The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-22
A DERBY SETTLING.
Frnm the Lond On Truth.

had not been bitten by the mania until
comparatively late in life-that is, until
he was well into the forties of his exist
ence. But once the victim of that seduc
tive mistress, he never again shook him
self free from her chains, following
blindly her dictates, whithersOever she
led him, and sacrificing everything he
had 10 this most mysterious Of all infatu-
atoms. His father, who had died now a
few years ago, had left him a handsome
fortune in addition to an eighth share in
a large house agency business, in which
be (the som had till then acted as q sort
of managing clerk. The young man had
married some fourteen years previously
a girl of whom his family entirely APP
proved, with e10.O0 to her dowry. But
the birth of her first child, a daughter,
had cost the young mother her life; and
since then Frank had remained a wild
over, devoting himself with wonderful
kSSection to the welfare of his little girl.
Plenty of eligible spinsters might have
been found-indeed, not few volunteered
their services rather obviously-for the
vacant post of the child's mother. But
the idea of second marriage hardly oc-
Cured TO Rawson, who, upon his wife's
death, took up his quarters with his
parents, and thus secured for little Janet
the more than maternal care of her doting
grandmother.
But when Janet was about 10 years old
Mrs. Rawson died, and her husband did
not very long survive her. II was on his
death that Frank became the master of a
pretty fortune-some $50, 900 invested in
high-class securities, and partnership in
the business worth not less than 92 600
per annum. There was also his deceased
4Frfr aVsfv - of fah 70
enjoyed the income for life, the principal
passing by settlement to his daughter
upon his demise. But such entire conf
dence had been placed in him that he him
self was appointed one of the two trus-
tees Of the settlement, the other being an
uncle of Janet's mother-a worthy and
excellent old gentleman, who took but
little active part in the business of the
trust.
For some years after Rawson came
into his fortune all went well in every
way. But in the course of his estate
agency work he came into contact with
certain sprigs of nobility, who had more
blood than money and decidedly more
affability than principle. Some of these
sad dogs-finding Rawson a presentable
fellow, with good money and large credit
at his beck-took him up warmly, invited
him often to their chambers en- garcon,
got him elected to one or two of their
dashing, expensive clubs, called him by
his Christian name. diminutived, and in
stalled mporarily-a regular mem
Der of their bachelor set.
Rawson was an easy-going, good -natured
man, who had never had much to DO with
our glorious, titled aristocracy, and his
head was quickly turned by these atten-
tions. 1t was new and delightful expe-
rienoe to him TO be slapped on the back
in Piccadilly by the son of duke, and TO
be saluted by him with "Hilloa,
Frankyp' 1t was even privilege to lose
q flyer or two at ecarte to an Irish mar
Quis-who wanted the money very badly
poor fellow-and to take his seat in a
game of loo or baccarat where he him
self was the only untitled member of the
company.
1t would have been well for him had he
realized that these noble sparks with
handles to their names were far removed
from the best or even the second best set
of men about town. One or owo of them
bore a reputation for which the epithet
doubtful would have been too fattering
and whose style The Honorable" was
very much by courtesy. Even the least
shady among them were not uuacquaint-
ed with the outrageous paths of life.
But is common error of the uninitiated,
his taking for granted that a title is a
hallmark Of social smartness. For surely
If the bourgeoise did but know it-titles
have less intrinsic value in society than
anywhere else; and the toadyism which
obtains within that sacred territory is as
nothing to what is found outside its from
tiers
At the outset Rawson gambled and
betted with these dashing blades because
they seemed to exp0st it. 1t was part of
their daily routine and to associate with
unt
was impossible. But, by and by, what at
first was only pastime, INDUCED in to
please others, became passion INDUCED
In TO please himself. He was under its
influence long before he knew it, and by
the time he knew that he was under its
influence, he was at its mercy. Never
had the insidious fascInations of Mistress
Hazard asserted themselves more quickly
and completely. In twelve months Raw
son was a confirmed gambler. -
Now these honorable friends Of his
with whose assistance he wooed the tickle
lady, if they never cheated, they seldom
acted quite on the square. Rawson-like
most recruits in this servIce-imagined
himself to be a knowing dog over the
chances. And the honorables encour
aged him in this delusion, and over
reached him at every turn. He soon
therefore, found himself a heavy loser
and the more he plunged TO retrieve his
departed gold, the more his gold placed
itself in the position of having to be re
trieved
Besides losing his money, he utterly
neglected his business His partners re
monstrated; but finding remonstranct
useless, they were obliged at last to re
sort to more drastic measures. He haC
already committed several seriou.
breaches of the partnership articles
which became intolerable by repetition
The result was that he was paid out o,
the business. The weakness, also, which
had allowed him TO be entrapped so easil,
into these ruinous pursuits showed itsel
very clearly in his manner of bearing hi
losses. He took to drink TO drown hii
miser and remorse; and atterward-;
more deadly refuge still-to opiate
and an9sthetics. Loss of health of man
illness and self-respect followed il
turn. He became a simple wreck of wha
he had been and so disreputable, to boot
that the honorables, for their own credit
found II necessary to drop him Tn,
Irish marquis won his flyers at ecart,
from another and a more presentabl,
victim.
In spite, however, of the mania which
his gambling propensity had now become
Rawson had many hard struggle will
himself before he sank 10 That wors,
depth-of spending Janets little fortune
But the time came when he yielded /,
this temptation also. And soon tn,
10000 had gone the way OF all the rest
saving only balance Of Il 900 which oul
ruined gambler held nm for a Dartfct1la