The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-07-06
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JULY 6, 1853

his features are sallow and bloated-bis
eyes are ghasty and bood-shot-bis
hands shake and tremble as if palsied by
age, and his whole frame is nervous in
the extreme. We know it is not a patu.
raj excitement that convulses him. and
the conviction is forced upon It's, that these
shaking, twitching and nervous sensations
that wild, ghastly and garing look, are
premonitory symptoms OF that most fear
ful ofall affections-that horribly damninr
disease where the victim is given in this
life, foretaste of what awaits him in the
ncxt-where the imps of his satanic ma
Jesty congregate around his Iowly couch,
and laugh to scorn the mortal agony that
consumes him
Winters sat unnoticed in this ruffianly
crowd !
At length, near the hour Of day.lioht.
when most of the party weie getting tired
OF the sport, bold, dashin9 looking row.
dy slapped him familiarly on the shoulder
us he SAID
What is the matter Wintersl Why
the ID don't You play I"
"PIaym
Yes play! Are you dreamingl Not
broke, ell q
Winters answered only by stare.
"liere," continued the other, good hu.
mouredly, thrusting u FIVE dollar bill int
his hand, take this; l have been lucky
tonight, and can very well lend you V .
Try; perhaps you may win"
Winters carelessly walked up to the
table and stake, his Az" and in few
moments it was doubled. The next min
ute it was doubled again. and third time
he tried and WAS successful
Fortune favors me-" he exclaimed.
sweeping his winnings from tie board,
"Tll try again"
lie did try again; daylight dawned,
the crowd had dispersed, and these two
men were still at'the table. Winters en-
tered with spirit into the game; his pas
sions are aroused, and ere the sun is an
hour high, he is the posse,sor Of several
thousand dollars. Butisoon his good FOR.
tune forsakcs him, aud in the course Of
another hour he is without dollar.
"lIcre, stake this" said he drawing
from his bosom small locket containing
the portrait Of "A Young and beautiful pir.
His companion took it and yazed earn
estIy at tho face so faithfully pictured, as
he asks
"Whosc portrait is thisr
"My Wiie'sr' -....
The man laid 1t on the .able, and lean.
ing lis face on hard brown hand. saws
as he cljse!y scans the face before him
"rll play for the original 2"
81 offered You the portrait itselfw says
Winters almost ferccy.
'Ah, that is Of but little value T., me,
but against the original, l will stake one
thousand dollars"
There IS tier'e struggle in the heart
of Henry Winters; a struggle between
honor and crime. But the latter prevails.
The otfer is accepted, and for two hours
nothing breaks the stiffness save the rust
ling of the cards, and the suppressed
breathing Of the excited players At the
end Of that time, Henry Winters is the
loser. His trembling limbs can scarcely
support him as he rises from tue table |;
his countenance is truly frightful to look
upon. The gambler pays no a tention to
this, but says to Winters as the latter pre-
pares To leave the room:
Tonight, will claim my winnings.n
"Ah. tonight to night Il" yelled the
dishonored wretl., as lie rushed headlone
from this den of infamy.
lie walks with rapid, but to,terinq steps
in the direction Of his own dwelling; he
reels like drunken man ms he walks up
the creaking staircase to his own chamber.
He pauses on the landing ms lie hears
strange voices in his wife's room; they
are paying the last sad offices to the dead.
lie srlggers in, snd tl.e tiTas offset that
meets his gaze is the corpse Of his wife !!
lie tries to approach it, but as il in
dream, he is transfxed to .he spot his
eyes glare as though they are starting
from their sockets; he gripes the flesh on
his chest until his nails are stained With
blood; the veins Of his temples swell and
boil, as though they would burst their
narrow boundary, and deluge his brain
with living fire. This jasted for several
moments, then uttering one loud, terrible.
unearthly yell, he falls heavily to the
floor.
One hour later, and his limbs are as
cold and stiff as those of his murdered
wife