Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-11-01
THE BlTER BIT.

Mr. Travers Denham, resident of
Calcutta, was civilian Of dashing exte-
rior and plausible ways. though in fact a
gOuc- an adventurer-One who sought
to bet and 90 play at every opportunity,
aud who dlUayS won, and won in such
manner as to raise strange suspicious, and
something worse than suspicious in the
breast of a certain Major Byrne, whose
regiment was then stationed in the above
city.
1t so happened that the latter one day
entered the house Of an official parsonage
-one who, in manner, figured high in
the society OF Calcutta-whOse hospital
ity was equal to his wealth, and whose
urbanity and fine nature weres on a par
with both. On being shown into a splen-
did drawing room, where some furniture
lust received from Europe lay unpackcd,
he found nrI. T'~...ars Denh"n7, arrived
there before him, in conversation with
the host, who was warmly pressing him
to dine with him the next day, carclessly
saluting Denham, Byrne advanced TO the
chimney-piece, at the side of which small
concave mirror, of an elegant but still
old fashioned shape, was fixed among a
group of small paintings.
When Denham was gone, Major Byrne
turned to his host. and said, If Mr..
Denham offers to make a bet wi h you
about that table, pointing to a new one,
take him at his word a bet The
table my dear fellow began the other.
whist, and listen TO me-. said the Ma
1or; and he communicated to his friend
what, by the extravagaut fit of aughter it
produced must have been highly amusing
The morrw came the guests assem-
bled, and with them were Major Byrne
and Mr.. Dcnham. Among the articles
OF furniture remarked, was the new di-
ming table and as Byrne had expected,
Dcnham was on the qui vire.
The table would be spIended enc,
We're it not little too high observed the
latter, with knowing glance at its pro-
portions.
Too high! Nonsense returned its
owner, laughing. It's only the usual
height-say thirty inches
My eye is rarely deceived said Den
ham, confidently; land am certain that
it is more than that-nay. that it is one
and thirty inches high
well, l think this time your eye does
deceive you.' retortcG the hoss 'and
And 1 am so confident Of the contra
rv,' continued Denham, that | should !
not mind making wager it is the full
measure state
Their host looked at Byrne, who wink
ed drolly in return, unubscrved by the
clever gamester, and then he queietIy re-
piled:
"A wager! My dear fellow. you would
be sure to lose. take my word for it,
Lose, ch J. and Denham smiled. Well,
if you like I'll bet YOU a cool thousand
aye twO-that it is you who are in the
wrong
Two thousand ! and their host shook
his head and looked very gravcly at Dem
ham. and again at the table.
Yes, two thousand said Denham,
getting warm with eagerness, and taking
out his poCketb book, from which lie coun-
ted out notes to that amount. lie had
fleeccd several young fellows lately
been lucky lac called it, without re-
morse-and tolerably flush of money.
Why hesitated the challenged, |
think it would be foolish wager, but by
CAD l don't like to be put at defiance,
and so I'll bet,' and at the instant he
drew forth the like sum, which, with
Denham's two thousand, was deposited
with gentleman present.
You arc suIc to lose, cried Denham,
triumphantly, and scarcely able to con-
ceaI his delight.
4 am certain to win the host said We
..y gravely, IS with expectation on tip
toe, private in the engineers, who was at
hand and called in, proceeded to measure
Che height OF the table.
Thirty inchess' pronounced the latter,
after a pause.
.What?' cried Denham with start OF
rage flushing, and then turning pale, 1t
must be mistake
No. several of the guests said.
eThilty inches is the height. Come and
Judge fot yourself And Enthusiastically
the height so turned out.
The devil exclaimed Deuham, car
ried away by his ruinous failure. Pm
certain that yesterday measured it to be
hirty-one inches
Yes, faith. said Byrne, stepping for
ward, and its meself that saw ye, me
boy marking the same on your hip as ye
stood beside it. and, thinking what ye
were up to- bedad we had the legs sGtoed
off an inch and now 1 think, for once,
the tables are turned upon ye and amid
a roar of laughter, as the money was han
ded over to the winner, the discounted
gambler rushed from the room, and was
soon after probably missed from his
haunts and circle