, 1872-09-12

l.
forty-four. Now it is your turn, sir"
And the box was handed to Dart Brad
ford. who took it with hand that slight
ly trembled and threw the dice upon the
table,
One, two, and" But before
the last number could be counted Darts
hat fell from his head upon the table
and one of theta was knocked upon the
ground.
"How unlucky! You'll haveto COM
mence over again, sir. Now"
Again taking the box Dart made an
other throw, but the Mexican called out:
1.-TWO, three, four-nine p A decid-
ed pallor spread over the young officers
face, as he again threw the dice upon
the table, Three skies You are IN
luck, sir. That throw may save your
life. Now, try again"
The hand holding the dice box visibly
shook as the last throw was made; but
ere the dice could be counted by the
Mexican the table gave way with the
weight upon it, and again the little reg
ular blocks upon whose numbers hfe
hung, were scattered.
A frown darkenod the Commander
brow and several of the staff conversed
together in low tones as the table was
being set up again and tie last chance
was given. The throw was made.
''Three skies! Eighteen and twenty
seven are forty-fve. You have won,
sir. A close game of chance" said the
Mexican as Dart sprang to his feet una
BILE to conceal his great JOY at his escape.
"Well, Dart, have lost. Here, old
fellow, are my papers, watch andpocket
book. This ring belongs now to Ida.
1 made my will in her favor before l left
F.. Good bye, old fellow, ard tell
them at home that I died bravely. Gen
tlemer, am ready" And with firm
bearing the American turned to his cap
tors and was led away to execution,
while Dart Bradford was forwarded to
the lines to be exchanged with Next
can officer of equal rank with himself.
Three years went by. Peace once
more reigned in the land, and the shat
tered remnants of the F. guards re-
turned to their homes crowned with VIC
tory.
Dart Bradford returned with them,
but with the rank of Colonel, for he had
been promoted to that grade.
Upon reaching the American lines at
ter the game of life he had played with
poor Roy Worthington, he had forward
ed the things to Ida Bonner intrusted
to his care, and told her what had hap
pened and that he had begged Roy to
let him die in his stead, as no ties of re-
Quilted love bound him to the world |
with anticipations of future happiness.
Lima deeply mourned for him, and
wrote Dart beautiful letter thanking |
him fer the noble part he had acted to-
wards his rival and friend, for she be-
lieved all he said, and upon the return
of the gallant colonel it was not many
weeks before be gained the promise Of
Ida to become his wife.
The joy of her bridal eve was dimmed
to Ida Bonner by the thought of poor
Roy, lying far away in foreign land
for although she loved Dart with true
affection, she could not feel for him the
same deep love she had given his friend.
All was in readiness for the ceremony;
the minister stood, book in hand, ready
to join Dart Bradford and Ida Bonner
together as man and wife, when the
maiden uttered shrek just as she en-
tered the parlor leaning upon the arm
of her father, and swooned away.
All present were transfxed with am
azement, for there, before them, stand
ing beside the open balcony window,
stood Roy Worthington, emaciated and
pale, as if by long suffering. and dressed
in his uniform. He stood before them
and gazed sternly upon his former friend
Dart Bradford.
"Why, Roy,w all thought you dead.
What does this mean?" said Dart, step
ping forward.
1T means, sir. that by false represen-
tations you are now standing where l
should be, the promised husband of
Ida Bonner" .
"Sir, you presume. L"
Pardon me-not that 1 anticipate
that may ever again win the affections
of Miss Bonner but to open her eyes to
the character of the man she is going to
marry, now say what I do and as
Roy Worthington spoke, he stepped
forward and faced the assembled guests.
while Ida, having returned to con-
sciousness. was an attentive listener.
"When prisoner in Mexico with
Col. Bradford. one of us was doomed to
die; game of chance was to decide be-
tween us. l lost fairly believed, for
trusted my friend was honorable; he
won life ard was exchanged the same
dav, The commander of the Mexicans
spared my life; long years was pris-
oner, and now that the war is over l