Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-01-02

SS't o"o "S ""o tuiHhS w W
'c back what he hath lost, is in the 9,
!" ones trap, body and soul!
= For the stakes with which to wi
80 back his losses, Charles borrowe
:. :, from the funds of the house. H
- " really regarded it as borrowing :
- first; because to the amount of f
" ty or hundred dollars he coul
keep cash in hand without triflin
with his hooks. But by and by h
' was forced to withhold more from
deposit than he should have done.
About this time Ned Phillips a,
rived from Calcutta. Captain Ed
ward Phillips, though only six.and
twenty, had command of one of th
finest ships that sailed out of New
York. His father had been shin
master before him; and his grand
father had been that doughty Cap
tain Jasper Phillips whose surpas
sing seamanship stood Bainbridge
in su :h good stead at Tripol.
And at this very sclf-same time
too, Laura Falconer had come home
on Visit from the academy. She
had graduated some time before,
and was now employed as teacher.
She was younger than Charles ;
and, even her female friends called
her handsome; and, moreover, they
did 1t without envy, which plainly
showed that she must have had a
strong hold upon their goodwill
and est eem.
Captain Ned Phillips had carried
away Laura's promise that she
would some day be his wife; and as
soon as he could leave his ship he
called upon her,-and the old love
had not grown dim nor cool and it
was very soon arranged that she
should not go back to the academy
any more.
One day Laura spoke to Edward
of her brother Charles. She was
distressed about him.
"Something ails him." she said.
"He is changed"
ps, 9Es 9tEst t4tfeG FL does sos smls as nh IL
used to in the other times; but L
thought it might be his business"
"No, no." pursued Laura. "It has
come upon him recently. He is suf-
fering. Last night l heard him
groaning in his sleep, and l arose
and went to his door. He was talk
ing in sort of teverish delirium,-
and he talked of loss and ruin, and
of salvation and ruin"
"Have you spoken with him upon
the subject ?"
"Yes,-but he kisses me and puts
me away, and says it is nothing"
Edward promised that he would
try his hand at solving the mistery.
And straightway Capt. Phillips
entered upon the work. His suspi-
cions were very readily thrown upon
the right track, and he watched the
falling man with care and circum-
spection.
1t was late at night, and Charles
Falconer was alone in the counting
room. He was pale and wan, and
.bout his lips and eyes hard lines
we're drawn-lines of desperation
He took package of bauk-notes
rom the desk, aud held it in his
land. 1t was large package, and
t. represented thousands of dollars.
The money was not his; but he had
'esOlved to use it.
"This is the last y he said, as he
'ut the notes into his breast pocket,
md buttoned up his coat. ''It is
ny only hope. If this fails me {
But it will not fail. Luck must have l
/ turning-point. Fortune cannot al
Ways frown. If l win tonight, ! {
I'm saved. L might have won last ,
light if l had had money enough to t
lave followed the game. L have
nough tO-night-mOre than l shall
iced. l shall not stake it all-but
will 60 prepared for the worst ,
The worst NO, no,-I will not say
hat. 1t shall be the best! I will
vim back what have lost, and I will
Oy with the fatal hazard never {
gain !" I
He went forth to the gaming c
louse, and was soon engaged in play.
His principal opponent was a man
Vhom he had often seen upon the (
treet-a broker named Barnes
'ut whom he had never befO re seen I
It play.
81 have come to night said {
Barnes, with smile, "tO lose my
'ile, or to win its equivalent"