The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-25
The Card Table,;

sitting room, and her countenance was
sad and responding. She was not over
six-and.twenty, and though her face was
pale and wan, yet she was beautiful. A
warm fire burned in the CRATE, for it was
winter, and the lamp upon the centre
table was lighted, for it was evening.
She sat thus, trying to read when the
door was opened and strange entered.
She started up with fear at thus seeing
strange man enter her apartment un-
hidden.
"Lydia--don't you know me ?"
The woman started at the sound of the
voice, and the blood rushed to her brow
and temples. She took step forward
and gazed more sharply into the intru-
der's face.
Games % she murmured, interroga,
lively.
"Yes, my sister. Didn't you know
me ?"
But, instead of answering in words,
Lydia rushed forward and sank upon the
mans bosom, and there she wept for Joy.
1t was, in truth, her own brother.
sand you didn't know me-? he said
with smile, after he had taken a
seat.
"Why, no, James. Five years have
altered you wonderfully. But then that
beard all over your face makes good
deal of difference"
"Au the difference in the world
sister. Two years ago, while my shit
lay at Canton, had my beard all shaved
off, and when came aboard, some Of my
own men did not know me at first"
"Then l wish you'd shave it off now,
fory you look more like bear than you
do like James Barrows."
The brother laughed, and then the
conversation run for awhile upon va
rious topics suggested by the return of
the loved one. James Barrows was now
thirty-two years of age, and had been
absent from his native city for five years,
during which time he had had COM
mand of fine ship.
''By the way" said the brother, at the
end of half an hour, Il stopped in New
York on my way here, and | saw Kate
Waldron there. She told me she heard
you say you wished your husband had
never known me, Did you ever say
such thing as that ?'
Lydias eyes filled with tears in mo-
ment and a deep sob broke from her lips.
Her brother was startled. He moved
to her side, and put his arm about her
neck.
"What is it, sisterg' he asked, an1-
iously.
"Alas, james. I will tell you. But
first let me assure you that ( did not
mean exactly what lsaid to Kate. You
remember I've years ago, when you used
to tell such stories about gambling
scenes on the Mississippi, Ambrose
asked you to teach him to play poker,
as you called it. You taught him the
game, and one or two evenings you
went with him to some social card par
ties.''
eyes, yes-I remember all that"
"Well--the spirit of gaming is now
fastening itself upon him. can see il
plainly, though he tries to laugh away
my fears. l know it is so, for have
been told by one who is my friend, aud
who told me out of pure friendship fol
Ambrose. But have not yet dared te
let him know how sure my information
is, for he would be angry did he know
that anyone had told this to me. Oh,
know his impetuous nature, and fear hi
will be lost ere he is aware Of it. Evi
companions are leading him astray. Hs
thinks them friends p
"And do you think he has gone to thu
, card table tonight p .
! 81 am afraid so. And if he does
oh, | dare not think of it. He has mucl
money with him. Before you came
was weeping over my fears. hav'
never let him know how much l knew
concerning his course, for feared
twould only make him more excited
Alas | know not what to do. I do moi
think he has yet lost much, but l know
that he will never leave the fascinating
habit until he is ruined, unless some
thing can be done to move him."
"By my sonl, Lydia" returned thu
. captain warmly, II did teach Ambrose
to pay-though God knows l never
meant to teach him to gamble-and
will cure him now if I can. Do yor
, think he is at it now?"
i 81 think he would have been at home
before this time, if he lad not fallen in
with some Of his evil associates" ..
'Then you rest here while l go and
find him. By my soul, III save him if
can"