North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-06-24

new uesHeS were noldlnS tnelr un0ldden
councils there-yet he crushed them within
him. or strove to do so but the word ''gold"
seemed hreye: ringing in his ears. He was
what the world would term "moral and
upright youth" conscientious in all his deal
ings with others, and until this moment, he
put no value upon money, farther than it was
necessary to the comforts, or perhaps the
lLxuries Of life. But now it suddenly pos
sessed new value in his eyes The logic
and passion IF Margaret were like electricity
they had entered MS system, and uncon-
>ciously to himself, remo1dled his whole
being.
tie had proceeded with a rapid and uneasy
step considerable distance over the pave
ment, when he was startled from his refec
tions by hand laid somewhat rudely upon
his shoulder.
Il knew you by your gait, Eugene," ex
claimed a deep, sonorous, voice, " though the
late hour almost belied my senses. Have
you anything in hand-anythng in view for
the night, eh ?"
sadly 1t isn't SO pleasant to be grasped at
midnight by the hand Of one knows not
whom.
No, but have something to tell you, and
he glanced around him hurriedly; then draw
ing drawing close to his companion he W his
pered in his ear.
For an instant Eugene hesitated, and the
light that flashed from neighboring window
showed his countenance of CHASTITY paeness,
An hour before he would have utterly refused
the temptation but now, he pondered and
while course o1rapid and underlined thoughts
was going on within his heart, his friend drew
him aside, and they entered one Of those dark
dcns Of iniquity, which are the bane of pOpu
larcties and where wealth and beggary are
made the plavthings of an hour, and almost
life and death the sport of the gaming table.
Fortune sometimes strangely favors the
guilty as we'll as the brave, while the homes
and upright are apparently going down hill
1t was almost Eugene's first decided CON-
promise with conscience and it succeeded. -
For many days, every successive night found
him at the gaming table and when, at the
close Of fortnight, he found himself the
master of considerable sum Of money BY
an effort certainly uncommon, he stopped in
this career Of sinful uncertainty, and, with b S
small capital, Immediately commenced bus
ncs for himSe If as merchant.
Success followed succesS-his business and
capital increased. Months and years went by
and wealth flowed into his Golfers. He drew
, the girl whom he had so won-won at the
gaming table-to his own hearth stune and
she deemed herself happy for they were rich,
and who can deny tha' they were honored
He had gained that power over others for
which she had thirsted-and men looked up
on their way, and flesh and blood oringed at
his feat for even single touch of his finger
One cold windy night December of 18-
just as the clock tolled one, the shrill and
startling ory Of fire, was heard eohoing through
the deserted streets of New York. Eugene
slept soundy. with his wife and child by his
side. As the C ry struck his ear he started
!, turned, and murmuring 1T is nothing" drew
the clothes more olosely about him, and slept
Sill the cry arose louder and louder on the
, air, of &" fire p at momentary intervals and
, men and boys were hurryiug through the
streets, with rapid and eager steps, towards
the princely house of the sleeper. Still he
awoke not from his almost unearthly sleep,
till the crash of the door broken in from with
out startled him to his senses, and he leaped
from his bed just as the flames were rolling
and flashing through the room, and upon the
instant the bed curtains caught, and his wife
and child were enveloped in the flames
1t was the work Of an instant to rescue
them and hurry down the already burning
stairs. But the work of destruction was done
Many block, and two or three whole squares
were consumed before the flames could be
subdued, and with the dwelling house of Eu'
, gene his large mercantile establishment was
burned.to ashes. That very day the insu
, rance company failed.
, Nor was this all. The morrow brought
tidings of the wreck of ship in which he
had invested large part of his fortune, anc
, Eugene Reyburn was ruined
} Could we trace the destinies Of mankind
and penetrate into the secrets of their lives
j we should see oftener than we now suppose
a that the work of retributon is accomplished
t here, to a considerable extent, at least. The
= goods of this world, unlawfully gained, are
| not unfrequently wrenched violently from tn
Il grasp, or if retained, become, in some way
:. the curse of life.
His wife lay on her death bed. The fame
i which had entered her vitals were rapid,
o finishing the work of destruction, and VIII
r can say that she had not wrought her owl