The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-12-05

fearless tales Of gamblers who have stak.
ed money against the honor of wife,
flashed across his mind, and he shudder-
ed to think how near he stood to the ia
tai precip,ce, which might hurl him, in
his madness, into deeper dishonor.
"You would have her know what you
have donei" said the stranger calmly.
"Nor for the world"
"Then play again; your chance is
good"
81 have not shilling"
81 will lend YOU"
"On what security!" asked Robert,
trembling for answer.
Mortgage me your stock Of goods"
"You know me, then"
mo; you are shop.keep."
al will"
The stranger threw him three hundred
dollars.
In ten minutes it was all lost;
"The mortgage" said the dark being.
"C,n we make It bery I" said Robert
overwhelmed with angeish.
mo; will go to your house"
"Impossble not for the wotId."
"But will" said the stranger, stern,
ly.
"By Heaven, you shall not !"
"Iiist you shall! be exposed"
Robert was obliged TO consent and
borne down by the terrible agony that
preyed upon him, he conducted his mys-
terious companion to his once happy
home. The clock struck eleven as they
entered.
"Your wife is not at home" said the
stronger.
Robert was surprised to find that An
gely vas not in her accustomed seat by
the fire. Full Of painful misgivings, why,
he knew not, he hastened to her apart
ment to gee il she had retired there was
no trace Of her 10 be discovered.
Returning to the sitting room, he found
the strange gambler seated by the fire,
intently poring over the pages Of a book
he had taken from the centre-tabIe.
Left you, ] should say; women are so
strange" replied the stranger, sternly.
"Leh me! no!' exclaimed Robert, cast
ing himself into chair, and venting deep
groans, the anguish Of his soul.
"The mortgage" continued the stran-
ger, sharply.
81 will 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 picket out blank mortgage from his
papers, and proceeded to fll il out. The
task completed, he turned 10 The sittingr
room.
As he opened the door, he started back
with astonishmenl at beholding Angely
seated by the crate, reading the last num-
Der Of Harper!
"Wby, Robert, ] did not know you had
60. home," said she, rising and placing q
chair before the fire where bis slippers lay
ready for him to put his feet into.
The dark stranger was not there.
"What is the matter With ycu, Robert,
how strangely you appear" continued his
wife.
DO !" and Robert started and look
ed round him in wild amazement. Where
was 'he strangerl
~ did not know you were here, hnge.
w." strmmered he. ..... .r
II have been out awhile, this evening
but I came in just as the clock struck
eleven" .,.
$50 did T." answered he, moro confused
,hsn before. "Where is Mr. -, the
gentleman who came home with met"
II have net seen any geutlemss."
II came in at eleven With
aWhas time is Il now, Robert"
The watch--bis wifs's wa.eh-it val
gone -
sYous watch--I left"
III have il; il is half past eleven" said
Angely, taking the watch from her poe
| ket.
4 ~What IL the matter with you, Robert
you are crozy, should say.
"Thst walch"--Robert paused.
ewse," said Angely, Lsinning to wsa
a mysterious, mi'chievous look, "hov
i goes your speculation :"
aBsdly, my dear replied Rssbsrl viii
Isok Of wonder.
-What paper have you IN your handi
oNething--that is--4 wiz put Il in N.
secretary" and he leh ahs soom to &c
The uo,y document out Of the way.