Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-11-17

female who had just emerged from
small wooden building immediatel
below The Ell Dorado and stood hes
| itating beside pool Of mud and Wa
ter. The miner stopped, aud as th
woman n carefully selected a steppini
place and sprang to the pavement
he involuntarily caught her by tn
arm. Somewhat surprised at th
prompt assistance, she gazed into hi
unshorn face for a moment, ant
thanking him politely, passed on witt
her companion, who had taken
more circuitous but less dangerous
Ito his polished boots) route to th'
sidewalk.
Hesitaiing moment, the mine1
turned and followed. He started n'
be saw her enter the gambling saloon
Pushing his way through the crowd
he next discovered her seated be.
bind a monte table. We do not
wonder that he looked at her more
than once and that bis heart beat
and that his dark eyes fashed-for
her sweet face was pale and care worn,
and the smile that played upon it as
meaningless as wayside moonbeam.
Her companion, who called and
'cashed the game as she turned the
cards, was what any lady, without a
too careful scrutiny Of his face, Sould
have pronounced fine looking man.
He was dressed in the extreme OF
good taste, with the exception, per-
haps, of too great display Of jew
elry. His features were regular, and
his eyes piercing and restless; but
that proud curl of the lip, which not
unfrequently denotes firmness and
manly independence, in him was a
repulsive indication of recklessness
and disdain. n 1s'
: The cards we're shufaed, and lay
out given.
Make your bets, gentlemen sang
out the gambler, while he jingled a
pile of silver lying before him, "a
Jack and a make your BETS
Pulling his hat over his eyes, the
miner approached the table, and care
Iessly tossed an ounce upon the ten.
The dealerlooked up, and again her
eyes met those of the unshoru stran.
ger. She knew not why-for thou
sand eyes had gazed as intently into
hers before- but the eolor mounted
to her cheek and she involuntarily
admonished the miner to withdraw
bis bet. The indication, slight
though it appeared, was not lost to
the gambler, who answered it wiih'a
frown as dalk as midnight, and turn.
ed searching stare upon the stran.
ger, who met it with glance Of de-
fiance tha. brought the hand of the
gambler to the handle Of revolyes
in his belt. The woman observed all.
The miner quietly folded his arms,
and the dealer, with trembling baud,
proceeded to draw the cards. The
jack won. Again the cards we're
dealt, and two ounces were thrown
by the stranger instead Of one. He
lost sc cond time, and again and 81
gain, until pile Of gold pieces had
been transferred from bis pocket to
the table. aat =
Let your husband deal, said the
loser, addressing the woman, per
haps it may change my luck.
Certainly replied the gambler,
reaching sor the cards. E
At. the mention Of the word 'hus,
band peculiar smile rested upon
bis lips. and the eyes Of the woman
dropped to the table, as if to avoid
the scrutiny Of the stranger, that me
might not read in them a coufesslon
that she had no husband, although
she was mother. But he read Iall.
Again the cards we're dealt. : There
was perceptible nervousness OIL tht
hand and strange twinkle IN tbe
eyes of the miner az he drew
from the pocket Of his overcoal
two purses. all eyes were turned
towards him s.sag ! ! sd s
Ill bot a hundred ounces on the
ace!' he exclaimed to the astonished
gambler, dropping the sneks OF dus'
upon thu table, and will crawths
cards myself asil.. en- y.
Five hundred dollars is the limit,
exclaimed the gambler. ARP.
There is no limit to your rascal
lity!' Numbered > the strangers snol
lshould there be to your camel AM
he replaced the purses IN his poske, !
| The gambler sprang to bis feet