The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-08-02

30 hc 5pDhcJ ne puI Ous DIS lett hand
and Mark ns.inctiyely grasped it. 1t was
e warm, substantial flesh and bone, and then
J the young man shrank back. Shortly the
r visitors left and in the hall Percival took
! the money.
} It's alright, isn'tit?' he said, turning
to Mark as he did 90.
'Of course it is.' s
Mark Hanscom did not ask his friends
to return with him, nor did they offer so 10
do. lie pursued Lis way alone, and he
was a miserable, unhappy fellow. At his
own door he made a long pause, but at
length he summoned up his courage and
entered. Mary was sitting by the work
table, engaged in sewing. She looked up
as her husband entered, and low, stiacd
. cry broke from ber lips as she 2aw how
pale he looked.
Marx Mark my husband ? SIZE ex
claimed, sPringing forward and eIasping
HIM by the arm, what has happened?
Nothing, love- whispered Marx, with
an effort.
me what it is
It's nothing Mary
Then why sopale ? Why 50 trembling?I
Tell me-
Nothing, tell you,' answered the
husband, sharply.
Why do you say 50, when your every
look disproves the assertion .
As the wife thus spoke, sudden light
broke in upon her.
Have you lost your eight hundred
dollars 2 she asked.
No answer
Tell me, Mark. 0, will not chide
you'll will not
i hare lost it Mary"
The poor wife sank with groan.-I,
Sic had no idea that her husbands money
was to be taken away from him. She had !
thought it all joke-only fun. She for.
got her uncle's assurance, and now only
took her cue from tie suferings of her
husband.
'o,' she murmured, falling upon bis
neck and bursting into tears, 1t was cru
el-Wicked He ought not to lave do1- !
it,
AT that moment the fifty dollars which /,
poor Lowell had lost were forgotten.
. The next morning Mark Hauscom had ,
no appetite for breakfast, nor did his wife ]
lie went to his store. but be could not at
tend TO business. Towards noon, Sam
Lowell came in. His face was the mirror
of an unhappy soul, too. He drew Mark
one side, and asked to borrow fifty dol
lars
i have not a cent? uttered Mark
But only fifty dollars urged Lowell.
i will pay you again. l shall be put in
Jail if | cannot get it. Ny landlord has
sued me on note of that amount,
which l gave him a year ago. l saved up
the money to pay it but-but-but-You
know l lost it. o, lend me fifty dollars ?
Il hayen'ta centsin the world, Sam
not cent can callmy own. | know ! {
robbed you of your fifty dollars 90,
No, no, Mark, not robbed, me- r
just the same, Sam,-iuss the same. c
l took it from you without returning you
any thing but misery and shame, and l
felt sure | should win it when / made the
bet. hoped l should, at any rate, and !
that shows the deed to have been in my
heart. But | have lost all now All all v
Sam. III owned one hundred dollars, you
should have half Of it in welcome. But / !
don't. wIi nerer BET again =
Not if you could win back your eight !
hundred dollars . asked a koice close by.
Mark looked up, and saw John Percival
standing close behind him. 4.
No, sir, returned the young lzu Wv. I
IA look and tone Of inddignaiior Il IL.
should winitback should but bet some one
else. l thank you oryour lesson, sir, and
if you would do me favor, lend this man
fifty dollars, and look to me for the pay /
ment of it, 7
Certainly returned Percival and
without futher remark he counted out the
sum named, and handed it to Lowell.
Il will pay it, said the latter, eagerly, =
as he clutched the fimsy bits of paper >
which were to save him from jail.
6 shall pay 1t, presisted Mark.
Percival spoke not another word, but
turning upon his heel he left the store, and
Lowell soon fol slowed his example.
That evening, while Mark and his wife
sat gloomiy over their misery, some one
raped at the door, 1t was Uuele Grant b
Mayburn. He entered with a happy h
smile, and the first thing he did, after kiss
ing Mary and then sitting down, was to
hand Mark letter. 1t was a very thick, b
clumsy letter, but the young man noticed L
it not. He broke the seal, and when be
had opened it he found package of bank
notes within. He read as follows: a
DEAR MARX Within you will find a
fifteen hundred and fifty dollars. Eight
hundred of it belong to your wife, that
being the sum which l foolishly staked ;
upon foolish bet Feeling that l have :
no more right to it, l give it TO her. Tie
remaining seven hundred and fifty are what
have left Of your money. Samuel Low a
ell has tho other fifty. Uncle Grant will Q
explain. Yours, ever,
"PEncIvAL."
For some moments Mark was in a state @
of utter bowilderment, but at length he
asked the old man for an explanation.
Certainly returned Mayburn, with a
smile. The other day John came to me a
and said he wished to show to you the utter e