Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-06
a PIucky wife.

WIG, VINO nave relatives IN mississippi.
He was large sized, handsome looking
man, and she was pleasant-looking little
woman with blue eyes and short chestnut
curls. One would have said that she would
have screamed az tilt of the boat.
He sat smoking with other gentlemen
after she had retired 10 her stateroom, and
the cabin was entirely clear of ladies', VIXEN
some one proposed game Of cards. In
ten minutes after half dozen men were
shufIling cards over cabin tables, and the
Georgian was matched against a stranger
to all on board. He was quiet, courteous,
well-dressed man, and had been taken for
traveller in search of health. He was
lucky with his cards, but he did not pro-
pose playing for stakes. 1t was the net
tied Georgian who proposed it. He called
himself a champion hand at poker, and
when he found that he had met his equal
he determined to test the strangers finan-
cial metal.
They had fifty dollars on the table when
the captain looked into the cabin. lie
caught the Georeian's eye and gave him to
understand that his opponent was a river
blackleg, but the other gentlemen had
dropped their cards and crowded al ound,
money was up, and the information had
come too late. Besides, the Georgian was
doing well enough, and he fattered him
selfthat he could teach the courteous black
leg lesson.
1t was very quiet group around the
table, and after the play had continued for
fifleen minutes, the gentlemen spoke in
whispers, and some of them were remind
ed of old times on the Mississippi, when
gam blers had the full run of every boat
The Georgian had luck with him from
the start, and while lie looked smiling and
con fdent the gambler appeared 10 grow
excited and uneasy. His money was raked
across the table until the Georgian had $500
in greenbacks before him. The stakes had
been light up TO this time, both men SEEM
ing to fear each others skill. The Geor-
gian proposed to increase them, and the
gambler agreed. In ten minutes the latter
had his 5000 back. Luck had turned. The
Georgian lost $500; then $50; then $50;
then 500.
The gamblers face wore quiet smile,
hands trembed as he held up the cards,
and his face was wet with moisture.
"Come, gentlemen said one of The
group, "le:'s have a general hand for
amusement, and then turn in"
The Georgian looked up with a fixed
glance, and replied:
81 have lost $500; he must give me a
fair show"
The play went on. The heap of green
backs at the gamblers right hand grew
larger. Once in while the Georgian won,
but he lost ten dollars for every one he
gained. He finally laid down his cards,
pulled roll of bills from breast pocket
and counted out $500. This was his pile.
In less than ten minutes every dollar of it
ha d been added to the gamblers heap.
"Gentlemen, will You smoker" asked
the gambler, as he turned around and
drew his cigar case.
They knew his character in spite OF his
disguise, and they refused.
az am sorry fer my FRIEND" he contin-
ued, biting at the end OF a cigar, "but you
will agree that the play was fair"
The Georgian had passed out ON the
promenade deck. The gambler turned TO
his stack of bills and was counting them
when there was sharp exclamation, the
sound of brief struggle, and the little
woman with blue eyes and chestnut curls,
entered the cabin. She was half undress-
ed, a shawl thrown over her shoulders,
and she had revolver in her hand.
No one had seen her leave her stateroom
and cross the cabin. No one knew that
her husband had revolver in his hand
as she softly came upon him. go back, !"
he whispered, 81 am coming in a mo-
mentl" Af "a
With swift motion she seized the weap-
on, wrenched it from his grasp, and as she
came down the cabin TO the table at which
the gambler sat, and around which half a
dozen men yet fingered, her blue eyes
were full of fire.
The gambler looked up. The hammer
of the revolver came up with a double
click. A white arm stretched out, and the
muzzle of the revolver looked straight into
the gamblers face. He turned pale; the
men fell back. For half minute the deep
silence was broken only by the faint splash
of the paddle wheels.
"Gop she said.
He looked into her flaming eyes as If he
would bluff her. .....
"GoP' .tI.#H. '... u.s..
He rose up and reached for the money.
"Leave itp she whispered, making a
threatening motion with the revolver. He
retreated back. She followed. Foot by
foot he backed across the cabin, the muzzle
OF the revolver always on line with his
face, He backed through the door on the
promenade deck, and the railing was there.
Jump" she whispered.
The boat was running along within three
hundred feet of the shore. Over the rail
to the water was terrible leap.
"You can have the money!" lie said.
"Jump," she repeated.
al will not"
The arm came up little, and the light
from the cabin showed him a cold, strange,
determined look on her face. He turned
about, shlyered, and was over the rail-,
learing far out and unable to suppress a
cry of alarm as he felt himself going down.
The boat swept along, her ann fell, and
re-entering the cabin she sat down, leaned
her head on the table and wept bitterly.
The passengers said she was "brick."
Was she? no H..