Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-16
WHOLE NUMBER 294,

snare into which had myself fallen,
, OF course, the more readily detected i
and felt certain that grand coup wa
medita,ed. In the mean time, had no
been idle. Sandford was confidential,
informed that was only waiting in Lon
don to receive between four and FIVE thou
sand pounds--part of uncle Passgrove'
legacy-and then intended to immedi
ately hasten back 10 canny Yorkshire
To have seen the villains eyes as | inci
dentally, as it weIe, announced my inten
ton! They fairly flushed with inferna
T glee Alb, Sandford J Sandford yo'
were, with all your cunning, but sand
blind idiot to believe the man you hat
wronged and ruined could so easily for
get the debt he owed you'll
The crisis came swiftly on. Mr.. Mer.
tons mortgage money was to be paid on
the morrow; and on that day, too, an
nounced the fabulous thousands receiva.
bic by me were to be handed over. Mr.
Merton, elated by his repeated triumpbs
at ecarte, and prompted by his friend
Sandford, resolved, instead of canceling
the bonds and obligations held by the
conspirators, to redeem his losses by sta
king on that game his ready money
against those liabilities. This was at
first demurred TO with much apparent
earnestness by the winners, but Mr.. Mer-
ton, warmly seconded by Sandford, in
siSting upon the concession, as he deem
ed it, it was finally agreed that ecarte
should be the game by which he might
hope to regain his fortune and the peace
of mind he had so rashly squandered
the last time should he be successful, and
was he not sure of success ?-he assured
Sandford that he would ever handle cards
or dice. He should have heard the
mocking merriment with which the gang
heard Sandford repeat this resolution to
amend his ways ,ohen he had recovered
back his wealth
The day so eagerly longed for by Mer-
ton and the confederates-by the spoier
and the prey-arrived, and | awaited
with feverish anxiety the coming on of
night. Only the chief conspirators, eight
in number, were present and no stran-
ger but myself-a privilege owed to
the moonshine legacy had just received
was to be admitted to the crowning tri-
umph of successful fraud. One only hint
had | ventured to give Mr.. Merton, and
that under promise, =" on his honor as "a
gentleman " of inviolable secrecy. 1t was,
this: Be sure, before commencing play
tomorrow night, that the bonds and obi
cations you have signed, the jewels you
have lost, with sum in notes or gold to
make up an equal amount to that which
you mean to risk, is actually deposited
on the table" lie promised to insist on
this condition. 1t involved much more
than he dreampt of then.
My arrangements were at length |
thoroughly complete and a few minutes |
past twelve o'clock the whispered pass
word admitted me into the house. An
angry alteration was going on. Mr..
Merton was insisting, as had advised,
upon the exhibition of sum equal to
hat which be had brought with him-for,
of winning, he was determined
o recover his losses to the last farthing,
md although his bonds, bills, obligations,
lis sisters jewels, and large amount in
gold and genuine notes, were produced,
here was still heavy sum deficient.
All, by-the-by," exclaimed Sandford, as
entered, Waters can lend you the
um for an hour or two--for consider
Ition," he added in a whisper. 1t will
oon be returned"
"No thank you" answered coldly,
/ never part with my monsy till have
ost it,"
A malignant scowl passed over the
coundrePs features, but he made no re-
,ly. Ultimately it was decided that one
# the fraternity should be despatched in
n search of the required sum. He was
,one but half an hour, and returned with
bundle of notes. They were, as |
ioped and expected, forgeries on foreign {
anks. Mr.. Merten looked at and counted I
hem, and the play commenced. C
As it went on, so vividIy did the scene
ecall the evening that had sealed my
wn ruin, that grew dizzy with excite
lent, and drained tumbler after tumbler $
f water to allay the fevered throbbing of n
~ veins. The gamblers were fortunately r
% much absorbed to heed my agitation. e
1erton lost continuously-without pause
r intermission. The stakes were doubled !,
-trebled-quadrupled. His brain was a
0 fire; he played, or rather lost with the S
,cklessness of a madman.
a