The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-08-13

one had told this to me- O, / know his
! impetuous nature, aad fear he will be
| lost ere he is aware of it. Evil compan-
ions are leading him astray. He thinks
! them friends
''And do you think he has gone to the
card table tonight 7"
| 81 am afraid SO. And if he does-oh,
! / dare not think of it. He has much
J money with him. Before you came | was
| weeping over my fears. have never let
him know hcsv isassels { knew concerning
| his course, for [ feared it would only make
him more excited. Alas, [ know not what
to do. l donot think he has yet lost much,
but know that he will never leave the
fascinating habit until he is ruined, unless
something can be done to move him.
''By my soul, Ellen" returned the Cap
tain warmly, II did teach Ambrose to play
though God knows [ never meant to
teach him to gamble. and 1 will cure him
now if l can. Do you think he is at it
now ?"
II think he would have been at home
before this time, if he had not fallen in
with some of his evil associates"
"Then you rest here while [ go and find
him if l cam
But you will come back soon 2"
James stopped and thought moment.
Il don't know he said "But don't
be worried. No harm shall befall Am
brose himself"
1t was just nine o'clock as Ambrose
Dearborn entered one of the gaming sa-
looms of the city His business had kept
him later than usual, and having made
some fifteen dollars in the trade since dark.
he had determined to stake that amount
upon the altar of fortune His wife was
right in her fears The card table had
| gained a fascinating power over him, and
he had lost some heavy sums. But on the
previous evening he had been cursed with
a turn of winning luck, and won back
nearly as much as he had lost and he was
on his way to continue his luck
He meant only to play an hour or so,
| and then go home. He went up to the
side-board and took a glass Of wine, and as
he turned, he met a stranger, who had
seemed to come for the same purpose.
"Good evening" slt.-sl.sa 4 str an J5T m a
/ pleasant tone, as he poured out a tumbler
| full of water from the pitcher and drank
| it.
Ambrose returned the salutation
Il came here to take few moments re-
creation at cards. said the stranger, s.but
| find no friends here"
"Then suppose we take hand or two
just to pass away the time until some 9TH
ers come"
with pleasure" said Dearborn.
And accordingly the two sat down and
were soon on the most friendly terms
| The cards were dealt; for awhile the play
ing on small scale and the luck was
about even. By and by Ambrose began
to win, and he went on until he had won
a hundred dollars. He would have felt
ashamed somewhat had not his antagonist
maintained such good humor and smiled so
kindly when he lost
But anon the luck changed Ambrose
lost all he had won, and soon lost over a
hundred dollars beside He had lust
hundred dollars more in his portmonnaie,
and took it out. A new hand was dealt.
he cut his cards carefully, and held up
four Jacks. 1t was the best hand by far
that had been out during the game, it be-
ing the first -four of kind" he had seen du-
ring the evening. He bet ten dollars
His antagonist covered, and went ten
higher
Il have an excellent hand" said the
stranger, with light laugh ''Ihave held
better ones, but this is good. l shall bet
high on it."
Ambrose did not speak He was ex-
cited. Hewas afraid his antagonist would
mistrust how good his hand was and stop
betting. But the betting went on until
Ambrose had his last fraction on the table
''Shall l go higher ?" inquired the
stranger
CAS- you please"
''Then | must say hundred better
By the trump of truInps you shall have
chance to make pile this time"
Ambrose hesitated moment, and then
he placed his hand to his bosom and drew
out package of bank notes There were
four thousand dollars in the whole 1t was
sum he had drawn from the bank that
very day. 1t was the accumulation of over
four years labor and economy, for the pur-
pose of paying for his house and store
| He drew out a hundred dollar bill and
covered his antagonists last stake. He
| hesitated a moment more and drew out an
other hundred, and went that -
! The stranger covered the hundred and
went five hundred better, but he dared bet
no more, and he called for his companions
hand The stranger smiled as he showed
it-four queens
Ambrose uttered deep groan as he
folded his cards and placed them in the
pack.
by my soul, that's hard, my friend
But better luck next time. Come, I'll
deal for you this time"
A new hand was dealt, and this time
! Ambrose won a hundred dollars He be-
gan to revive. Next he won two hundred
more. He went and got another glaas Of