Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-03

CIleu W Iioe Uut COulu hOe
| "Quick! quick" | shouted, ''let
me finish this torturer' 1t came.
| two points more were lost, and
starting to my feet in wild des
pair, l fell senseless to the floor.
| l had made my last pledge
the gamblers last pledgel The
wife | loved was no longer. my
wife, but slave! Made 50 by the
husband who had sworn to pro.
tect her for life. a.
When l returned to conscious.
ness was stretched upon couch
at my own home. My oton home
No; the home | had lost, and be-
side me stood my partner of my
games, and the gentle Laura, once
my wife-noao his slave! | star
ted up-there was madness in my
soul and demon glare flashed in
my eyes. My purpose was form
ed-mssrder was the only step left
me now. Murder! murder! My
hand was fitted to strike but it
seemed as if sCme unseen power
held it. | fell upon, my knees
crying: din
"Oh, angel Of light and you
4 .sN- I n
bright cherubs who have pity for
fallen man, save me, save mel
"Mr. Willard" exclaimed the
stranger, "will you listen for a
moment calmly?'' -
eyes," | replied, "go on" = :. :
He motioned Laura to leave the
room, and then continued
"What will you do to regain all
you have lost? To be able to call
your wife your own; your fortune
your own: repay the sum taken
from your employer"
"You are mocking mel" l an
swered. E -
"No, I am not. What will you
dor @
sGive up my life-become a
slave--anything." -
"There," he cried, throwing q
package upon the table beside me,
ssthere you will find instructions
for the future.
ado not let your vile know any
thing about your arrangement,
She is yet ignorant of your act. =.
I seized the package and tore it
open, when to my agonizing joy,
beheld the money | had lost, to-
gether with the jewels and the or
der for my furniture. Tears star
ted to my eyes, but dashing them
away, ] read the following words:
"You will find the sum Of eight
thousand dollars in this package
the entire amount won from you.
Place it at once to the account of
your employer, and then you will
escape detection. This sum l
loan you. Your valuables 1 re-
turn. The document which makes
Laura mine / shall retain for the
present. Follow my instructions;
she shall be yours again. At the
end of each year you must deliver
one thousand dollars to a messen-
ger who viii call upon you. 1t will
reach me. This you will be able
to do, as the amount is one-half
your salary. The remainder will
be sufficient for your support. AT
the end of eight years the entire
sum will have been repaid, at
which time / viii return the docu-
ment pledging your wife and itshall
be cancelled. But if during this
time you enter a gamblers den, the
compact shall be broken-I shall
claim my property. Should you
ever feel desire to do SO go home
first-look at your arite. =
- ~ "YoUR FRIEND"
I could not speak, but from my
inmost soul / lifted up my prayer
for help-a prayer Of thankful
ness. When partially recovered,
I called upon the name Of Laura,
and that bright angel bounded to
my arms. O! with what frantic
rapture did Iclasp her to my breast,
mingling my tears Of JOY with hers.
That night my dreams were sweet
angels were watching over us.
But few words are necessary.
My accounts were found to be
correct. At the end of each year
| was met at my own door by a
messenger, who received for my
unknown benefactor the sum
agreed upon. But one more m
1 stallment and / would be free.