The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-08-28

LOUIS 10 NeS Ofiedns, Win tuh S'o"o VI
passengers. Immediately after getting IN
der good head~sy" TO adopt favorite back.
wood phrase, one person attracted universal al.
,ention by the annoying esgernsss with which
he endeavored TO make up party al cards.
Indeed, his oft.repeated and perseveriug eff
fort, to that end soon became insulting and
uncomfortable and ye, his appearance was such
90 to deter the bravest on board from admin.
is,etins The chssiisemen, which he 90 richly
deserved. He vas q huge mass Of mighty
bone and muscle. with swsr,hy features. bear.
ing the impress of many a scar; piercing
black eyes, that seemed TO possess the power
| Of blasting the sholder-cold, cleaning eyes,
such as haunt the memory painfully rank
luxu,isncs Of cesi black HAIR; immense whis
kers and mous,schs. This savase.looking
figure was hsbilsd 10 the costles clothing,
aud adorned with proiusion Of jewelry, while
the outlines Of several murderous weapons
we're plainly distinguished beneath his gaudy
vest and supsrfne coat. Nor did he need
these to render him an objec, Of terror. A
connosseur in the science Of belligerent gym.
nas,ics, would have confidently pronounced
him a match for any five men on the deck,
~,hou, any aid from lead or cold steel.
At leugth, after many failures, he prevailed
upon wealthy young merchant Of Na,chez to
join him in game Of poker They ga, down
! beside small table near the bar, and were
soon absorbed in tina, mos, perlous Of excite.
ments, Of which the two alluring ingredients
are the vanity and prids Of individual skill,
and the uncertainty Of general hazard. Al,
frs, the stakes we're small, ard the run o.
cards seemed wholly in favor OF the merchant,
bu, presently they bet more freely, and gold
eagles and hundred dollar notes were show
cred dowa with ex.ravagant urdor and then
the current Of fortune changed-ebbed away
from the young merchant and f,wed to the
professional gambler in stream like the o.
csan's tide. As usually happens in such ca
ses, his wan, of success enly Piqued and mad
dened the loser, and he sough, 10 recover
himself, by ventures as could no, but deepen
and confirm his ruin. And thus they cont.
naed during whole summer night.
The intensity Of their excitement became
equlvalen, 10 insanity. Every nerve Wa. strung
every energy of the brain vas taxed to the
u,mosl-,eeth were set as hard as those Of
antagonists in the tug Of mortal s!rfe-ths
sweat rolled from their bloss Ike great drops
OF rain.
The passengers formed circle around the
players, aud looked on with ,hs, inleres, which
such extraordinary concentration Of intellect
and passion never falls 10 inspire, even in DO.
SONS that shudder a. i's success. The u.er.
chant and the gambler attracted all eyes, and
kept many awake and e'z ns till morning. -
Among the latter was cue presenting coun.
;enance so piteous TIA, it Oh, have melted
hearts Of marble to tears. A pale and ex.
quisit.ly beautiful face peeped necessarily fton,
ths ha'fopsped door Of The ladies' cabin, weep
ing s'l the while. az if impressed by some
dreadful sensation of IRENE dlable sorrow. Il
was The merchants lovely wife, weeping her
farewell 10 departing hope
There was one spectator, also, ~hoso ap.
pearance and action excited almos, as much
curiosity as the players did themselves. lie
was a tall, spare man of about ,htty, with
handsome features, golden hair, keen blue
eyes Of pre'ernaiutal brightness, and bis ffu
thin lips wore a perpetual e-mysterious
smile OF the strange the mes, incrutable
meaning. With the exception Of his red cali
CO shut, this person wa. dressed wholly II
buckskin, ornaDen.ed with long swaying tas
sels, and wild figures wrOu.h. on, Of vatesa
tod beads after The fashion Of some Western
lndiaps. lie stoed closs beside the card BILE
and held in his left hand shee, OF paper, II
his right a large pencil, with which ever anc
anon he Dashed Of few words, as if engag
ed 10 tracing tho progress Of the game.
Still The merchant and the gambler psrse
vered in their physical and mental toll. Thu
: dial Of the stare, with ito thousand fingers 0
golden FIRE, pointed TO the world.shadows o
midnight; but still they dad no, pause. |
sill. was shuttle and cut, and pass ante up
and call you, and rake down the pile"
Toward. the morning Tremendous storm
arose. The red Lightning dashed awiuly-
the hail poured like frozen cataract-th'
-, great river roared I'll it rivalled The Ioudes