Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-09
Daily Afnnrber Soaraal.
TIE CARD TABLE.
lcoNTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.
"Shall go higher Pn asked the strdn-

LAS you please"
Then | must say hundred better.
BY the trump OF trumps. You shall have
chance TO make pile this time
Ambrose hesitated moment, and then
he placed his hand in his bosom and drew
forth package of bank notes. 1t was a
sum he had drawn from the bank that
very day. 1t was the accumulation OF
over four years labor and economy, for
the purpose of paying for his house and
store. he drew out hundred dollar bill,
and covered his antagonists last stake.
He hesitated moment more, and then he
drew another hundred and went that
over. The stranger covered" the hun
dred. and "went five hundred better.
Ambrose covered the FIVE hundred. but he
dared bet no more, and he called his COM
panion's hand. The stranger smiled as
he showed it-four queens!
Ambrose uttered deep groan as he
folded his cards and placed them on the
pack.
by my soul, that's hard, my friend,
better luck next time. Come-fll deal
for you this time"
A new hand was dealt, and this time
Ambrose won hundred dollars. lie be-
gan to revive. Next he won two hundred
more. He went and got another glass OF
wine, and then returned in better spirits.
But at the next hand he lost five hundred.
His spirits sank again. But he was now
resolved to play carefully and win back
what he had lost, and then stop,
There is no need of following the game
step by step. The man who held those
cards was not a protested gambler, nor
did he now gamble at all for his own
amusement. But he had been among
gamblers much, and could handle cards
AS he pleased. And more still, he could
handle a nervous. eScitable man as he
pleased.
He kept Ambrose in good humOr-let
him have occasional flashes of luck-and
finally, just as the clock struck eleven,
Ambrose Dearborn staggered up from
the table. penniless All-all was gone
His four thousand dollars-the sum which
was to have cleared him from debt-the
sum which he had seen steadily growing
beneath his efforts for the last four years
was now swept away.
The young merchant staggered from
the hall-he tried TO borrow first, to bor
row something to commence again to win
back something-but no one would lend.
He made his way to the street, and with
out noting his way staggered on. By
and-by he came to a narrow alley which
led down to the water, and he turned
down upon the wharf, and sat down upon
an old spar.
He had been there few moments, when
he felt hand upon his shoulder. He
looked up, and by the moonlight he could
TIM dark fann Of tho xyhn had
ruined him.
asked the stranger.
Leave me p cried Ambrose, bitterly.
"Oh never would see you more from
this time
but perhaps may help you,' replied
the other. You are young enough to
learn"
Learn Oh great heavens and have
not learned this night what never-nev-
err"
The young man burst into tears, and his
sobs we're deep and painful.
"Come, come" spoke the stranger,
"stand up and TRUST me, | may yet help
you"
There was something so kind in the
voice that Ambrose could not resist. and
he arose to his Feet
Ambrose Dearborn, spoke the strange
man, II have this evening taken from you
over forty-two hundred dollars, and do
not think you can afford to lose it, Here
we are before, God. Now promise me,
upon your honor as a man, that you will
never stake any amount at hazard again
that never again will you play at any
game of chance for the value of anything
and will restore to you every penny l
have won from you tonight
: The young man stood for moment like
a man in dream. Then he caught his
companion by the arm.
You do not trife p he said, in a hoarse
whisper.
'.Give me the promise, and sec."
Ambrose clasped his hands, and turning
his eyes toward heaven he made an oath
embracing just the proposition whic h had
been made TO him; and when he had
done, his eyes sank to the snow-covered
earth, and he burst into tears. The
stranger took roll from his pocket and
handed 1t over.
Here y said he, sis the full sum-every
penny-just as took 1t from you. And
now let US walk up into the city again
My way is towards Adam street"
$50 is mine," whispered Ambrose, as he
clulched the money.
''Ah-then We'll walk together"
but tell me what this means the
young man uttered. energetically. "Who
are you, sir PSI
On the way the stranger kept up such
rattle OF conversation that Ambrose
not only had no chance to mention the
subject of the evenings transaction. but
by the time he had reached his own door
his feelings had got back into their won't
ed channel.
II would invite you in,'' he said, but
Never mind. Just let me step into
The entry, for / want light a moment"
Of course Ambrose could not object to
this. and as he opened mis- door the stran-
ger followed him in. He walked through
the hall, and, as he opened the door of the
sitting-room, his companion was at his
back.
Lydia sat at her table and her face was
pale, but she had not been crying, for the
words her brother had spoken to her be-
fore he went out had inspired her with a
strange hope. She arose to her feet, and
while her husband was wishing that his
companion had remained in the hall, he
l.. a a