Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-11
z1 An INDEPENDENT FAMILY 5 RgT5 AND Nd BUSINESS nRsaEzzy M4 70 4NsE 70 IV7RVEN 5IWEH


claimed me again. I refused him, a
which he was greatly enraged, and as
laid my stakes, he Kissed between hi
teeth ''cursed fool !"
My blood was heated with wine, anC
| turned iercely upon him with the ques
ton, did you mean that for me, sir?"
Yes for you if you will stake money
in that way when your head is thick with
wine. Come, Bob, take a word of ad
vice of your brother, and leave the table
to night"
Then why did you bring me hereto
fleece me yourself, ha? Your attach.
ment is really touching, but, my most Low.
ing cousin, you must wait another night
for your turn" And l plunged earnestly
into the game.
won, by Jovel" said Herbert, who
had watched the process silently. That
is what | call devils luck. A thousand
dollars is enough in one night! Now,
cousin Bob, I'm sure you'll go home with
me-"
"No, indeed" said L. 81 find winning
extremely amusing by way of variety. 1t
is really nor exciting than losing, and
as excitement is what | seek why should
| give it up? l stake five thousand"
said |, to my antagonist. He accepted
"a few moments of suspense, and my
money was gone.
Now said Herbert, with a sardonic
grin, Il hope you are satisfied, and are
sufficiently convinced of the thickness of
your skull"
BY no means" said TT double the
stake"
MAD mad !" he screamed. an
call in the police-I1l swear you're mad
I'll tell my sister-I'll break up the
engagement"
A wild, glorious hope dawned in my
heart and | almost shouted for 10y as. the
stTtHgrf eae~ptud my stake. Again /
lost. Herbert evidently mistook my de
6ance, and thought his best move would
be silence. My eyes were fixed upon his
with a longing to read his soul. Had he
given me up? determined not to leave
a doubt.
II stake" said l, my house in Chest
nut Avenue, valued at thirty thousand
dollars"
II was accepted, and | again lost
Herbert turned upon his he'll and left
the room, and | knew that my secret
game was won. | shook hands with my
antagonist, and blessed him in my soul.
/ went out into the crowded streets, and
almost shouted in my excess Of joy. The
image of Lucy was in my heart, and
sweet dreams were floating wildly in my
brain. The stars looked down with their
pure sympathy, and whispered, you are
as free as we.' But suddenly l felt a
sharp pain-then a choking sensation,
and Instantly all was dark.
My next consciousness was that Of q
large apartment in dim half light. A
low groan fell upon my ear, and the tread
of a mufled football. l was lying upon
a pallet with my head in a napkin, and
my wrist in a bandage. | soon learned
that | was in a hospital-that | had been
found by the police insensible upon the
pavement, and covered with blood. had
been robbed Of everything of. value about
my person, and there was nothing left by
which | could be identified. Here truly
was an opportunity for rehection-sick
and among strangers-the inmate of a
hospital-the recipient Of puhlio charity.
What a change! Had | really reduced
myself to beggary? Was / utterly
abandoned of my friends? O, what a
food of bitter thought ran over me -
With q strange Inconsistency all the ex-
u~ltatlon OF my consciousness of freedom
had passed away, and | only compared
my situation with what it might have been
with what it promised to be when but
six short weeks before l had stood beside
Charlie with health, hope, fortune and
happiness all within my grasp I knew
then what the tortures of the lost are
This excitement increased my unfavora-
BILE symptoms, and the result was q fever
on the brain which confined me for seve-
raj weeks, In my delirium ! lived over
again all the man follies of my past life.
%, how they tormented me. How |
longed for the rest | had ever felt with
Charlie, and in the sweet presence of
Lucy. At length the hot fever passed
away and left me weak as a child in both
mind and body. ! had become resigned
to my desolation, for | knew | deserved
it. Sometime l should probably be vel
and go out into the world again broken
in health and fortune. Would Charlie
forgive me? Yes, | was sure. Would
Lucy despise me Perhaps 80. A hand
was upon my shoalder-Iopened my eyes
from my day-dream.
Poor Bob y said a familiar voice.
80 Charlie, God bless you! Then
you have not deserted me-"
Deserted YOU" said Charlie, as he
dashed the tears from his eyes. " have
visited you every day for a fortnight, bua
now for the first time you are we'll enough
to recognize me-" B.
20, Charlie, my boy, this is happi
ness" And in my weakness | wept like
a child.
was soon after able to take the air
and Charlie removed me to his lodgings
But first ! took an afectionate leave O
! my physicians and attendants to whom