The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-01-19
[From Louisville (Ky.) letter..
THROWING DICE FOR Il WIFE.

/ From Louisville (Ky.) letter.
THROWING DICE FOR A WIFE. A7+7'
There lived on - street, in an unpretend-
ing establishment surrounded by trees and flow
ers, a'young lady who was celebrated for her
beauty and accomplishments She was .
blonde, with blue eyes, white teeth, and heav-
enly smile; had the prettiest hand and foot
that ever were seen; and was tail, 1.-the and ell
egant. Her wit was delicate, pointed and
sparkling, and her mind as superior as her
person was lovely. The town was at her feet,
and her sutors were as importunate, If not as
many, as Penelope's, like whom she was con-
tinually wooed and yet never won. In the
midst of her successes came the war, the end
of which found her family impoverished, and
herself reduced to want for the necessaries of
| life. usL ~ aD a tols 9.3 4aIu4
But she was the same proud, imperious mis-.
tress of hearts as before, and she refused in
quick succession the many offers of marriage
that were now made to her. She had not
thought of matrimOny as Q resource, but had
other and different prospects in view. She
proposed, in fact. to teach a school.
A fellow townsman, gentleman of wealth
and position, and bachelor, had long been
silent worshiper at her shrine. He had houses
and lands-estates in the country and lots in
the city-stocks, interests and investments
wherever they would pay; and his private es-
tablishment on - street was simply palatial
Seeing how the case stood with her whom he
loved with his whole soul, he resolved, after
many self communings and much reflection, to
ask her to be his wife 'a t.s# -st.'"s
Sir" she said in answer to his proposal, al
do not love you, and / cannot marry you"
Think the matter over, my dear" said he,
land IN one week from to-day give me your
answer" -s1~-a9.
Upon his return, ON the day set, she SAID to
him: e.t..
"Sr, you have wealth, and am poor you
live in palace, and /, as You see in cot
tage; you are desirous of having my hand, and
| would like very much to be rich. i will
make you proposition. | will throw the
dice with you-my hand against a hundred
thousand dollars Is it bargain ~ 's-.
1t is," said he. And thereupon they pledged
TO each other their words to bide the hazard
It was arranged that but three persons
should be LET into the secret; that each should
select n friend; and that the two selected
friends were to choose the third Miss -.4
named the Hon. Mr.. -, prominent mem.
ber of the bar, as her friend; Mr. - chose
the Rev. Mr.. -, pastor Of the fashionable
church on - street, As his; and these two
in the medical college, as the friend of both
parties. BY these gentlemen the preliminaries
were arranged, and the programme was this:
The doctor was TO give party Mt his house
on certain specified Friday evening, at which
were to be present all the best people ia Louis
VILE; the Hon. Mr.. - was to have license
in blank, ready to be filled at a moments warn.
ing, and was to hold Mr.. IS check for
100000; and the Rev. Mr.. - was to be in
waiting to perform the marriage ceremony, if
called on so to do. The dice were to be thrown
IN the Hon. Mr.. IS study, whence the quin-
tette were to proceed to the party. where, if
Miss - lost, they were to celebrate the we'd,
ling, and il she won, they were to mingle with
he guests without remark 2'
AT precisely 8 o'clock in the eventful even
ng, the players and their friends met in the
Hon. Mr.. 5 study. BY agreement of the
parties themselves, they were to throw poker
lice, and to cut cards for the first throw. The
gentleman cut n queen and the lady jack, and
now came the tug of war. He was cool, calm,
md pale; she was statuesque, imperious, and
collected. His lips were compressed; hers
we're formed into an extended are, spanning
he whole mouth and completing the bow. The
vain sat on opposite sides of a small table,,
md the unplres stood overlooking them.
The dice-box being set before him, M. -
'laced his fingers over the top, and with the
humb clasping the side, he gave it shake and
brew two fours and two deuces. Putting aside
he fours, he threw again, and threw another
our. Then, throwing the two remaining dice,
e threw two fiyes. He had thrown, therefore,
full-three fours and two fives ......
And now came Miss Is turn. 1t was O
hrling moment, and the rustic of her silk
ress in the stiffness of that room sounded like
he tree-tops in the wind She began by draw
ng off her right glove, exposing hand of ex-
uisite beauty and delicacy. on the forefnger
f which sparkled diamond Then, taking
p the box quickly, she gave it long shake in
he air, and turning it down upon the table. she
A cloud thereupon passed
yer her face, and the arc of her lips assumed
still more bow-like curvature Is s7ssla>F
But, nothing daunted, she at once retook the
OK and threw again-this time turning up
our deuces, and the fifth dice cooked. Terrible
Miserable luck! She threw again,
nd threw three deuces and two trays Put
ing all the dice back into the box, she had left
ut one other and last throw, upon which now
ssted her only chance. For the first time
nce she sat down she spoke, asking for glass
f water. Having drank tumblerful, she sat
moment pressing together her eyebrows be-
ween her thumb aud forefnger, and then, all
q sudden. she snatched up the dlce.box and
hook it vehemently, and threw--three foursa
nd two skies, and won. And did she take the
loney9 you ask me. answer most emphat-
,a11v-sha did saFe@4 .s8 f94H #F@#4'ss y @stf7