The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-10-24

presence ats a dream, you know
and there can be no irreverence In
mans sleeping thoughts) of two
beings bending over me, each tug
ging to draw me away in opposite
directions. At once | knew that
these were opposing agents who
sought the disposition of my future
fate. One was a MISUNDERSTANDING
rascal, and the effect of his appear
ancc seemed to send red hot lead
thrilling and scorching through my
veins. The other was the opposite
of this, though most singular per-
sonage indeed. You would hardly
expect to see such an angel except
in a dream. He was buttoncd up
tight in a drab coat with pearl but
tons, right handsome affair, and he
had broad brimmed hat of the
same color on his head. | wanted
him to get me, but the other fellow
dug his nails into my flesh, and pull
ed away as strong as his opponent.
At length | thought the black-look-
ing fellow with the fiery eyes, pull
ed out dice-box, and in action de-
fed the other to settle the contest by
a throw
"This was agreed to, and they
left off pulling me, while the fend-
ish looking chap went to work rat
Ting the dice, which he continued
for some moments, looking steadily
at the gentleman in drab. Still gaz-
ing with scorching glance upon
my friend opposite, the dark fellow
turned down the dice-box right up
on my chest, and deliberately raising
it, there saw three skies! He
still kept his eye fastened on
my friend in drab and threw
again. A fiery agony ian throug
me, as | waited to see the dice-box
raised, that seemed to lie upon my
chest as heavy as an iron weight.
The box was raised, and again
three skies appeared Il seemed to
feel myself already SINKING knew
not where. Again the box was
turned down, and it seemed as
though | was plunging into the era
ter of Etna as the dice appeared and
once more | beheld three Sizes
"Again, for a short time, was
torpid and Unconscious, but | soon
seemed to know what was going on,
and my friend in drab was rafting
the dice. He threw the coffin lid
across and threw on that, so tina, the
heavy pain seemed to remove from
my chest. ! watched his first thow
languidly and hopelessly, until the
box was raised, and a sickly sort of
pain tingled through me as saw
that the three skies were thrown
| can tell you nothing about what |
felt at that moment. | knew that it
was only possible to tie the game,
but to beat no chance remained.
The second throw took place, and
again three SKIES appeared !
81 believe felt more horror then
than during all before. Kissing
flames seemed to be splitting and
darting at me. Burning pincers
seemed to be champing impatient to
seize me. Forks of flame were en-
circling my limbs to drag me down.
Howling and shrieking seemed to be
bcne ath me, and the concentrated
agony of hundred lives and of
hundred years seemed to pierce my
heart like a red dart of steel from
the regions Of everlasting torment.
"One spot less than eighteen, and
my doom was sealed. Eighteen
would only reprieve me with a tie.
With gaze of fire | watched the
dice-box as it now lay idle on the
coffin lid. Slowly the figure in drab
adjusted the tie in his cravat, drew
his hat rather on one side and down
over his left eye, and fixing a sort of
half squint upon his black adversary
and half winked upon ME, he qietly
and deliberately ratified the dice. 1t
may have been but a minute, but it
seems to me large slice of eterni-
ty, while he held that box slowly
wagging it to and fro. At length he
softly turned it down, and allowing
it to remain for few seconds, cool
ly lit cigar and took several puffs.
With perdition on one side, and ne
yer ending bliss on the other it is
needless for me to say that those
few seconds were an age. Sudden
ly he threw the box from him, and
what" .....
l Sand what was there ?" eagerly
interrupted listener.
"1tco Slres and SEVEN !"
. The Hliiiiin.