The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-20
So 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

you ascend, will marry Sarah Ingram !''
"What! that good. d.for-nothing, silly
empty headed old maid, the mother OF my
children! Whatp'
swell, my dear, it seems to be the bes
I can do! don't want to leave my bust
ness : to 20 oourtins' and she will have nj
:'No doubt! Oh! you great brutal, hate
! full"
"Stop, my dear, don't fly into fury
We will try to spend our last week in hap
piness. Oh, BY the way, 1 have PROPOSE
ton to makes
eco on, sir! Don't spare mel"
"Ah, yes, that is the very thing wish te
do. know your mind is entirely engrossed
with your ascension, and l wish to spare
you the care of the house. Suppose you
invite Sarah here tomorrow, to spend q
week."
tsWhat?"
"Then 1 can arrange our matrimonial
preparations in the evening, while you ars
at the lecture.''
"What?"
"And you can leave the house in her
charge all day. That will give you plenty
of time to 20 out, and she can learn The
ways about the house,"
"What 20
''And my dear, one little favor. It may
be the last shall ever ask. Stay at home
ono or two days, won't you, and show her
round, where you keep things, and 80 on, so
that she wont have any trouble in keeping
order after you 60. You will do this to
oblige me, won't you?"
Mrs. Peters, for answer, rolled up the
ascension robe, in ball and fred it at Joe.
The cotton, scissors, work basket, and table
cloth followed this missile in such rapid
succession, that he was unable even to fly.
Then Maria's rage found vent in words:
$50! You and Sarah! That's the rea-
son you whistled when you came in! You
will be very glad to have me 60, and marry
her, won't you? No doubt of It! But you
shan't marry her, sir! You shan't have that
qualification l will stay, if it is only to
spite you! won'tgo! tell you, Mr.. Pc
ters, won't go!"
"But, my dear, you must 60 If you are
come for!'
81 won't go!'
"But, consider, my dear.'
"I won't gow
"But, what will Sarah think ?''
"Sarah! Don't dare to mention Sarah
to me again! I-I-oh!-I am fairly chok-
ing" and tho little woman threw herself
into chair, in fit Of Mysteries.
.sNext morning, Mr.. Peters met Fred in
the street.
"Well, old boy, how goes it?"
''Fred," was the reply, 81 am the hap
piest man in the world have regained
my wife and domestic peace, and got rid Of
busy, tattling old maid, who, under pre-
tense of loving my wife, was ererlastingly
interfering in all our household arrange
metns."
"Then Mrs. Peters will not ascend?''
"No. If Sarah is to be my second wife,
and step-mother to my children, Mrs. P.
has concluded that she won't go.'
HOW THE GAMBLER WAS oUrwITTED.
A man, tidily and respectfully dressed in
black frock coat and dark trowsers, had
come regularly for some evenings-this was
the sew seventh-always at the same time and
to the same table had for while looked
on at the game, and at last drew linen bag
out of his breast pocket, and staked it on a
card. On the first evening the card had
won and he shook the bag out upon the to
BILE to count out the money. There were
twenty eight Spanish dollars, upon which
the banker quietly counted out to him the
same sum, and the gentleman walked of
with his gains without venturing q second
cast.
On the second evening be came again,
staked as before, and lost. Quite coolly,
however, without even look of discomfort,
he opened the bag, shook it QUIT contained
exactly he sum as on the last occasion
then rolled it together and thrusting it into
his pocket left the saloon. On the third,
fourth and fifth evenings the same thing oc-
Cured. The gamblers got used to the man,
and amused themselves with his odd ways.
Again he lost, and behaved exactly as
before, always taking the bag away with
him.
On the sixth evening-and SO exactly had
he kept his time, that the gamblers said
laughing to each other: '' 1t can't be eight
O'Clock yet; the eight and twenty dollar
man is not come-he appeared again, staked
as usual, and once more lost. The barkeeper
who dispensed his wines and spirits just op.
posite to this table, could not forb bear laugh
ing aloud as the stranger shook out the
money in his business-like way, as if paying
regular debt for some employer, rather
than gambling and throwing away his mon
ey.
The seventh evening came-it was full
minute past oight O'Clock, and one of the
gamblers said, laughing, to the other: "We
have used him too badly; we have frighten-
ed him away )" when his comrades pointed
over his shoulder, and there was the man in
the frock coat making his way to his Gus
tomary place, where some who had happen
ed to meet him there before, readily made
room for him, and where he quietly took
his seat, paying no sort OF attention to the
whispered jokes and laughter around him.
Until precisely quarter to nine, he grave
ly watched the play, and then brought out
the wcll-known linen bag, setting it upon
the deuce, which was at that moment turned
up. Two cards were drawn, without the
deuce appearing-now the ace fell on the
left: and on the right - a scarcely percep.
tible smile played on the bankers lips-the
deuce! The stranger turned pale as death;
but without uttering o word upon his change
Of luck, he stretched out his hand for the
linen bag, and was untying it, as usual, to
count the dollars, when the gambler said,
laughing: ....-.~ -. ..--
Let it be; know how much there is
in it. Eight and twenty. Am ! moi
r.ght?" .s
"No," said the man quietly, and shook
out the silver upon the table, shook the bag
again, and after the silver came roll oi
closely wrapped bank notes and a folded
paper.
"What is this 2" cried the startled gam.
blers, and the bystanders crowded up full Of
surprise and curiosity. & * -
s'Itis my stake" said the man with seem.
ing indifference, and united the ribbon thai
held the bank notes together.
"Hold! That won't do" exclaimed tn,
gambler, throwing down his cards. Tha
is false play. You have counted out onl,
eigh. and twenty dollars on tho other even.
ings."
"Falsc plny" repeated the man, with ,
threatening frown. "Prove it to ke false
play. Did / not place tho bag just as il Ii,
tnere unan TINT card2 And did rou nal L.