The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-09-11
his stalls was but typical of tine pace ut
which he was rushing to ruin.


all that money, with such pains.taking
and miserly care, scraping il together
from highways and by-ways, have seen
how rapidly it was flowing back into its
old channels, he could not surely have
lain SO still in his narrow house.. No
phantom hand, however, closed around
the money bags, and the string of Paul
Graham's purse always chung on the out
side" .5 i
Thus it continued for twoyears. "Dear
little Fan" was well-nigh. forgotten in
the multiplicity of exciting pleasures he
managed to crowd into the days His
friends--of whom he had a host-(for
what good fellow who spent money free
ly ever lacked themD His friends, 1
say, looked on him with certain kind
of admiration for his .recklcssness, aud
pity for the ruin that was inevitably con-
ing upon him.
At first, Paul had supposed that tie
purse of Fortunatus never in it's palmiest
days contained more than half million;
but latterly he began to have .forcbod-
ings that, through the glitter of the coin,
lie could see something that looked mar
velously like the bottom of the wallet.
And though he had enjoyed the day
wonderfully, he did not like the prospect
Of night coming on with its darkness and
want.
"Somc fools would tell me to econo-
mize on what is left" he soliloquizcd,
in taking mental review Of the situa-
ton; "but that's not my style Live
while you do live, Paul, my hearty, and
die, il die you must, bravely, with colors
flying! Before giving mp, however, Ill
strike once more for life and liberty
that is, I'll go round to Talbot's Saloon
and either get back the lost sheep, or
send the remnant Of the flock after
them"
Knight lung l.c sat in Talbot's mag
nlicent gaming saloon, watching the
revolutions of his fuctuating fortune.
fIc md been ratIler lucky up tosshe
early hours OF morning, but then the
tickle jade gave him the cut direct, and
bestowed her fayors on his patient op.
poncnt
As, G o'clock, and the pale dawn
looked in upon the palcr faces of tho
miserable devotees. Aud still the wheel
turned, and still fortune frowned on the
boldcst gambler that ever quaffcd the
maddening wine in her honor.
Paul Graham was pennilcss The pis-
tol from his belt, the watch from his
bosom, and the jewels from his hands.
had been the last offerings laid on the
unhallowed shrine. He got up and
strobe fiercely through the glittering
rooms, as if to shake the dust of the ac-
cursed place from his feet. He had
reached the door, and turned it on its
silent hinges, when a sudden thought
caused him to close it softly aud turn
haughtily back. The mon who stood
around were his friends; they had eaten
of his salt, drunk of his cup, and revcled
on his bounty. Verify, Paul Graham
had been wounded in the house of his
friends" aud they looked on now, won
dering what the bankrupt spendthrift
could be going to say, for they thought
he was one that "wouli die, and
make no moan," and not like some of
nerveless mould, come whining around
his lost fortune.
He stood just in front of the man who
had heaped up before him the remnant
Of his abundant wealth. The wine flush
had died from his face, and his fiery eyes
cleaned from their pale settings, like
living Goals in the dead white ashes.
"Waltcr Elbert," addressing his fortu.
nate rival, "you have known me long,
and known me to be an houest man,
though foolish one. Fortune came to
me unexpectedly, and turned my brain
but before ii came, had one treasure
that priced above all the gold that ever
glittered on that table / have it vet.
Risk something against it, aud give me
one more chance to walk out into Gods
free world, for as beggar, will never
leave these walls; aud ! tell you, though
smiling and uuconcerped as you sit there,
my blood will bc upon your head"
'What is your treasure, Paul ?" asked
the other, lightly, Perhaps I'll stake