Squatter sovereign., 1855-11-13
~ a BAD SPECULATION;
Or, THE DARK STRANGER.
CHAPTER 1.

"Ah. Angely, l am ruined-utterly ru-
ined = exclaimed Robert Wilson to his
young and devoted wife.
Ruined why Robert, what can have
happened ! thought you were doing so
well in your business = returned the wife,
with the deepest anxiety depicted upon her
fair features. a..
And SO am, my love but in an un-
lucky moment embarked in speculation
which has proved unfortunate. and every
dollar possess is gone. as
"Why have you not told me Of this be.
fore, Robert 3" 1a.s Ia oG.s..s
Il wished not to pain you, love.
II fear you have been imprudent; nay,
l will not reproach you" "gfaa
II have hoped until now that I should
be able to redeem myself. BY risking a
few hundred dollars more, feel confident
that could retrieve my losses, and come
out bright again; but alas l have not an
other dollar in the world" saae
And the young husband looked anxious
ly at his wife. ts 5.e -sa
"What kind OF speculation was it,
Robert E. asked his wife, as slight mis.
giving crossed her confiding heart.
30, it was a strictly business transac-
ton. rather complicated in its details, and
I don't think you would understand it if I
explained it," replied Robert, evasively.
II am not so dull of comprehension that
I cannot understand an ordinary business
transaction 1e.e eF =.
"No, my dear, / know you would un-
derstand it better than ladies generally
would, but it is very intricate-very."
Il will not insist, Robert. upon knowing
anything you desire to conceal" said Mrs
Wilson, with gentle reproach in hsssozas
"but methinks wife ought to knoNsf(e
occasion of her husbands sorrows"
Forgive me, Angely," replied the hps-
band, imprinting tender kiss upon her
lips; ''forgive me. and / will tell you all"
NAY love, ask it not; am satisfied
now. And is there no hope I" . .e
"If ! had two hundred dollars, I feel
perfectly confident that / should redeem
myself" sa...
..Is there no risk, Robert r. -
II will be candid, Angely; there is
some risk" e
Il will get you the money, Robert"
"My own true wife," ~
This conversation occurred at the house
of young New York shop-keeper. He
had been married to young, gentle-heart-
ed girl, only year before, during which
period they had lived in uninterrupted
happiness.
The young wife had no suspicion that the
clouds of adversely were lowering over
their joyous home until her husband had
the fact. For some weeks,
however, she ha d noticed that Robert was
more than usually dull. Once or twice
week he had absented himself from her
side in the evening, alleging that his bust.
ness demanded his extra attention.
Angeline Wilson, at the time of her
was the possessor OF small sum
of money, bequeathed to her by her father.
It had been settled upon her, so that her
husband could not control it, and could
spend no portion of it without her sane
ton. >
The young shop-keeper's business had
beyond his most sanguine ex-
pectations. so that his devoted wife, who
would willingly have placed her little for
tune in his hands, saw no occasion to with
draw it from her uncle. in whose possession
It was not only deemed to be safely invest
ed. but was producing handsome interest.
Robert Wilson was a whole-souled
young man, without selfish thought in
his composition. He had married Angel
inc for herself alone, and hardly bestowed
a thought upon her portion.
But the ..bad speculation" had worried
him exceedingly. All the ready money
he could command had been exhausted,
and in his extremity, the thought occurred
o him that his wife could supply his wants.
The idea of asking her relief, was TO a
nan of his high-strung temperament. so
entirely repugnant, that he only had the
courage to hint at the service she might
render him.
CHAPTER II.
With the money in his pocket. which