Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-08-26

tered to. Again he won, and eighty
dollars were handed him by the banker
"a clear gain Of seventy.
"What splendid run of lack, Ship
| ley!" cried Burton. Double, triple
the amount you're sure to winl"
Mark hesitated, but the reckless
fascination Of the game was in the
ascendant, and he risked the larger
sum suggested by his friends, placing
this time Oh the inverse, and then be
| waited with GREATNESS eagerness fol
the result. 1t was against him; but SO
| far from checking his wild caree, ii
seemed to excite him to further risks.
'sfwo hundred dollars on the noir.
! A moments pause, and again he lost.
As this result was announced, Mark q
| face grew pale, and with shock he
awakened to full appreciation, not
only of the debt he had incurred, but Of
the sin he had commrted-of the self.
imposed vow he had broken Faint
and sick ct heart, he gave his note for
the sum due Mason, and then bidding
his friends good night fastened home-
! ward.
As may be readily imagined, his re-
Elections were far from pleasant. Aside
from the teproaches of his conscience,
the sum he had lost was by no means
an uncomfortable one, and his salary as
private secretary to wealthy banker
Ono other than his intended father in
law could i'll withstand this heavy
draft upon it. Moreover, his next
quartely payment would not be due
for month, and he had but very little
money on hand.
eff Mason will only wait till this
month is out" he thought, Il can
weather the storm have brought on
myself, and Their" he raised his hand
solemly toward heaven-"I will never
again enter q gambling house or en-
gage in any game of chance, so help
me God"
But MASON would not wait. No
promise, no security would satisfy this
man, who, destitute of honor himself,
could not believe it's existence in others
Money in good, solid coin-this alone
would content him. Day after day he
intruded himself into Young Shipley's
apartments and at length one day
grew so violent, that Mark, to get rid
| of him for the time, told him to come
| on the morrow, and he would endeaver
by all possible means to have the mon
ey ready for him.
every well, sir, said the MAN as he
! turned toward the door, "I1l come to-
morrow as you say; but if the money is
not forthcoming. I will go to Mr.. Nor
ton, and tell him what a nice son-in-
law he is going to have. You know
him as well as do, and am moro
mistaken than ever was in my life if
he don't cut you adrift for this business
the moment he hears of it, SO you'd
better get the money ready and keep
it all from him.
This was early in the morning, and
soon after, Mark walked down to the
bank, thinking it all over with sink
ing heart. He could not raise the
required sum. Burton and Hawar
were unable to lend it, and to no other
friends could he apply.
So on the morrow, all would be
over, and his brief, bright dream Of
love at an end, and in its place sorrow
and disgrace.
He had brought it all on himself,
too and this knowledge made his
thoughts all the more bitter, for he
| felt that he deserved the misfortunes
which were thronging about him-he
was not worthy to call sweet Jennie
Morton by the sacred name of wife.
The day wore on and as the hour
for closing the bank drew near, Mr..
Morton rose from his chair to depart s
but at the Office door he paused.
II had nearly forgotten, Mark. Just
look in my desk--here is the key--and
you will End four hundred dollars in
cash that I wish You would lock in nay
private vault. You win be up this
evening, of courses Jennie expects
you 50 good bye for the present.
Left alone, Mark opened the desk
and gazed intently on the coarse bag
which contained the gold. His cheeks
/ grew deathly pale and his frame shook
like an aspen leaf He then put fourth
his hand, touched the gold, then drew
back as though stung by scorpion.
Once more he advanced his hand, and
this time he clutohed the bag; then
taking down his overcoat from The nail
upon which il hung, he threw it over
his arm in such way as to conceal the
| gold, the latter being too heavy to
place in his pocket, and hurriedly left
the Lank.
seThis will save me-" he muttered
"and before Mr.. Morton can miss it
shall have replaced it from my salary
only one week to wait for 1t now
Oh, how low l have fallen-a gamb.
L N. m