Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-22

him to enter. It was brilliantly lit up. The
furniture by which it had formerly been oc
cupied had all been removed, except few
luxurious chairs, and to these others had been
added. A new and elegant carpet covered the
floor, and q single large mirror filed up the
entire width of the wall at one end. A mum:
Der of tables, covered with green baize, We're
scattered about, On these lay various packs
of cards, while beneath one of them, other
packs lay discarded-the apartment present
ed the appearance ofa gaming-saloon. Leon
ard looked at his father in mute inquiry and
astonishment. .pgtnn ,oryr,i.aE3 all ---.
Does your understanding still require en-
lightenmentT p, asked Mr.. Manvers. '"Yop
see those cards. You perceive that there are
also dice and dice-boxes at hand. You are
aware that I and some of my friends have
been passing the evening-or the night, if
you wiil-in this room. 1t will require no
great effort of your mind to deduct from
these facts the logical conclusion that We have
been amusing ourselves with play"
"Do you play-only for amusement? p
slowly asked Leonard. ...a, ~ s,assa-.s
a"Partly for amusement partly for our mu.
tual benefit and advantage" rejoined bis fa-
ther, with laugh. "I don't deny that va
rious sums of money find their way from one
of our pockets to another, once in while.
Without some little excitement of. this sort,
the game would lose its interest; don't you
think so2" f5s.a "i.. "'@ ."'' ..
"Then you mean to say that you gamble, !"
said Leonard. '...''.'..' 80 "".' '.'.''.
"Well, yes; that is about the sum-total of
the matter, suppose" was the careless reply.
"You look rather shocked, Leonard. Does
your innocent mind revolt at this confession ?"
The covert sneer in these words, and the
satirical smile by which the question was ac-
companied, brought flush to Leonard's
cheek. IL don't pretend to be very innocent,
father" he rejoined, "and don't suppose I
am any better than you" -..' 80
Admirable modestyw interrupted Mr..
Manvers.
"But still, continued the boy, ri should be
sorry to think that through this new pastime
of yours any body else should be made to
su6er-any of our friends, I mean" he added
with steady look at his father, for the re-
collection of Mr.. Orville's disturbed and pal
lid face still weighed upon him. d. I'D
"And why should you suppose such con-
tingency p asked Mr.. Manvers, coolly return
ing the look. care we not all gentlemen, and
do we not meet on common ground? We are
all equally liable to suffer, for that matter; I,
as we'll as any of my friends"
"It seems strange that you should be willing
to run so great risk, when your losses have
already been so heavy" persisted Leonard.
"Ah but may retrieve my losses, don't
you see Pin part, at any rate Some Of the
men who belong to our club-men whom I
think you are not acquainted with-are pro-
fessioual players If they win, they are con-
tent; if they lose, they bear it philosophically.
They are rich, immensely rich, and can afford
to lose. I have already won money from
them, and can win more. am lucky, Leon
ard, very lucky at play"
$50 you think, father; but the tide may
turn"
Mr.. Manvers shrugged his shoulders. ut
may well, 1 can't help it. must profit by
present good fortune, and make hay while the
sun shines. Look here, Leonard, would you
like to come in here sometimes and join US
Your friend, Orville, is one of US. What he
does, you know must be all right. Only re.
collect, if I admit you, you are bound to 81.
lence. I'll have no tales carried about to
shock the parson, and other people of the
neighborhood." - ."'
"Whom should tell tales to-" asked the
boy, proudly. "You know have no friends
none, mean, of my own age. Mr. Orville is
my friend, and one or two other men whom I
have known from child; but companions /
have none"
$50 much the better. A lad Of your spirit
would find little congeniality among the
youths of the parish-a parcel of soft.headed
milksops, without half the sense that you have.
You have more knowledge of the world, more
discrimination, than many men of twice your
years; and I know you to be trustworthy,
else should never have taken you into my
confidence now"
This fattery was not without its intended
effect upon Leonard. His nature, too, craved
sympathy and affection, and responded readi-
ly to any friendly advance. His moral sense
was sufficiently blunted by his mode Of edu-
cation not to be very keenly shocked by the
revelation which his father had made to him !;
and this proposal to admit him to the "club,"
as Mr.. Manvers termed it, seemed to invest
him with new Importance, and offered a
temptation difficult to resist.
"Well, I'll come if you like, father" he
said, after a moment or two, during which
Mr.. Manvers was busyiug himself in extin.
gushing the lights, and gathering up tho
scattered cards, so as to give the tables more
orderly appearance. ...
every we'll, my boy and his father laid
his hand on his shoulder, more kindly than
he had ever done before, Leonard thought.
He bid him goodnight, and went to bed with
his mind in tumult. A feversh excitement
had taken possession of him, which for
long time kept him tossing on his pillow !;
and it was not until daylight looked into his
windows that he fell into profound sleep,
which lasted until the sun was high in the
heavens.
Leonard Joined the "club," and soon took