American mechanic and home journal., 1849-12-22

man, to which men bow. sven mightier than ss'ssu A sudden light flashed rom the eye of the young man, as he recoiled beneath her glance, while his fingers were elhtched convulsively together. & 6 ..saz
 "Goh F exclaimed he, n adeep, passionate tone, "Gold r'
 the very blood seemed curdling about his heart. but the next he drew his cloak tightly around him, and rushed from the house.
 With feverish impatiqnce the youth hur ried homeward over the pAvement Strange thoughts were in his hearf; new hopes and new desires were holding their unbidden coun- cils there, yet he crushed them within him, or strove to do so but the word gold" seemed forever ringing in his ears. He was what the world would term < "moral, upright youth" conscientious in all his dealings with others and until this moment had put no value upon money, farther than it was necessary to the comforts or perhaps luSuries of life. But now it suddenly possessed a new value in his Ieyes. The logic and passion of Margaret were like electricity they had entered the system, and, unconsciously to himself, had re- modelled his whole being. t -- He had proceeded wilma rapid and uneasy step a considerable distance over the pave Iment, when he was startled from his rehec- tions by hand laid somewhat rudey upon his shoulder. tx .st.~
 Il knew you by your gait, Eugene" ex- claimed deep, sonorous voice, "though the late hour almost beled my senses. Have you anything in hand,-anything, in view for the night: eh 7" -327 na@ -.+
 "How! Harryi An you frightened me sadly. It isn't so pleasant to be grasped at midnight, by the hand gf one knows not whom n = and he glanced around4 him hurriediy. then. drawing close to his companion, whispered in his ear.
 For an instant Eugene |hesitated, and the light that flashed from a neighboring window showed his countenance of a ghastly pale ness. An hour before he would utterly have refused the temptation, but now he pondered ; and while rapid and undehned thought was going on within his heart, his friend drew him aside. and they entered one of those dark dens of iniquity which are the bane of populous cities. and where wealth and beggary are made the plaything of an hour, and almost life and death the sport oflthe gaming tabie.
 Fortune sometimes strangely favors the guilty as well as the brave, while the honest and upright are apparently going down hill. It was almost Eugene's fist decided compro- mise with conscience, ana it succeeded. For many days, every successive night found hlm at the gaming table; and when, at the close
 of a fortnight, he found himself the master of
 q considerable sum of money, by an effort Icertainly uncommon. he stopped in this ca
 reer of sinful uncertainty, and with his small
 capital immediately comhenced business for himself as a merchant.
 l Suscess followed succeIs his business and
 capital increased Months and years went ibv. and wealth flowed intt his coffers, and he
 drew the girl whom he hS so won-won at
 the gaming table, to his otn hearth-stone, and
 she deemed herself happy, for they were rich,
 and who can deny they were honored He
 had gained that power oyer others for which
 she had thirsted. and men looked up to him,
 and bowed low as they passed him on their way and flesh and blood cringed at his feet l for exen a single touch of his finger.
 One cold, windy night af December, ls-, just as the clock tolled @One," the shrill and
 startling cry of fire was h lard echoing thro the deserted streets of Nev York. Eugene slept soundly, with his wifs and child by his side. As the cry struck ls ear, he started. turned, and murmuring "itis nothing" drew Ithe clothes more closely arond him, and slept Still the cry arose, ioudetand louder on the air, of Fire Fire" at aomentary inter vais: men and boys werehurrying through -tthe streets, with rapid and eager steps, to- l wards the princely house of the sleeper:- llStill he awoke not from hisalmost unearthly lSleep, till the crash oI th9uoor, broken Ill l from without, startled him D his senses and : he leaped from his bed just f the flames were
 trolling and flashing throuel the room and I upon the instant the bed-cutains caught, and ! his wife and child were en,sloped in flames :! t It was but the work of arinstant to rescue a them, and hurry down the hlready burning t stairs But the work of ofIdestruction was H done many block and twp or three whole y Isauares were consumed b efTe the fire could
 be subdued, and with the dwelling house of I Eugene, his large mercantile establishment