Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-02-11

Is ssp1e1 nehsfe asaoy. ~ = rh6Ssl
orr luck Will ebaai6o q I'd + 5Ss
TIE young man kesia1ted
.6ose 70 change, Gr,s eo1sfnns1 ~ stranger.
With desperate sfert Robert drew he watch
from biz pocket
'sseyenty-6se dollars aid he, tsemulously.
The Stranger piaced the amount on she table |
For several sucecssise throws he won bat, stab.
ing ell again, he VS. once more peaniIess The |
watch Wa again put down. IL vAs lost - Rob
bsrt vas IN despair.
"Yon have wife 7" asked the stranger.
= have--Sod forgive me r replied The ruin
ed husband In . burst Of bitterness
..of course you love her not, or ron would not
be here, continued the other. carelesly-
Il do lore her, ~ I lore my own soull' ex-
claimed Robert, perplexsd By the singular turn
the conversation had taken.
The character Of the professional gambler was
too well known 70 him, not 70 suspect that the
dark stranger had some object In view In these
inquiries. Those fearful tales Of gamblers who
have staked money against the honor Of wife,
flashed across his bewildered mind, and he shnd-
dered 70 think how near he stood to the fatal
precipice, which might huri him in his madness
into deeper disbonor.
Would you have her know what you have
donew asked the stranger, in clam tone.
mot for the world.
Then play again-your change ID coed.
II have no. shilling.
81 will lend you"
"On what security asked Robert, trembling
1 for the answer.
Mortgage me your stock Of goods
| "You know me then 7"
mo; blu. you are . shopkeeper."
| 81 will.n
The stranger threw him three hundred dollars.
In ten minutes 1t was all lost.
ssThc mortgage !" exclaimed the dark being.
"Can we make it here y said Robert over
whelmed With angrisi.
/ mo, will go to your house"
impossible not Tor the world.
"But l piH. replied the stranger sternly.
you shall not u
Hist you shall be exposed
Robert was obliged to consent; and, borne
down by the terrible agony that preyed upon
him, he conducted his mysterious companion to
his once happy home. The clock struck eleven
- they entered.
ny our wife is not at home, said the stranger.
Robert was surprised to find that Angeiy was
not in her accustomed seat by the fire. Full Of
painful n,isgiyings-why, he knew not-he has.
tened TO her apartment, to see If she had retired
but there was no traces of her to be discovered.
Returning to the sitting room, he found the
strange gambler seated by the fire, intently por-
ing over the pages OF a book which he had taken
from the centre-tshle.
Left you, should say; women are 80 tame,
replied the stranger sternly.
Left me! mol! exclaimed Robert, casting
himself into chair, and venting deep groaus, the
anguish OF his soul.
"Ihe mortgage, continued the stranger sharp.
ly.
VI will write 1t in my room, replied the young
man, leaving the apartment
Wiping away the tears which coursed in great
drops down his haggard cheeks, he picked out a
blank mortgage from his papers and proceeded
to fll it out, The task completed, he returned
to the sitting.room.
As he opened the door, he started back with
establishment at beholding Angely seated by the
CRATE, reading the last number OF Harper!
"Why, Robert, did not know you had got
home, said she, rising and placing chair before
the fire, where his slippers lay, ready tor him to
put his feet into.
The dark stranger was not there.
"Why, what IS the matter with you, Robert
How strangely you appear!" continued his wife.
"Do ~" and Robert started and looked round
in wild amazement.-Where was the strangers
81 did not know you were here, Angely,
stammeredh he.
II have been out awhile, this evening, but
came III just as the CLOCK struck eleven.
$50 did ]" answered he, more confused than
before. Where is Mr.-the gentleman that came
home with me!"
II have not seen any gentleman
~ came in at eleven with
"Whai time is itnow, Robert r
The watch-his wifes watch-it was gone!
Your watch-i lett
u have it; tits half-past eleven, SAID Angely
taking the watch from her pocket.
Robert looked bewildered.
what u tae matter with you, RobertY You
are cTazy,'l should say
That " watch ROBERT paused.
wei, SAID Angeiy, beginning now 10 wear
a mysterious, mlschievous look' now goes your
speculation!
Badly my DEAR replica ROBERT WIN q LOOK
OF wonder. -,
What paper nave you there IN your nand!
Nothing-that Isl VIII put IL ~ my secre-
| tary ana ne lett the room 70 get tue ugly ooc'
| uineh. out OF the way. ne was not aoseil. more
| than n'e 'nln".esi out wnen ne re'uIneu' 'ne
nooert began u tulhh ne was oeaAihs Will tue
oevll.
deem tones.
l