The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-23

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moustache.
This savage looking figure was habit
ed in the costliest clothing, and adorned
with profusion of jewelry, while out
lines of several murderous weapons were
plainly distinguishable beneath his gaudy
vest and superfne coat, Nor did he
need these to render him an object o
terror. A connoisseur in the science o
belligerant gymnastics would have con-
lidentially pronounced him a match fol
any five men OH deck, without any aid
from lead and cold steel
At length, after many failures, he pre-
vailed on wealthy young merchant o
Natchcz TO join him in game Of poker
They sat down beside small table near
the bar, and were soon absoib bed in that
most perIllous ofall excitements, which
the two alluring ingredients are the van.
ity and pride of individual skill, and the
uncertainty of general hazard At first
the stakes we're small, and the run ofthe
cards seemed wholly in favor of the mer-
chant; but presently they bet more free
ly, and gold eagles and hundred dollar
notes were showered down on the board
with extravagant ardor, aud then the
current of fortune changed-ebbed away
from the young merchant and flowed to
the professional gambler in stream like
the oceans tide. A. usually happens in
such cases, his want of success only
piqued and maddened the loser, and he
sought to recover himself by such des-
perate ventures as could not but deepen
and confirm his ruin. And thus they
continued during the long summer night.
The intensity of their excitement be
came equivalent to insanity. Every nerve
was strung-every energy OF the brain
was taxed to the utmost-ther teeth were
set hard as those Of antagonists in the
tug of mortal strile-the sweat rolled
from their brows like great drops ofrain.
The passengers formed a circle around
the players, and looked on with that in
tense interest which such extraordinary
concentration of intellect and passion
never fails to inspire even in bosoms that
shudder at its excess. The merchant
and the gambler attracted all eyes, and
kept rany awake and gazing until morn
ing. Among the latter was one present.
ing a countenance so pileous that it
might have melted hearts of marble to
tears. A pale and exquisitely beautiful
face peeped necessarily from the half
opened door Of the ladies' cabin, weep
ing all the while, as if oppressed by some
dreadful sensation of immediate sorrow.
1t was the merchants lovely wife. weep>
ing her farewell to departing hope.
There was one spectator, Also whose
appearance and actions excited almost
as much curiosity as the PLAYERS did
themselves. He was tall, spare man,
of about thirty, with handsome features.
golden hair, keen blue eyes of preter>
natural brightness, and his firm, thin lips
wore perpetual smile-a mysterious
smile, OF the strangest, the most inscru-
table meaning. With the exception of
his red calico shirt, this person was
dressed wholly in buckskin, ornamented
with long swaling tassels, and wild flo,
ures wrought out of vatiega,ed beads,
after the fashion of some Western In.
dians. He stood close beside the card.
table, and held in his left hand sheet of
paper; in his right large pencil, with
which, ever and anon, he dashed off a
few words, as if engaged in tracing the
progress of the game.
Still the merchant and the gambler
persevered in their physical and mental
toll. The dial of the stars, with its thou
sand fingers of golden fire, pointed to
the world shadows OF midnight (; but still
they did not pause. 1t still was shuttle
and cut, and pass, ante up, and call
you, and rake down the pile. ."-Towards
the morning a tremendous storm arose.
The lightning flashed awlully, the hail
poured like frozen cataract-the great
river roared till it rivalled the loudest
thunder in heaven; and the very pilot at
the wheel was alarmed. But the mad
players heard it not. What was the tu ,
multi of the raging elements to them.
whose destiny hung on the turning of a
card And the smiling blue eyed stran-
ger in buckskin still stood by them with
his pencil and paper, calmly noticing the
Developments Of the game.
Finally the storm passed, as the beau.
tlful day-break came out like thing ol
glory in the great gray East the inrat-
uated merchant. distracted with his
heavy losses, dared the climax of folly
He staked five thousand dollars, his last
cent of money in the world, on two
pairs of kings" The whiskered gam
bier "called" him they showed hands