The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-11-22

ly Invested, but was producing hand.
some interest
Robert Wilson was n whole .souled
young man without selfish thought in
his composition. He had married Ange-
line for herself alone, and had hardly be-
slowed thought upon her portion
But the bad speculation had wor-
ricd him exceedingly. All the ready
money he could command had been ex-
hausted, and in bis extremity, the thought
had occurred to him that his wife could
supply his wants. The idea Of asking
her for relief, was. to a man Of bis high.
strung temperament, so highly repug-
nant, that he only had the courage TO
hint at the service she might render him.
CHAPTER II.
With the money in his pocket, which
AngeIy had procured for him, Robert
N ison FASTENED down Broadway AT
the corner Of Park Place he paused, and
cast a furlive glance around him. Eyi.
IDENTITY much agitalcd, lie thought Of his
loving wife at home.
lie had deceived her, ana his con-
science smote him. She was all love and
gentleness, and sincerity and confidence,
and he had basely deceived her.
Should he not return, throw himself at
her feet, and beg her forgiveness ? Such
a course was certainly the most grateful
to his erring, penitent soul; but he had
made " bad speculation,' and " lie
there was hope Of retrieving himself, the
demon of mammon within prompted him
to sin again.
Turning down Park Place, be entered
one of those gambling hells, which are
the curse Of en- ightened AMERICA
Again he paused on the steps Of the
magnificent establishment, to silence the
upbraiding of his conscience. The beau
tiful, loving expression of his wife. Ian
gushing away the tedious hours Of his
absence in lonely misery, haunted him,
But the usual consolation, the oft-re.
peated resolution of the erring soul :
Only this time and then will forever
abandon the way of the transgresSor,"
came to urge him on.
By the gas light in the street. he OBJ.
served a dark form closely mufled in the
ample folds of a Spanish cloak, approach,
ing the spot where he stood. The stran
ger paused by his side, glanced intently
at him. and then entered the saloon.
He followed him; the hall flashed witt
brilliant lights, and the gay and fashion
able Of The metropolis thronged the scene
Men smiled as though the place was no
the gate of hell itself. The old and re
spectacle Of the bar and forum, and thc
exchange, were there, countenancing, BY
their presence and example, the iniquity
practiccd within those gilded walls,
Robert Wilson shuddered as he enter
ed the .aloon. Yet why should he shrinl
from scene, in which the respectable
men of the community hesitated not tc
mingle ?
Poo, simple young man his soul hac
rot y,t come to believe that wealth, sta
ton, aud the honors of the world ca
satisfy sin and hollow iniQuity.
In an unguarded hour he had beeI
lured into den of thi ves," by mai
of good standing in society--the importe
from whom he purchased many of hi
goods, and who held his notes in pay
ment of them.
He had hazarded few dollars, thougl
his conscience smote him all the while
He won; be was in the hands of thos
: who were experienced in the manage
ment of unsuspecting dupes. He wen
f aw,y with his pockets well lined with tb
fruits of Lis unhalowed gains.
Inflated by the ambition to becom
= suddenly rich, he mt again, and agal
he won
The devil Iured him on. With frr
Y resolution to abandon these visits whe
he should have added the gains of on
: more night TO his previous accumulation
i he went a third time. If he succeede
! on this occasion as he had on the tw
0 previous nights, he should bdable to pa
= the only note he owed. The prospect
freeing himself entirely from debt, sue
e deny and without labor, tempted him
n engage once more in the exciting gam
u But the gamblers had permitted hil
to run the whole length Of his rope. o
d the third night he lost-lost all he ha
before won
i All his iae Mncies were thus dashe
II to the ground. But the hope Of irceln
himself from debt, had taken strong hol
of lis imagination, and he could not
is easily resignit.
Again he went, trusting that the chanc
> of the game would again favor him-aga
and again he went. till all his avallab
e means were sacrificed. The gamble
e adroitly permitted him to win few dc
e. lars occasionally, and thus his hopes we
g kept buoyant.
r All were gone, but the passion Of gal
ing had gained intensity as his world
at goods had melted away.
g UneasiIy he strolled among the gal
I'd bling tables, now pausing to glance
ne instant at the game, and then hurryi
at neryously on again.
&c lie had two hundred dollars in
If pocket and humilating reflection :
lg had been given by his wife. lie mi
It. be careful of it; he could hope for
more.
er As he paced the gaily thronged hall
Ill discovered the dark looking strang
er who had confronted him at the entran
SO of the saloon, alone, at one of the mari