The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-07-12
A pLUCKY WIFE.

She Meets tho Gnmbierwho Won her Hus.
bands Money and Scene Rnauos.
II was one Of the handsomest packets
on the river, and among the passengert
bound for Viclsburg were Georgian
and his wife, who have relatives in Mis-
sissippi. 9
He was q large-sized, handsome-look,
ing man, and she was pleasant-look
little woman, with blue eyes and shori
chestnut curls. One would have said
that she would have screamed at o till
of the boat. 81 -l E.
He sat smoking with other gentlemen
after she had retired to her stateroom,
and the cabin was entirely clear Of ladies,
when some one proposeda game Of cards.
In ten minutes after half o dozen men
were shuffling cards over cabin tables,
and the Georgian was matched against
stranger to all on board. BE was a
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 propose playing for
stakes. II was the nettled Georgian
who proposed it. BE called himself q
champion hand OF poker, and when he
found that he had met his equal he de-
termined to test the strangers financial
metal. l.sz5s y
They Ind fifty dollars on the table
when the captain looked into the cabin.
he caught the Georgian's eye and gave
him to understand that his opponent
was a river blackleg, but the other gen.
tlemen had dropped their cards and
crowded around, money was up, and
the information had come too late. Be.
sides, the, Georgian was doing well
enough, and he fattered himself that
he could teach the courteous blackleg q
lesson. o., M - ~ ~ ~ z
Itwas o very quiet group around the
table. and after tho play had continued
for fifteen minutes, the gentlemen spoke
in whispers, and somo OF them were re-
minded OF old times or the Mississippi,
when gamblers had the full run OF every
boat. 3 rs- q. ~ &, t.7p
Tho Georgian had luck with him from
the start, and while he looked smiling
and confident the gambler appeared to
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 seeming tofear each
other skill. The Georgian proposed
to increase them, and tho gambler
agreed. In ten minutes the latter had
his 5000 back. Luck had turned. The
Georgian lost $50; then $50; then $50 ;
then 800. g..},gt
Tho gamblers face yore n quiet smile,
as the Georgian became nervous. His
hands trembled as he held up the cards,
and his face was wet twith moisture.
"Come, gentlemen" said one Of tho
group, "let's have d general hand for
amusement, and then turn in. /" ''-
The Georgian looked up with a fixed
glance, andrcplied (: ~ 4
g / have lost S400 /; he must give me
q fair show" s., 81 Z ,f,f{
The plsy won't on. The heap OF green.
backs at the gamblers right hnnd grew
larger. Once in o while the Georgian
won, but he lost ten dollars for every
one gained. He finally laid down his
cards, pulled o roll Of bills from breast
pocket tand counted out $500. This was
his pile. In less than ten minutes every
dollar Of il had been added to the gam
bler's heap.
"Gentlemen, will you smokei" asked
the gambler, as he turned around and
drew his cigar case.
They knew his true character in spite
Of his disguise, and they refused.
e"I am sorry for my friend,' he con-
tinued, biting atthe end of o cigar, "but
you will agree that the play was fair.
The Georgian had passed out on the
deck. The gambler turned
to his stack Of bills and was counting
them when there was o sharp exclama-
tion, the sound Of o brief struggle, and
the little woman with blue eyes and
chestnut curls entered the cabin. She
was half undressed, o shawl thrown over
her shoulders, and she had revolver in
her hand. 0 H1' '0 i'-7 az
No one had seen leave her stateroom
and cross the cabin. No one knew that
her husband had the revolver in his
hand as she softly came upon him. $50
back, he whispered, 81 o incoming ina
r. n
With swift motion she seized the
weapon, wrenched 10 from his grasp,
md as abe came down the cabin TO the
table at which the gambler sat, and
around which half dozen men vet lin
gered, her blue eyes were full Of fire.
The gambler looked up. The hammer
Of the revolver came up with double
click. A white arm stretched out, and
the mizzle Of the revolver looked straight.
into the gamblers face. He turned
pale; the men fell back. For half q
minute the deep silence was broken only
by the faint splash Of the paddle wheels.
"Gol" she said. -gt.e L.
He looked into her flaming eyes as il
he could blufHher.
"Goi"i .tiii
4 he rose up and reached for the money.
"Leaye iti" she whispered, making o
threatening motion with tho revolver.
BE retreated back. She followed. Foot
by foot he backed across the cabin, the
nuzzle Of the revolver always on'a line,
with his face. he backed through tho
loor on the promenade deck, and the
tailing was there.
"Jump," she whispered.
The boat was running along within
Ihree hundred feet Of the shore. Over
he rail to the water was terrible leap.
"You can hive the money" he said.
"Jump," she repeated. .rt
s'I viii not"
The arm came up o little, and the light
rom the cnlJin showed him cold.