The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-10-24

brothers life. AS soon as George
was able, we all four entered the car
riage and drove to the city. Mary's
second had gone before US, with the
astounding intelligence that Rattl'ng
Dave acas q aUoman!, After we ar
rived at the city, and | had made
George comfortable, at my request,
Mary told her story as follows
81 left n, as you probably
remember, with stranger, who pro-
missed me marriage. Like most girls,
thas3was all I wanted, all Lived for.
With the promise of husband, |
left friends and acquaintances, for
| knew not what. But instead of a
husband, he gave me ruin. He was
gam bier, and after he was satiated
with my charms, he gave me my
choice, either to learn to play with
him, or to be turned into the streets
as a wanton. l learned to play
what else could | have one?-and
the same breath in which | promised
him that l would learn to gamble, |
vowed to God to ruin and murder
him. Every lesson | took of him l
repeated my vow. | learned quick
ly, for it was a labor of revenge !;
and revenge is dearer to mankind
than love. All day | studied cards
and games, and all night dreamed
of them; and | soon became more
proficient than my tutor. Then l
taught myself; and there was not a
trick or cheat | did not know. Then
was my time for revenge, and | i'm
proved it. l challenged my seducer
to play with me; and how | gloated
over every dollar I won from him !:
and how my heart gladdened, as he
day by day grew poorer. But still
he played, until | won his last cent !;
then his watch, then his diamonds,
then his wardrobe, even to the very
clothes he stood in. Then | ordered
him to take off my clothes, but be
demurred.
"Take them off said 81 will
turn you into the street without
clothes, as you would have turned
me out without virtue -
"Have pity - he plead. But |
knew no pity Il thirsted for re-
venge! and l told him if be did not
take my clothes from his back | wo'd
blow his brains out.
"Blow away" said he, defantly.
81 fred at, and killed him. Then
fear seized me, and | fed from the
city, and came here to California
Here l forgot fear, and my old pas
sion for play revived SO | assumed
male garb and false whiskers, and
for the last five years l have done
nothing but game. During that
time, l quarreled with and killed
seven opponents ; for l had taken an
oath to kill all whom | could not
beat. One gambler did me great,
lasting wrong; aud vowed to be
reveDged upon the whole profession.
But for the intervention of the Holy
Father. He who watches over sin
her as we'll as saint,--1 should this
morning have murdered my own
brother j.
For a few moments she was silent;
then she folded her hands across her
heart, raised her eyes to Heaven, and
murmured,-
"My Father, l thank Thee for
this great lessen. From this day, |
will live Thy servant. -
In few days George was we'll !;
the careful nursing of Mary did a
great deal for him. He, Lieutenant
Fields and myself were court-mar-
tailed at his request, he was dis
charged; the Lieutenant and myself
were forgiven, upon promising bet
ter behaviour in the future.
A little off the main road, in one
Of the prettiest villages in New
Hampshire, stands a neat, white cot
tage; over the door of which, in sum-
mer time, roses and honey-suckles
climb Here. peacefully and happy,
lives George Hunt and she who for
merly wore the sobriquet of "Rat-
Ting Dave.
THE END.