Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-10-29

nc nae hOt lohg 10 Nalt, LOT one evening
Thompson. with his ieaa and wagon. cam,
over to the ranch. and after sundry drinks
had been taken Ned proposed to play foI
the team aud horses. Al first Thompson
refused. saying it was all be had left, and
he meant to keep that; bat drink OF
two moro and the exhibition by Ned Of q
hundred dollars in money changed his
mind, aud he sat down at the fatal table
he was SO sure he could win this time, and
then Ned said he only wished he would
for he wanted to see NJ. Thompson get
back tomc Of his Propei.-.A
In one hour the last horse was gone,
and Mr.. Thompson rose from his chair and
staggered to the wall, where he stood with
his bead hanging upon his breast, ponder
ing his misfortunes, and realizing at last
that he and his family were pennless, and
he had not even the means Of getting home.
Ned came up, and slappiug thefarmcr ia
military on the shoulder, said; "Cene,
cheer up, old fellow, and let rs take a
drink"
Thompson moved mechanically to the
bar, and, filling his glass to the brim,
drank it off. Again and again he drank,
of the vile stuff seemed to grow more dss-
perate. lie was now maudIindrunS, and
Ned led his victim 10 one side and said
he had long wanted wife, AMI as Mary
was fine girl he would like tomarry her.
He really sympathized with MI Thompson
in his losses; and as it was the custom in
new settlements for men TO buy their
wives from the Indians he wo,ld put up
all he had won of Mr.. ThompNn against
Mary. At first the farmer WIS shocked
and surprised; but the more lc thought
Of it, the more reasonable Neds proposl-
ticn seemed to be, and after another glass
he sat down and staked lis own daughter
on hand of cards. Ned VOL, and the
farmer burst into tears. The gambler
made light of the matter, and assured him,
if he had lost daughter, hehad wen a
son.in-law. Again and again they drank,
and, Ned calling for botde Of whiskey,
the two got into the wagon and started
for the farmers house. On the road,
Thompson drank heavily fIon the bottle,
so that, whoa they arrived a the farm,
the farmer was SO drnuk 'io aau 10 LO1
helped cut of the wagon 1t was very
late, but the wife and daughter were still
up waiting for his return, aia Mary was
clad in neat white muslin dress, which
made her look charming. They were both
much surprised to see strssser with Mr..
Thompson, but received hin kindly, think
ing, no doubt, he had merdy come to see
Mr.. T. safe home.
Ned turned out the team his team
and then entered the cabh. He was
repulsivc-looking fellow at tbest; but, nsw
that the night wind mad p,ffcd and flushed
his bloated face, he looked perfectly hid
eous. Fixing his blcarpd eyes on Mary,
he started the girl out Of countouance,
and caused her to busl and turn away.
Wherever she went Mel followed her with
his ferret eyes, until ths girl became SO
nervous and useasy shewent into the room
and walked up the old man. When she
returned to the oater rom, she found her
mother had fallen into a sweon, and hor
father, who had been asleep in the chair,
was now sitting up, apparently quite So
bcr, and talking to Ned. Mary ran to
her mother, and, raising her in her arms,
placed her upon the bed, where she sprin.
kled water in her faceuntil she recovered,
and began to sob bitterly.
Her father now called her to his side,
and said:
"Mary, We have lost everything; this
gentleman has won all, and he wants you
for his wife. | have promised him your
hand. Go to him."
TIE surprised and confused girl ran to
her mother; but Ned called to her, in a
rough voice:
"Come here to me, girl; you're now
nv little woman, and | want you"
Scarcely knowing what she did, with
one bound she reached the door, and in u
moment more was out in The dark night
and flying aeross the prairie towards the
barn. She heard her father call to her to
GENE back, and then halloo to Ned to run
round the house while he went to the barn.
Mary had intended to take her pony frcm
the barn and ride she knew not whittier I;
bat hearing her fathers voice close be-
hind her, she slipped cut of the stable by
back door and ran across the prairie.
For an hour she ran on, and then sank
down completely exhausted. Long and
bitterly she wept, lying prone upsn the
cold, damp ground. Then, started by the
howl of a wolf, she sprang up and tried to
think. Where should she goG What
Il -. & :. ~. Al ~,