The Van Buren press., 1878-05-21
Won at Cards,

III WIS laNoTllc oplniOH VI HieH.,
of mine that parental love does not
equal that which man feels toward an
adopted daughter. He instances histori
cal names to show how eminent men
have been devoted to those girls that
have been brought by accident or other
wise into the srelation Of daughter by
adoption.
There is, he says, another aud a
stronger love than any father can fee
toward his own flesh and blood. | will
not theorize upon the fact, and being
neither natural nor legal guardian of any
intelligent and beautiful girl who leans
languishly upon my arm and looks con
afI'..lp. ND to me, aud lovingly i'm
4 piofes, 10 REGENTS soft, for the coin nee
! essary to adorn her beauty and enhance
ne' 1"-..sa, I ran not sneak from exne.
rience II ''i'' -
l write history Of the wild and wick.
ed California days of 1910. was then
among the gay and irresponsible ones
Law, during business hours, feast at
dinner, frolc at night--an easy, care
less, devil.may- care existence. Sober
cd now by the experience of years, and
weighted with responsibility and cares,
| look back upon the early days of fun
and jollity as bright point in my his
tory. One night had sauntered into
one of our most popular gambling bells !;
an excellent dinner of terrapin and cham
payne, and other good things, had dis
posed me to generous payment for hos.
pitality, and was piling red chips upon
a spotted green cloth, in evidence of my
devotion to the unknown god. At a
late hour had stretched myself upoon an
easy lounge, half dreaming and half
dazed, when was arouzed by the en-
trance of man and bundle. The
man was drunk; the bundle was baby
"a two-year- old, violet eyed, staring,
wide-awake badly. We all recognized
viii Seymour, the gay reckless, dare
devil. gamboling, handsome, well born.
highly educated, ana, when drunk, most
desperate and evil tempered man--most
reckless of all our knights of the green
cloth We all knew how good and gen.
erous he was to the best and purest of
sweet wives when sober; we knew how
terrible and dangerous when inspired
Ny Vic uShiou VI oiluh. VIZ huGW Will
what generous love he poured out upon
her his wealth of affection when he was
himself, and we knew that, in his mad
moments, an angel from heaven was not
safe from his brutal passions. She had
ied-murdered-not by single blow,
but starved in her affections; worn out
with anxious, fearful love for her hus-
band, she had laid down the weary load
and passed away. leaving to her drunk
en- and crazed husband this tender little
this late nour, W ------
its cot and bring it down into this gam
bler's rendezvous, do not know. The
proprietor was dealing the game. l will
not name him, for this is a true story,
and not romance. We called him
" Blaze" it was his nom de guerre, when
we were fighting his internal game. lie,
educated, well born, generous, and had he
not been gambler, would have been
gentleman. He is not gambler now;
he lives, and is gentleman.
"In the name of God, Bill Seymour,
what are you doing with that child p
cried "Blaze," as he suspended the
deal.
ats mine," responded Bill.
"Where is the mother 2" asked "Blaze,"
shave you had another quarrel with her 7
Go home take back her child for Gods
sake Bill, don't disgrace yourself; don't
kill your wite"'
dead, Dead" said viii in tone of
bitter anguish l shall never forget,
" dead--gone to heaven, where | have
sent her. And shall send myself to
orchus that may never trouble her
more"
1t was curious scene, this gambling
room. Every eye was fixed upon mad
Will Seymour as he stood there with
his wide-eyed baby girl, every voice
was hushed; the players nervously fin
gered their chips till "Blaze" spoke
again
For Gods sake, Bill. 60 away, Do
you want money!"
"What good does money do me !? Did
it keep me from killing my wifel Will
it save Maud and me from the end of the
wharf. tonight? Hey, Maud baby girl
you shall go to see your mother this
night, and l will go to -, where I'll
meet you, Blaze and all of you," and
he laughed a wild, develish laugh, then
kissed the baby girl and cried, and then
said:
81 will play the baby against money
enough to leave the country. I'll cop
per the turn, baby against five red
chips"
"Done," cried Blaze l have no
children, and, by heaven, I'll play for
this one. IT | win her now, Bill Sey-
mour, on your honor, she is mine. My
wife has an untitled place in her heart
for baby's love"
Seymour seemed for a moment stag
red as by a blow; then, with reckless
laugh he said.
"Here goes-S5000 against the baby
I'll wait for the turn" The game pro-
ceeded with the stiffness of death not
word was spoken; we all gathered
aronnd the table At each draw of the
card the money was silently taken up;
la the final deal not cent was on the
CLOTH 1t stood for the queen to win or
lose against the knave.
~ copper the queen" said Bill, as
he laid the baby upon the table, her little
bare feet with their pink toes just reach
ing che ten-spot.
'.Blaze" held the silver box with
trembling hands and drew the cards as