Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-07-16
EATON PREBLE COUNTY, O. JULY 16 1857

, which he had seen steadily growing be
r meath his efforts for the last four years
was now swept away.
l The young merchant staggered from
the hall, he tried to borrow frst-to
e commence again to win back som ethine
D but no one would lend. He made
his way to the street, and without motto
] ing his way, he staggered on. By-and
l by he came to a narrow alley which led
down to the water, and he turned to the
wharf, and sat down upon an old spar
t He had been there but a few mo.
/ ments, when he felt hand upon his
shoulder He looked up and by the
moonlight he could see the dark face
J J the msp,gR9 had ruined him:
asked the stranger.
"Leave me cried Ambrose, bitterly
90, never wish to see you more from
t this time
But perhaps I may help you, replied
the other. "You are young enough to
learn"
"Leare o, great heavens and have
L not learned this night what never
never"
The young man burst into tears, and
his sobs were deep and painful.
''Come, come," spoke the stranger,
''stand up and trust me, and I may help
you"
There was something so kind in the
voice that Ambrose could not resist, and
he arose to his feet.
"Ambrose Dearborn p spoke the
strange man. 81 have this evening ta-
ken from you over forty-two hundred
dollars, and do not think you can af-
ford to loose it. Here we arc before
God. Now promise upon your honor
US a man, that you never will stake any
amount at hazard again-that never
again will you play at any game of
chance for value of anything, and l will
restore you every penny have won
from you to night
The young man stood for moment
like a man in dream. Then he caught
his companion by the arm.
! "You do not trihe !" he said in a
hoarse whisper.
''Give me the promise, and see"
Ambrose clasped his hands and turn
ing his eyes towards heaven he made an
oath embracing just the proposition
which had been made to him, and when
he had done his eyes sank to the snow
covered earth, and he burst into tears.
! The stranger took roll from his pock-
ct and handed it over.
'sHere said he is the full snm-cvcry
penny Just as took it from you. And
now let us walk up into the city again
my way is toward Adam street.
$50 is mine,' whispered Ambrose as
he clutched the money.
"Ah- then we'll walk together"
"But tell me what this means! - the
young man uttered encrgetically. "Who
are you sir %
Never mind nov; 1 shall see you
again and then 1 will explain. But let
us be on our way, for it is cold here.
On the way the stranger kept up
such rattle of conversation, that Am
brose not only had no chance to mention
the subj ect of the evenings transaction,
but by the time he had reached his
own door his feelings had got back in
to their wonted channel. l
II would invite you in, he said, "but
ssNever mind. Just let me step into
the entry, for 1 want light moment.
Of.course, Ambrose could not object
to this, and as he opened the door, the
stranger followed him in. He walked
through the hall, and as he opened the
door of the sitting his companion
was at his back.
Ellen sat at her table, and her face
was pale, but she had not been crying,
for the words her brother had spoken
to her before he went out had spoken to
her with a strange hope. She arose to
her feet, and while her husband was
wishing that his companion had remain
ed in the hall; he was not little start
led to hear the said individual speak
somewhat jocularly as follows:
"Well, sissy you see l have brought
him. And we are both of us all right |
can assure you"
For moment the young man was
wonder struck but the truth quickly |
flashed upon his mind. Jim Barrows?
he gasped
"Captain Barrows, at your service,
sir; He ha; you didn't know me. He's
just found out Ellen
Ambrose tried to laugh, but he could
not. He struggled for moment with
the feelings that swelled up his bosom,
and then, sinking down into chair,
he burst into tears. His wife ut
tered quick cry, and started forward.
Don't be afraid" gasped Ambrose,
I'm safe--safe. But l cant help this.
Tell her Jim; tell her all now, for she's
a right to know.
The stout Captain drew his sister up
on his knee, and then related to her all
that had happened since he had left her.
"Ah, am" he concluded, the moment
1 saw you take the second hundred dol
lars from your port monnie, l new gam
ing would soon ruin you, and when l
saw you draw the package, only knew
that should take them, every one from
you, and that any experienced card |
player could have done the same
Now taught you your first lesson in
poker; this is lesson number two.
hope it may work we'll"
And it did work we'll. Capt Bar
rows remained with his sister month, |
and then he went away. At the end |
a year he came again and this time
found Ellen as happy as princess,