Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-02-06

may-I don't know but papa won't
let anybody come, and we mayo sir.
we may want friend 7 She burst into
tears, and then, with an effort TO re.
press her sobs, said: Tell me where
you live?'
1 readily gave her my card, and
pressed her light little hand as she ran
away.
A few days after that, in the Cursaal
again saw the strange little figure.
went and stood opposite to her, but
l believe she did not see me. She had,
as before, double Frederick dor,
which she changed into silver, and be-
gan to play first cautiously, and con-
sulting some written directions, and
winning every time; she then staked
gold pieces, and won. Then she grew
more reckless, and placed high stakes
on a single number-she lost; staked
again-lost again, and thea her last
remaining gold pieces were raked off.
could not see her face for the absurd
disguise, but as l saw her glide from
the table, l instinctively followed.
She rushed down the steps, and into
the garden. When came up, she had
thrown herself on garden-seat, had
torn Off her disguise, and with her
childish hands covering her face, was
sobbing in the bitterest despair.
When she looked up on hearing my
step, it was sad to see such wild sor.
row in a chlld's face. My poor child
said ], going up TO her, what is it,
% sir, o sir. she sobbed, that cruel
man : Then a sudden idea seized her
she sprang up. Don't you think. for
once, only once, he would give me
back a little money, and pet me try
again?'
Il think not said. How is il that
you do this, and know SO little? Tell
me all. and let me perhaps help YOU.
She looked wistfully in my face. III
you would leud me Frederick dor.
should be sure to win this time
Il will lend it to you, said, but
not to play-take it home
She hung back, and blushed. Il
dare no,-I can not 60 home.' Then
she burst into a passion of sobs, ex-
claiming: oh. no; papa would die:
1t would kill him to see me come home
with nothing-~ii iossf'
Let me 90 home with you,' said I.
Il am a doctor; if your father is i'll.
NAV be of use TO him.
She hesitated. and then, with a sud-
den resolution, took my hand, and led
me on. 1t was turning not far from
the Cursaal, down n lane, and into n
yard. where there was = stand Of don
keys at one end. and washerwoman
at the other. The door of a mean
house stood open, and my little guide
asked me TO stop at the bottom of the
stairs, while she first went up TO her
father. l watched her light step, and
saw her open door very cautiously:
then n shrek of alarm and horror rang
through the house, and | waited no
further summons to rush to the room.
The sight that presented itself was
indee3 appalling: on the bed lay
man apparently lifeless, the pillow and
the sheets covered with blood. | i'm
mediately raised his head, and found
the bleeding proceeded from the mouth
and nose-he had broken a blood
vessel. The shreks of the child had
brought more assistants than enough,
and by dismissiDg some, and making
use of others, l succeeded at last in
restoring consciousness to the invalid,
and calmness to.his poor little daugh-
ter.
While applying remedies. was
obliged to stop every attempt TO speak
on the part of the patient but he
smiled at Alice, whose every faculty
seemed absorbed in watching him, and
turned his eyes towards the table by
the side of the bed. On the table were
pack of cards and pair of much
used dice, notebook to prick the
numbers, and another with pencil by
its side, and filled with calculations.
The mans face was haggard and
emaciated, evidently in the last stages
Of consumption, but Of finely chiseled
features his hands also were delicate
ly formed. He was making efforts to
speak, and tried to point still to the
table, when Aiice's quick eye fell on
letter which he must have received in
her absence. She held it out TO him.
l saw the hectic mount to his cheek !;
and with fash Of the eye and
violent effort to raise himself and to
seize it, he exclaimed: Thank God |!
l have not ruined my little Alice. It's
all her luck, and she deserves it all.
The effort brought on a return of the
bleeding; he fell back exhausted, and
never spoke again.
The letter, whose perusal had 80
strongly affected him, proved to be
the announcement Of q considerable
fortune, which had been long in
litigation, having been adjudged to
him, and at his death, to his daughter
Alice. His name and family vere