True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-10-31
Selett Gale.
From Dodge's Literary Museum
II ENRY LAWS0N:
L A..- OR
THE LAST GAME.
BY HORACE G, WOOD.
CHAPTER FIRST.

In one of those princely mansions 50
numerous upon Regent street, in the me
tropolis of England, upon the evening of
July 7lh, 1852, sat young lady of un-
common personal beauty, evidently await
ing the arrival of some one who was un
usually dilalory; every now and then she
would look anxiously at the honse-cIock
that was ticking in the corner, and then
turning her gaze into the street, would
hurredIy excIaim,
why don't he come ?
AT length The clock struck eleven.
He will be here soon,' said she, as
the last vibrating sound died away, she
certainly will not stay longer But the
poor woman was destined to disappoinl-
ment. The clock struck twelve, and still
he was away. What can this mean?'
sai..she, anxiously. Perhaps some mis-
chief has befalen him.
And as she ceased speaking. she buri-
ed her face in her snowy hands and sal
for several moments wrapl in deep lho'I.
Al le,gth strange suspicion seemed to
cross her mind, and her face lit up with a
singular expression as she arose from the
richly caparisoned sofa upon which she
had been reclining, aal opened a secret
draw er OF her secretary.
Yes, yes, he has gone to the gaming
house. o, merciful Heaven! why was
| permitted TO hve until now, to know, To
feel my husbands disgrace 2 she said, as
she laid into the drawer a roll of bank
bills which she had just been counting, at
the same time sinking back upon he sofa
and bursting INTO a violent fit Of weeping.
The agunzed woman wept long and
bitterly under the iumull Of emotions that
was raging in her breast. The clock
struck one, and before lis last echo had
receded. tIe parIor door opened, and Hen
ry Lawson, the dlalory husband, entered
ahe room. ......
His eyes beamed with wild express
ion as they fell upon his wife, who, pale
and weeping, still SIT upon the sofa await
ing his arrival. He hurriedly approach
ed her, and in husky voice, qui,e unu
sual to him, said,
Ellen, why aie you here 2
i was wailing for you,' said she, as
she turned her eyes imploringly to his
At'could not sleep when you were away
so uncommonIy late. Where have you
been!'
Henry, who never concealed anything
from his wife, frankly answered,
AT Barker's card saloon
%! Henry exclaimed the agoni2ed
woman, 'con it be! Why did you go
there 2
For goM!' answered he, in an excited
voice, at the same time bringing his
clenched hand forcibly upon the table.
Think of the Disgrace, Henry said
Ellen, startled at the strange manner OF
her husband.
Disgrace ! Why is it a disgrace To
gain-money from an individual who con-
sen,s to stake i! upon game at cards,
more than in the ordinary run of trade ?
Is not the world a gambling shop, and
are not all who are in it gamblers ?
'Henry,' said his wife, alarmed at the
philosophy which he had SO recently
adopted, you look upon this matter in lis
wrong light. Gambling, in and of ITSELF
may not be a sin; but it is certainly a
monslrous evil, and involves the most hor-
rid results. Think of the families thai
are impoverished, The thousands that are
almost daily ruined by is fascinating
charms. Led along lis giIded 'abyrmths
has many noble man step by step gone
down 10 The dark abyss Of destruction;
whereas, had they avoided the laml spell
and been conien, to accumulate by honest
industry, they might have lived happily
and died conlenledly, mid wealth and
case, blessing to themselves and society
o! Henry, who knows but thai yO"-
Here the poor wife paused. She could
no. find voice to utter the words that lay