The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-11-23

ottuB iOr the answer. st;s ~ ~ -'&t -
Mortgage me your stock of goods"
@You know rne. then 2" a;'9a
No; you are a shopkeeper."
ssI will" J5',e5,.a ;f ~
The stranger threw him three hundred
dollars. ~ -, sa,yis.s1 t esa
In ten minutes it was all lost ti
/ u s.Ili::e mortgage" said the dark being
+ Can we make it here said Robert over
whelmed with anguish, =
aNo; will go to your house,
s.Impossible, not for the world" a-
"But oiu" !" said the stranger, sternly.
s."By heaven, You shall not"
"Hist you shall be exposed" ~
Robert was obliged to consent, and borne
down by the terrible agony that preyed up
on him, he conducted his mysterious com
panion to his once happy home. The clock
struck eleven as they entered.
"Your wife is not at hoine," said the
stranger. ....f ,.,sss +.
Robert was surprised to find that Angely
was notin her accustomed seat by the fire.
Full Of painful misgivings, why he knew not,
he hastened to her apartment to see if she
had retired there was no trace of her to be
discovered. ssa-
/ .
the strange gambler seated by the fire, in
tently poring over the pages of q book he
had taken from the centre table. A.
LEFT you, should say; women are so
tame" replied the stranger, sternly.
"Lcft me ! now exclaimed Robert, casting
himself into achair, and venting deep groans,
the anguish of his soul.
"The mortgage continued the stranger,
sharply.
"lwill write it in my room," replied the
young man, leaving the apartment.
Wiping away the tears which coursed in
great drops down his haggard cheeks, he
picked out blank mortgage from his pa
pers, and proceeded to fill it ont. The task
completed he turned to the sitting room.
AS lie opened the door, he started back
with astonishment at beholding Angely seat.
ed by the CRATE, reading the last number of
Harper! -,
"Why, Robert, l did not know you had
got home," said she, rising and placing a
| chair before the fire where his slippers Law,
ready for him TO put his feet into. .',
The dark stranger was not there. -
"What is the matter with you, Robert,
how strangely You nappear," continued hiswife.
"Do 1 " and Robert started and looked
ronnd him in wild amazement. Where was
| the stranger2
81 did not know you were here, Angely,"
stammered he.
Il have been out awhile, this evening, but
1 came in just as the clock struck eleven"
! $50 did /" answered he, more confused
than before. "Where is Mr., the gen
tleman who came home with me 2" g..
II have not seen any gentleman"
81 came in Mt eleven with"
/ "What time is it now, Robert 2" 81.
watch-his wife's watch-it was gone
"Your watch--I LETT"
| II have it; is halfpast eleven" said An
gely, taking the watch from her pocket.
| "What is the matter with you, Robert
you are crazy should say
"That watcll'.-Robert paused.
swell" said Angely, beginning to wear
a mysterious, mischievous luok, chow goes
your speculation 7"
"Badly, my dear" replied Robert with a
look ofwondcr.. -.
"What paper have you in your hand Z"
"Nothiug-that isl will put it in my
secretary" and he left the room to get the
ugly document out of theTway.
He was not absent morethan five minutes,
but when he returned the dark stranger of
the gambling hell sat at the fire.
Robert began to think he was dealing
with the devil. gs a, a
"The mortgage" said the stranger, in his
low, deep tones. >,
"Who are you, sir? man or devil--who
are you n exclaimed the bewildered young
man, rushing toward the dark form.
hut before he could reach it, the form
shook off the cloak, and the wbiskers and
the wig, and his WIFE stood before him +,
The spell was dissolved. He understood
il all. Es.fse'. -.
"Are you cured, Robert" said she, smil
ing mischeisously. b And then using the
deep tones Of the dark stranger, she contin-
ued; "You have wife; of course, you love
her not, or you would not be here. "Ah,
Robert that alone saved you you confessed
your love even in your gambling hell. In
making haste to be rich, you have been led
astray. But forgive you, Robert" and the
gentle hearted wife lwiped her arms around
his neck, and kissed his cheek.
2Aiways forgivirg as the spirit of mercy.
l do not deserve your forgiveness, Angely.S
Why isa young lady just from boarding
school like building committees Because
she Is ready TO receive proposals. -
- Z