The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1878-03-14
- q I Q CT IT n I q L.
The Card Table.

Lydla Ue0rOOrn sat alone IN nor
little sitting room. AMI hor conute.
nance was sad aud dssponding She
was not over six-an l-twenty, aud
though her face was pale anl wan.
yet sho was beautiful. 4 warm fre
burned in tho gratis, for it w,s VIM
ter, and the lamp upon the centre
table was iighteI. for it was even.
ing She sat thus, trying to real
when the door was opened and a
stranger catered. She started up
with fear at thus seeing stran ge
pau enter her apartment unbi lien
Lydia -loa't you kiow msi
The woman started at the souni
OF the voice, and the blood rushed
to her brow au templss. She took
q step forvAri and gazst more
sharply into the in'ruier's face
"Ja,nss Z shs murm drsl, iutsrro-
gativsly
Yes my sister. Didu't you know
me Z
But.iustea o! answ ring in w'ris,
Lydia rushed forward aud sank mp.
on the mans bosom sui there sle
wept for joy. 1t was, ia tratd h eli
own brother.
"And you didn't know me |? he
said, with u smile. after he had tax Gu
Q seat.
"Why, no, James. Five years
have altered you wonderfully But
then that beard all over yOnr face
makes u good de of difference
"All the difference in the world.
sister. Two years ago. while my
ship lay at Canton, I had my beard
all shaved Of, aud when | came
aboard, some Of my own men did
not know me- at first.
"Then wish you'd shave it Of
now, for you look more like bea.
than you do like James Barrows.
The brother laughed, and ther
the conversation run for awhile up
on various topics suggested by the
return of tho loved one. James
Bsrrows WAS now thirty two years
of age, and had been absent from bis
native city for five years during
which time he had command OF d
fne ship.
"By tue way" said the brother, at
the end of half an hour. II stopp cd
in New York on my way here, aud
saw Kate Waldron there. She told
me she heard you wished your hus
band had never known me Did yol
ever say such thing ss that Z
Lydia's eyes oiled with tears in q
moment, and deep sob broke from
her lips. Her brother was startled
He uoved to her side, aod put hi'
arm about her neck.
"What is it, sister = be asked
anxiously.
"Alas, James, will tell you. Bu
first let me assure you that l did nol
mean exactly what said to Kate
You remember i've years ago, when
You used to tell such stories abou
gambling scenes ON the Mississippi
Ambrose asked you to teach him t.
play poker, - you called it. Yor
taught him the game, aud one o
two evenings you went with bin 4
some social card parties
Yes. yes-l remember all that
'Well-tho spirit OF gaming il no.
fastening itself npon him. ! can ne
II plainly, though he tries to lsngl
away my fears. know it is 90. ~
have been told by ono Who IL m
friend, ssA who told me ont of pur
friendship Tor Als.e-s,se. Hut I hay,
not yet dared " let him Know no,
sure my information 10. for hs woul
be angry did ho know that soyon
had told this 10 ms. Oh, ! kno,
his impstuous nature, aud I fear b
will be lost ere hs is aware VI il
Evil eowpauionship are lsa.ling hir
astray. He thinks ths~ friends 1
"And do yon think hs has gon
TO the CO I'd table tonight 7"
u am afraid 20. And II hs does
oh, dare not think of il He hs
much money with him. Before yo
came was weeping over my fear,
II have never let him know ho,
much ! knew concerning his cours,
Tor I ioArod 'tWould only make hil
~<e,> >~oskaA Ah~lI kun. -