The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-28

ter. and seems to bc very sure that he will
beein 10 win soon, for he has been losing 80
long, tho tide must change, - .,
~ You never saw ladies in gambling house,
did youi There are several around this Ia.
BILE. Here is one standing ut my shoulder,
pleading In an under tone of voice with an
elderly man. who may be her father or ,her
husband, or, more likely than either, her
friend, for fresh supply Of forins. ras her
purse is empty. He pretends to be absorbed
in the game that the rest are playing, but
she is Unfortunate, and he turns she then
has his eve, and looks so implnringly. thai
he yields and fills the purse. saw her lay
down these forms, Two or three of them at
a time, fluttering like u frightened pigeon
sometimes. revealing her disappointment
when she lost, and her JOY rs clearly when
she won but the tide was against her, and
before she quit the table. the purse was
emitted again, and there was no smiling
when she took her old mans arm. and
marched out OF the hall MS mad us a March
hare. But have been watching with more
interest then any of ,hese, a woman of rare
beauty, at the corner OF the table, in mont
OF me. Five hours ago she was there I; she
may have been out in hat time for refresh
ments, but she il habifue Of this house.
Dressed in rich black silk and neat collar,
stomacher and scarf, she would be taken for
a lady. had she no jewelry bu, those brace.
let's and chails, and charms are rather too
rich and many for such place. No gentle.
man is here who seems to stand in any reli'
tionship olhat splendid creature. She plays
on her own account =.
Blu, women will show their feelings, and
with ul her effort Mt calmness and indiaer-
ence, the tell tale blood, as it flies in her
face, or rushes hack to her heart, leaving
her white as marble, discloses the struggle
that is hcaving her bosom. She has not
played for FIVE or six minutes; her head has
res ed on her hand, and her ivory arm, rs it
stands up there, has been glanced nj even
by those who seem to be engrossed in the
game. She plays again and hoses, and now
she places her hand on her forehead, rs ii it
acbed. Ii was for q moment only; she re.
covered, and instantly threw out double her
usual stakes, and saw them swept away
without sigh. II was exciting 10 see her.
lnvoluntarily my sympathies were with her,
and was wishing she might be the winner
Of every throw she made. Who was she |!
Nobody but gay, ruined, wretched woman |;
one of the thousands thronging these water.
ing places; bankrupt in fortune and reputa.
ton the least of their vices il gambling,
and if the love Of money was the worst OF
their passions, they would be pure, as they
are beautiful. With the dukes and duch.
esses the lords and ladies', the sharpers,
blacklegs, and peddlers of all sorts, the trav.
elers who resort in summer time to these
fountains Of health and pleasure, come gay
women; and as they roll through ne streets
in their splendid carriages, or sail in the ball.
room at midnight, you might mistake them
for the greatest ladies Of the land. "Never
buy book by The cover said my Irish
coachman at Dublin, and the advice is quite
as good in Germany. t..s .I .