The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-14

the depths Of the ocean. Going to meals
was a farce, and many there were tossed
about in their berths who thought their
end had come.
Through it all my friend never once
was moved from his dignified and impeu-
etrable calm, and when on Sunday morn
ing service was held in the saloon his
deep, musical voice could be heard above
all the rest both in hymn and prayer,
and in the evening, at his request, an i'm
promptu service for the benefit of the
steerage passengers was arranged, and as
| listened to the earnest prayer and the
few well-chosen words that seemed to
sink deep into the hearts of the ignorant,
hOmesick hearers 7 said to myself: This
man is one of Natures noblemen."
Every day he busted himself among the
sick and sorrowing, carrying comfort
both in words and in more material form
to the unhappy travellers by sea, whether
they were to be found among the first
ca bin passengers or below decks in the
midst Of the poor wanderers who hard
ly dared to hope that they would ever see
their native land again. When the sun
came out and the sea went down there
was no one on board so well known or so
universally liked, and sometimes | felt a
thrill Of jealousy as one after the other
would break into our tete-a-tetes and the
old confidential relations of the first few
be renewed.
The night before we landed, however,
we were pacing up and down together,
and / noticed that my companion was not
in his usual genial mood. Several lead
ing questions of mine fell apparently
upon unheeding ears, and when at last
very good story was received with the
most chilling silence, l stopped short in
our walk and regarded him with I'M
feigned amaZement. Seeing this, he
stopped also, and in an embarrass ed way
half laughed as he said: Forgive me if
| appear unnatural and constrained to-
night ! have been debating with myself
whether to tell you the secret of my COM
ing abroad. know you have often won
dered at my leaving son to whom | am
so sincerely attached, and yet when | tell
you the real reason feel somehow as
though the friendship sopleasantly begun
will be brought to an abrupt ending"
Nothing | am sure that you will tell
me can in any way alter my deep regard
for you,' l put in, feeling that spoke the
truth as / looked upon the frank and open
countenance and thought of the deeds of
gentleness and Christian charity that |
had witnessed. "Whatever it is 1 know
that you are acting as you think right, but
if it will be al all painful to you to tell
me let it pass out of your memory for
ever. -
With a quick. grateful glance for the
first spoken words and utterly obliviouS
of the others, he went on in a nervous,
hurried sort of way and without more
and plunged into the confession that had
evidently been troubling him for some
time.
Il dreaded to lose your friendship,
therefore I deferred telling you that
which may completely alter your good
opinion which 1 hope l have gained You
know how / love my son-yOu also know
how little money | receive in the charge
that calls me pastor. l say these words
more as an explanation than as an ex-
cuse. My one great aim is for my boy to
go to college. He is brilliant and will
surely shine if once the doors of pro-
fessional career are opened to him. / had
no means to send him and the thought
has kept me awake night after night
night after night. One day l READ of
great gains at Monte Carlo in a French
gambling game called roulette, and l said
to myself what is this roulette! 1 con-
suited every book that would tell me any
thing about it, and from that hour l
was haunted by the thought that
there must be some way to win at this
wonderful money getting game, and l
studied, studied, studied, hoping to strike
some way that would enable me to gain
large sums from the few dollars that |
had laid by for rainy day. At last
triumphed and have now worked out a
system by mathematics that will conquer,
I am sure. BY roulette I will win my
sons way through college. OF course l
could tell no one my plans, or even let my
boy into my secret. When | received the
pass that would send me free across the
ocean l cried with joy. My congregation
think | came away on account of my
broken health, but to you have told the
truth AMI it is for you TO decide whether
you despise the minister or sympathize
with the father"
In establishment | had listened to this
curious recital. "Was he mad2" l pom
dered. But no, there was no trace of
madness in that quiet face or lurking in
the depths of the dark brown eyes and
yet, could the earnest Christian gentle
man and gambler with a system be one
and the samel
For an hour we walked and talked, but
never again touched upon the subject that
was nearest his heart. / did not try to
dissuade him from his plan, for to my
sorrow l saw that it would be useless.
Tho next day we parted, and, though it
is years since that eventful voyage, no
voice from the past has ever come to tell
me of his success or of his ruin. Many a
night sit aud think of the Dung son in
the far west and the noble, self-sacrifcing
father on the ocean, ana ask myself who
shall Judge whether he was right or
wrong.