The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-12-27

vim, and then I'll give you such pat in the n
land as will enable you to begin married q
ife at once, If you so will it, Harry But 9
10, you shall be the architect of your own Fl
ortune, as folks say; you shall win for your s
elf what will make you return home wealth. t
er and happier than you left Don't be e
man. Nothing venture, moth r
ng wn,' you know. How much are you b
prepared to stake p
AT first | recoiled with the greatest re. 9
pugnance from the idea of the whole thing, |
and vehemently protested against it, Bet
ting was not my forte, | said / had con-
scientious scruples about everything per-
tanning to it. If I give you all the conversa-
ton which passed between US on the subject,
Dora you might think was'trying-to exon
crate myself, which / will never do. When
at length | yielded to his solicitations, l did
so against my better convictions, and SEEM
ed to rush so insaney into the net, that I
was caught almost before l could realize
what I had really done. Then the fever
ish anxiety that took possession Of me, a
vivid, never-to be-forgotten idea of the
hell which gamblers bosom must be. | |
staked the whole of my savings of the past |
five years that money which had always |
seemed to me sort of sacred possession. as
it was destined to make our future home lfl
| win, | said to myself, shall be able to
get so much more for my wife-many COM
forts which cannot hope to give her in an
ordinary way for years to come, perhaps If
| lose then l said as madly as my friend,
! shall win, though | mnst win
4 could take no interestin the life around
me, which had come purposely to study.
scarcely noticed any person or thing. The
sky was dark to me, the fashion and gaiety
on all sides were an utter vexation of spirit.
| was in horrd dream, surrounded by
mirth and mad pageantry to wi hich could
! give no heed, but which merely filed my
mind with confused imagery all that
could realize with any vividness was, that
| was waiting with sickening suspense to
learn my late from the lips of fiend faced,
glib-tongued being at my side, who stood as
my cool, collected arbiter Both my friend
and were in his grip.
There were a few moments of breathless
excitement and suspe nse, ,andwe learned oui
fate We had lost all! With a white face
and a calmness that perfectly amazed me
my friend turned to the man, and appointed
to meet him in town on the following day
Then, without saying word to me, he broke
away and was lost to me in the crowd. If
mention his name you will remember hi
fate, Dora ; as | told you in the summe
that friend of mine, named Cooper, ha'
committed suicide through losses he ha
sustained at the Derby.
The call made upon me was for yer
considerable sum more than Possessed NJ
frame of mind at that time was such that
could not be certain what sum | stake d.
thought | limited it to what | knew wa
actually in my possession; but, at any rate
that was totally inadequate to meet the de
mands made upon me. To speak of how
cursed my folly is vain. Every poor foo
does that when he gets himselt'into trouble
To speak of my bitter remorse and self con
demnation would also be vain. God VIII
knows our inmost hearts, knows what m
sufferings and repentance have been. Wer
| not so allied to you, Dora, | could bea
the consequences of my wrong-doing wit
comparative equanimity, and submissivel
learn the bitter lesson which will make m
r wiser in all my after-lite. But to think
you is torture. 1t is now absolutely impo
Ill 10, 10 g. ha
$ have done you for am bound to lea,
1 you. and then you will be so overwhelme
by sense of the injury l have inflicted q
you, and by the wagging of hundrt
tongues, that no atonement / might be alb
to make in years to come (were / permitted
e would suffice | feel that | have justly 70
d feited every iota of your respect and love
q and don't ask you to extend anything
n me but little pity, and, if you cen, forgiv
: ness. Yet even this is far too much to as
: know. You will be suffering for maj
n weary days and weeks to come Even
d you succeed in turning all your love to hat
u you will still suffer and although | won
l. willingly lay down my life to save ycu fro
l. even little sorrow, shall not be able
Is bear the slightest weight of this great bu
3 den which | have brought upon you. I
r thought maddens me. | can only CONNIE
ar you to God, who is the Consoler of all 81
N row, and the Strengthener of all that &
bowed down.
p, 1t is with feeling of utter thankfuln
N, tell you that | have been preserved FRI
ne wrOnging any other man to get myself {
nd opportunity of so doing, and the temptati
has been fearfully strong but, thank G.
~. | have been kept from actual crime. As
IT. CARDS other mems possessions, my hands
en- yet clean, and they shall remain SOL | b;
,m to break stones on the highway for
st, bread. | have repeatedly silenced tempt
We suggestions by asking myself, shall | =
nm nit that insane and wrong act of last su
70 mer to he the beginning of a career of cri
ot and shame No. | will rather suffer
is most bitter consequences now, and have d
nly with them, than to attempt to ward them
al. by repeated acts of similar or worse nat
er. am determined, Dora, God helping me
inc return yet to this town and command lat le
,- your respect | have thought over and {
on again all things in connecttn with the
hat cumsance and | see clearly that II
etc, withdraw every claim to your love.
hat so now but with what an effort you will
ing er know Could be sure of your forg
tier uess it would somewha mitigate the pal
parting but dc not deserve it, aud |
,ov be content to depart without it,
IT, q saw the tyrant to whom owe the II
1t ey last Tuesday, and he gave me weel
,et which to pay it. The balance which he
ices is due to him ia only a hundred pour
had but as he has been so numerically draw
..ao | upon me since rst SAW him | have ba