Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-09-13

3
stakes were small and the run of th
cards seemed wholly in favor Of the mer
chant but presently they bet moro freely
: and the gold eagles and hundred dolla1
note, were throwcd down on the board with
,, extrevagant afdor and then the curIen
Of fortune hanged-cbbed away from the
young merchant, and flowed TO the pro fes.
sional gambler in streams like the oceans
tide. As usually happens in such coscc
his want Of success only piqued and mad
dcncd the loser, who sought 10 recovel
himself by venuring such desperate ven.
lures as could not but deepen and confirm
his ruin. And thus they continued during
that long summer night. The intensity
OF their excitement became equivalent ia
insanity. Every nerve was strung-evcry
energy of brain was taxed 10 the utmost
their teeth We're set hard as those of an
tagonists in the tug Of mortal lilc-tho
sweat rolled from their brows like great
drops Of rain.
The passengers formed circle around
The players, and looked on with that in
tercst which such extraordinary conccn,
tration Of intellect and passion never fails
to inspire even in bosoms that shuddcr at
its excess. The merchant and the gamb.
+ Ter attracted all eyes, and kept many a.
wake and gazing till morning. Among
the latter was one presenting a counie-
nance 50 pitcous that it might have melted
hearts of marble TO tears. a pale and cx.
quisilely beautiful face pcepcd necessarily
! from the half opened door Of the ladies'
cabin, weeping all the while, as if opprcss-
ed by some dreadful sensation of IRENE.
lovely wife weeping her farewell 10 depart.
ing hope
There was one spectator also, whose ap.
pearance and actions excited as much Gu
riosity as the players did themselves
lie was tall, spare man, Of about thirty,
with handsome features, golden hair, keen
blue eyes "f preternatural brightness. and
his firm, thin lips wore a perpetual smile
"A mysterious smile Of the most nscruta-
bic meaning. With the exception of his
red calico skirt, this person was dressed
wholly in buck skin, ornomcntcd with long
flowing tosscls. and wild figures wrought
out Of variegated beads, after the Efashion
Of some western Indians. He stood close
beside the card table, and held in his left
hand sheet Of paper, in his right hand
large pencil, with which ever and anon he
dashed Off a few words, as if engaged in
tracinr thn prorress of tho con,o
o,"m =,
"''iI 'ho 'ncrchah' ana the gambler per-
severed III their physical ana mental toll.
The dial Of the stars, with lis thousand fig,
urcs of golden fire, pointed to the weird
shadows of milDiuht bnt still ,hav did
no, nou,o !, W. :. .l,,,n,o aa,l a,,, ,'I
o"'' "''"
wy az" P"H' "''t' .'' "n' ,r can S"u' anu
rake down the pile" towards the morn
ln9 tremendous storm arose. The red
! lightning flashed aWfu.ly--the hail poured
! like a frozen ca,araci--,hc great river
roarcd fiji if rivoIIrJ tho l,u,lnet ,hrrdors
,rLo,ro,,. orl ,,lr.a. .I'a,,.I..,
,,..,, aI,n.1 d.. Pr. ~ '''0
90 o'"' W., h"' ','c 'i''u l,"!ciS ''"'u
not Nhat was the tumuIt OF the ra-
glhT clements to them whose destiny hung
over the turning Of card And the
smiling blue eyed stranucr in buc, skin
still stood by them with hi. mcneil and no.
, '''' "''' i",
H. O".."y "o''o''9 "lo uc'cIoP"'ehl Oh
'"I S",l'. =,
r'ha'iy 'he Storm passed: ana Inc beau'iin!
'''N
gray eas'. men the infatuated merchant, dis
usc'ru H WIN ms heaVy losses dared the climax
vi 'oly' he s'akeu nve Thousand dollars COM
Pf'sih9 ms las, cent IN inc world on 1.-TWO pair
u; N,"Gs ne Wh'Nereu gam'ler GATED
nm ,hey showed hands the blackIeg had two
par o' aces, ana faKra the board; ihe mer'
cnaht u'oPPeu on lie Hoor as II he had been
'"r' 'N' o,a''' ana mat oeau'i'nl young
w'le ne" 70 70, us F'oe ana 'e'' shrck'ng upon his
pns"M. inty were oo'n tome away 'hsensi-
o'e 10 'ne laoIes caoIn'
-, as he Geposl'ea ,he winnings IN his pocket,
.i' gaino,rr elhl,'eo hoarse Iaugn' 'hat sound
eu l'en''"' as 'le ch"ckLe OF mend; but he
l"S.anty '1St co'or' as a iow' calm voice re-
''arNen t,S, ~ MS ear
70, man you pay strong hand at many
unlt'enl games o"t mere stands one who can
oeai you a, an OF 'ncm ,,
iic 'u'"Su' mt lHt HIdHce OI lhOse Keen Dlue
eyes n SO pre'efnatura'y nr,gh'' ana shnddered.
pu' he ''hfpeu'a'e'y ea'hed ms presence OF mind,
i 1Ir ne was no coward ana men he tIowned I'LL
MS Sn"gey prn"s met IKE tIs COL OF a serpent,
anu 1elna'loru s'ern,y-
pesS"'' w"o a'cyou' 10 oahtef gentleman
''uI 'u''1y f. p;.
(t