Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-01-25

feel obliged to you"
"You shall have it, Colonel
shall have it !" he responded in an
impetuous tone. 81 will be at YOU,
room at nine o'clock this evening
ready for a cruise, and if you have arms
you may as we'll see them ready for use
We may visit a class who make it a
business to get money, they little care
how, SO that it is got"
Aud bowling, Mr.. Leland left me-
while L, decidedly pleased with him
made my way to my room to wash away
the dust of travel and make some
changes of apparel.
This done. l looked to a pair of re
volvers, which have travelled over hall
of the globe with me, and after seeing
that they were loaded and capped, went
down to the reading-room to while away
the time until tea was announced.
At nine O'Clock precisely, Mr. LIE.
land came to my room, and being ready
| at once assented to his proposal tc
walk.
After reaching the we'll lighted street,
he remarked that the house which he
intended first to visit was some blocks
distant, not far from the lake.
at is the most fashionable gambling
house in town." he said, "and you will
there see some of the first men in social
and political positions that we have
men who have been infatuated like me
by the fendish passion for gaming, and
twho will be ruined-ruined as l have
been p
The startling emphasis with which he
uttered this last sentence, told that be
had cause for the intense feeling which
he exhibited.
Then after hesitating moment, he
said /:
"Knowing your aversion to those de-
mons of cards and dice, Colonel, 1 feel
sure of your sympathy. Therefore, be-
fore, we go to the hell of the gamblers,
| will show you what was once heaven
to me-show you the angel who has
shed the only light upon my Swallowed
life-who has chung to me when despair
was dark in my SOUL"
He hurried on while he was speaking,
and, after we had gone distance of
four or five blocks, perhaps more, turn
ed into small, neat door yard, and
with night-key, opened the door of a
small cottage.
1t was evidently his home, for he
passed in and babe me follow.
Entering parlor, plainly furnished,
yet clean and in perfect order, he babe
me be seated, and at the same time
called, in loud voice:
emily! Emily"
An instant after, sylph,like form,
dressed in plain white-a lady who did
not seem yet out of her teens-so
young, SO very fair, and very pale
entered.
"My wife," Colonel Minturn. Emily,
you have known this gentleman before,
through his writings. Colonel Minturn
of the "Album and "Weekly''
81 am ever happy TO see your friends,
Sterret !" she answered, as she bowed
to my respectful salutation.
awe are going to spend an hour or
two in seeing Chicago life, dearest" he
continued. "But | could not refrain
from bringing the Colonel here first,
that he might see what 1 have to live
for"
A strange, beseeching look passed
oyer the face of the lovely young wife,
and an almost inaudible sigh left her
lips. But she only said:
"Please do not remain out very late,
husband. You know how lonesome |
am without you !'
II never keep late hours, Mrs. Le-
land" l remarked, "therefore be sure
that shall send your husband home
soon.'
"Thank you, sir" she answered, in
the same low, hute-like voice, and we
then rose to start upon our tour OF OBJ
servation.
After leaving the house, Mr.. Leland
walked on a few steps silently and then
said, in husky voice, tremulous with
emotion
zone year ago I owned that house
and all in it. Now-now-I am with
in breath of beggary. 1 am in ii only
by favor; could be turned from 1t
empty-handed in an hour. And all this
has been done by gambling aud lis
greatest helper, strong drink"
I knew from his tone that he spoke
the truth, and when 1 thought of that
beautiful, frail-looking child.wife, my
heart ached to think what she might
suffer if driven forth from the home
which had once been SO happily her
own.
But while was sadly bordering this
thought, be paused before a dark-look-
ing brick house, with the shutters clos
ed before every window
"Here we are p said he, "follow me,
but say nothing to signify your opinion
of what you see at present"
And after ringing bell and whis-
pering a password, when the door
opened, he passed in with me close BY
his side.
It was like most houses of its class.
First after passing the porter, we went
through hall and up stairs to an ante
room in the second story, where Sec
ond cerberus kept guard. He seemed
to know Leland, for we we're at once
passed on to the elegantly furnished
and brilliantly lighted rooms beyond,