The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-03-18

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money of my father to pay the debts thus
contracted. A few Mi ghts since I went
with Raymond to the saloon 1 have before
mentioned; we played and won from him
almost everytime. He became excited and
continued doubling the stakes each time
until it was quite late, and, delighted with
my evenings gains which were more than
1 had ever won before, I rose to depart.
"Stay," said Raymond, you ought to
give an old friend one more chance to bet
ter his fortune" and he again doubled the
amount 1 had won, remarking that if he
lost that game he was ruined man.
And so will I be if I should lose it,"
thought I, but, elated as was by my for
mer success, fondly hoped should win.
We played with the desperation of men
who feel that their all depends on the
decision of throw. We were both
adopts in the art, but at length, by sly
trick, Raymond won the game, and pocket
ing that portion of his gain which lay on
the table, he exclaimed, Didn't l work
you, Charley A little too sharp for you,
ehp He wound up his remarks with
horrid oath and an almost fiend-like laugh;
but my feelings were such as would not
permit me to join in his mirth, and, telling
him that would see him again soon, I
hastily departed. l...
i With feelings bordering on insanity, I
thought of the bitter consequences of my
sinful course, of the obligation I was under
to man whose character l had begun to
see in it's true light. But how was 1 to
liquidate so large debts could think
3 of no way but by applying to my father.
| But then what pretext should 1 offer for
!, requesting so large sum /? Should I tell
, him that his only son was gambler? No
I could not think of this, and besides, I
felt that it was his example which had led
me into my present course, and 1 could not
wish to add to the confession ofmy guilt the
bitter upbraidings which felt were his due.
So determined to write for the money
without telling him why 1 wanted it. I have
awaited in an agony of suspense my
fathers answer, but it has not yet arrived,
why, know not, at least he might have
written, if no more. 1t is now week
since that unhappy evening. Tonight
remained in the store after the other
clerks were gone. sat alone brooding
over my folly and misfortune, when the
door opened and Raymond stood before
me. There was something repulsive in
the graceful ease with which he addressed
me, and "hoped I had not quite forgotten
an old friend" He told me that he was
obliged to leave the city to night and would
like to have the $4,000 which owed him.
I told him that l had written to my father
for the money and daily expected a reply.
He said that he had engaged berth in
steamer bound for Europe which would
sail at daybreak tomorrow, and asked if
could not get the money of my employer.
1 told him that he had left the city and
would not return at least in day or two.
He urged me TO take the money from the
safe, the key of which 1 had with me. I
rejected the proposal with horror, but his
prevailed. 1 opened the
safe and was counting out the money when
Raymond, who stood by me, laid his hand
on my shoulder and looking at me steadily
while hellish gloom shot from his pierc-
ing eyes .aoIa
"Charles Westland," said he, "you
owe me two thousand dollafs-I will give
it you-a boat lies in the harbor which
departs with to-morrow's dawn. I have
berth in it which you shall share, and I
will pay your passage, and introduce you
to men of noble birth who will be proud
to welcome you as their guest when in
troduced by me. Your employer is gone
his wealth is before us-it has been
gained by oppression and deceit, for mer-
chants are as fraudulent even as robbers
in their dealings. Let us avail ourselves
of this treasYre-we will share it equally,
and then what an Internal dash we will cut
among those naughty lords and ladies over
the water. Your noble figure and hand
some features will break the hearts OF half
the bellies of Paris, and you may set the
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