The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-14


going conversation. Heavy sums were
lost aud won-loud laughter rang through
the rooms. Now flushed with success
some.exu,ed in their good tor,une-other'
lost the last dollar they had remaining ant
cursed their unlucky stars.
At the table where the conversation tool
place, TO which have already referred
the utmost good hUmor aud harmony pre-
vailed. The players were evidently iamil
lar associates, on equal terms in intimacy
and standing in society
They pockeled each others money witt
the utmost indifference, and the sang tfroio
with which it was lost aud won was equal
! " remarkable.
! The clock struck twelve. Midnight,
exclaimed one.
Yes, Shakspear says returned anoth
err
t"Now is the very witching time of night,
When church yards yawn and graves give up
their dead"
By the way, | wonder if Billy Shakspear
believed in ghosts!
/ can answer for myself said a third
that do, most relgiously.'
! 'Nonsense-you surely Jest
BY heaven do noi--you may call it
superstition, folly or what you please, |
believe at this very hour ghosts walk
abroad
! The Others laughed, but the last speak.
er maintained his gravity.
Well, really this is amusing, continued
The young gentleman by whom the CONVEX,
sailon was commenced nothing would
induce you then TO visit grave yard q,
this time Of night, suppose 2
No, confess my weakness, cowardice
| if you choose so to call it, in this particular,
and you, Ned Lawrence, would be equally
10Th to DO so 7
Not |, answered Lawrence; make il
my while, I'll 90 this very hour TO Frank
tamilton's grave and offer 10 pay him il
he's abroad the hundred dollars he won
from me al cribbage.'
/ will bet you fifty dollars you'll do no
such thing
Done
/ The bet was made and the money stalk.
ed. Ned Lawrence rose, called for bis
cloak, and having enveloped himself in lis
ample folds, was about departing, when it
was suggested that some one should accom-.
pany him in order to bear witness tha, be
would actually visit the suicides grave
No, he mus. 90 alone, or Withdraw the
bet,' exclaimed the believer in ghosts; to
convince US that he has actually won the
wager, be can bring the stake that was
driven into the ground ct the foot Of HauiI
iou's grave, to denote where the poor fellow
vas buried
Good will do So said Lawrence
and he departed.
The glasses of the remaining trio were
fepleniahed, and the game resumed. He,
by whom the be, was proposed, was san.
gulne of winning IL; the other was conf.
deat that Lawrence would return with a
just claim to the sum deposited. And so
he did as the clock struck one, he return
ed with the stake on which tho initials Of
Frank Hamilton were rudely engraved.
There, have won the wager be
cried It was long walk on cold night,
and | had trouble to climb the wall which
eacloses the gave yard, but allow no man
10 dispute my courage. | offered TO pay
Fran. his money too, but as be did not ap.
pear to claim il, | consider that, having
made legal tender Of the amount, the
debt Is cancelled
Well, the money is yours, Ned. bu,
double or quits, that you dare not replace
the stake IRON where you removed it.
What 10 night inquired Lawrence.
This very hour.
Double or quits III do II first let
me swallow glass Of whIskey punch, for
lis internal cold, and is somewhat, Of walk
from here 10 Carmine street.
By all means--we'il all pledge 10 you a
cafe return
The glasses were filed and drained
Ned Lawrence took up the stake he had
brought from the grave yard and again de-
parted.
Good night Ned said one Of his
ihonghtess, gay companions, Frank Ham
Ilion will keep you this time; and challenge
you to take your revenge a, crlbbage.'
If return not By daylight, you may
conclude that such is the fact, replied
Lawrence as he closed the door.
a feeling Of unaccouniabIe gloom came
over the three remaining gamesters, after
Ned Lawrence departed a second time. In
vain did they endeayor TO rally their spir.
lis, or seek ~ increasing their bets, TO give
additional excitement to the game. Law.
renee himself, as he again pursued his way
to the grave Of the wretched suicide, expo.
rieuced sensation Of dread, 10 which he
was previously stranger, and il increased
asthc parting remark Of his friend REQUIRED
TO him Psha he inyoluntariIy exclaimed,
II am fool TO permit silly Jest like
that, 10 affect me--lf | turn back, shall be
laughed at as braggadocia, If not a COW
ard. D--n it that would be worse than
losing a paltry hundred dollars.
! On be went, and al las, reaches the bn
rial place. The weather was intensely
cold, and the stars shcnc brightly in the
coudless sky. Not soul was visible
not :, cctIud ,vas IN hn heo III .pd M -