but you must really excuse me.
The last time | remember" and he
appeared to be lost ID melancholy Tefec-
tions.
"Well, what happened then2"
81 was induced to play a game called
poker. l believe there is such game,
is there not?"
81 believe there is,' chuckled Mr..
Punter.
81 did not understand it at all, con-
tinued the General. ''We played with
counters, and | merely did as / was
told; but at the end of the evening l
found 1 had won, gentlemen, no less
than sixty dollars"
The other gentleman seemed to be
seized with violent fits of coughing; but
the General was evidently oblivious of
his surroundings, and went on: ~ did
not like it at all, and I could not restore
the money, for did not know even the
names of many of those with whom l
played"
$50 what did you do with it,"
81 gave it to a hospital" said the
General solemnly; land three weeks
afterward one of the gamblers of that
evening shot himself at Monte Carlo"
"WelI, I'm sure that none of us are
likely to shoot ourselves, said Mr.. Pun
ter; $50 you had better join US for
once, General. You can stake as low as
you like"
''No, my dear sir, I really cannot; but
don't trouble about me. I'll look on"
Mr., Buttershaw shrugged his shoul-
ders, indicating that further argument
was hopeless, and the game proceeded.
The General watched it with much in
terest, frequently signing and lifting his
eyebrows IN mute protest as the stakes
grew higher. The result was much the
same as usual, Buttershaw being the
principal loser to the tune of about e150.
The General sympathlzed with his friend
after a somewhat curious fashion.
''It's just as we'll that you should
lose, my dear boy; you have plenty to
spare, and don't like to see you win
from your guests"
"You needn't be nervous, General" "
said Mr.. Buttershaw grimly; ''its about
nine months since | won halfpenny"
"Rum old fish. that" said Sir Hector
IS he and Mr.. Punter walked home in
he early morning. 1T would be rare !
sport to get him to play"
so, we'l do it some of these nights, |
never fear. Buttershaw gave me hint
not to frighten him at first. But what
an old innocent it is ~
Mr.. Punter's prophecy came true not
very long afterwards. The same com
pany assembled in Mr.. Buttershaw's
rooms, and, owing either to the excel
lence of the liquor. provided by his host
Or to the persuasive tongue of Mr.. Pun
ter, the General gave way, and consent
ed to join in game just to amuse the
The company, however, were
not quite so much amused as they had
for the worthy old man carried
everything before him; and the more he
won, the more apologetic and depre-
catory he became
81 was right, " he earnestly protested
81 am fated to win. Gentlemen, don't
you think l had better stop2 I would
much rather put this money! fear it is
nearly e5O-in the pool, and leave you
to play for it,
Of course, nobody would agree to so
absurd proposition, and the General
to play, winning with extra
ordinary steadiness, but lamenting the
while over his abnormal luck.
At the end of the evening he had won
nearly 81, 900, and sat at the table with
a huge pile of notes, gold, and o Us
in front of him, looking the very picture
Of despair.
"Cheer up, General" said the Duke;
''we'll get it all back another night,
never fear. p"
'I'm afraid not, groaned the ancient
warrior 81 wish l had never begun
his. l ought to have known how it
would end"
BLESSED if ever saw man make as
much fuss over losing as cd Barnabas
does over winningw said Sir Hector to
MS friend in private. 81 wonder if he
would lend me bit, if he's SO precious
shy about keeping it."
Weeks passed by, and the General
made several gallant efforts to lose the
money he had won, but without success.
In fact, the more he played the more he
won, and the punters of the Greville Club
lad excellent reason to regret that they
lad conquered his virtuous resolutions. |
Even Butt ershaw groaned in spirit, and
expressed frequent wishes that old Bar
nabas had not taken it into his head to
make pilgrimage to London.
"Before the old man came, " he would
lament, sit was bad enough. | used to
lose e100 or SO a night; but now, 1 as
sure YOU. I've lost over 81 800 to him
within the last fortnight. Why, he
must have won thousandsw He had,
indeed; and, from all appearances, the
1iscomfted gamblers fully expected that
he would win thousands more. Now,
Mr.. Buttershaw belonged to several clubs
in addition to the Greville for his aristo
cratic friends were powerful enough to
insure his admission to many similar in
and, of course, he occasionally
played at them, and asked their mem
1ers to dine at his cham ers.
One fine day Mr.. Punter Chanced to
De walking somewhat moodily down st.
James's Street, when he was accosted by
friend whom he had not seen for some
weeks, and who happened to be mem
Der of club called the Parthian, stu
tied within the immediate neighbor
lood
"Come into my pothouse and have a
rink" said Punter's friend, and MIR.
ounter assented.
"Anything been going on here lately
n the card line?" inquired the latter
gentleman.
mot much here; but we've played
,nce or twice in Buttershaw's rooms,
md there's an old chap, II pal of his,
Who wins like the very old nick"
'Reallyi"
eyes; he's an Admiral something
sounded like Burnaby, but it wasn't.
Used to be in the Chilian Navy. White
haired old chap-wears spectacles." "
'You don't say so ?'' said Mr.. Punter,
-oo1;,,, n vo-u cir crIIar sensation.