The Princeton union., 1879-04-16

said the stranger, "but find no friends here.''
80 did i" answered Ambrose, ''and my
triends are missing"
| to pass away the time until others come"
| said the stranger.
with pleasure" said Dearborn.
Accordingly the two sat down, and were
! soon on the most friendly terms. The cards
were dealt, and for while the playing was on
and-by Ambrose began to win, and he went
on until hei had won more than twenty
| pounds. He would have felt somewhat
| ashamed had not his antagonist maintained
such good humor and smiled so kindly when
| he lost.
But anon the luck changed Ambrose had
lost all he had won, and soon lost over twenty
pounds besides. He had just ten sovereigns
more in his pocket and this he took out.
new hand was dealt-he was the non.dealer,
! and therefore considered to have an advan-
tage over his Opponent-he held four jacks.
Twas the best hand by far that had bsen out
during the game, it being the first "quatorze"
he had seen during the evening. He bet
sovereign. His antagonist covered it and
went another sovereign higher. '@
II have an excellent hand" said the stran-
ger, with light laugh. II have held better
ones, but this is good. shall bet high on
Ambrose did not speak. He was excited.
He was afraid his antagonist would mistrust
how good his hand was and stop betting. But
the betting went on until Ambrose had placed
his last coin on the table,
'Shan 1 go higher?" asked the stranger.
Gas you please" said Ambrose.
"TheL l must say another tiftv," replied the
stranger: by the trump Of trumps! you shall
have chance to win this time"
Ambrose hesitated moment, ard then he
placed his hand in his bosom and drew forth
package of bank-notes. There were four
| hundred pounds. It was sum he had
the accumulation of four years labor and
| economy, for the purpose Of paying for his
house and shop. He drew out fifty y-pound
note and covered his antagonists last stake
He hesitated for moment, and then he
drew another fifty and went that' over. The
hundred, more" Ambrose covered the hun
hundred, but he dared bet no higher, and he
called for his companions hand. The stran-
ger smiled as he showed it-four queens!
Ambrose uttered deep groan as he folded
his cards and placed them on the pack.
| Upon my word! that's hard, my friend"
said the stranger; "but better luck next time.
Come! I'll deal for you this time.''
| A new h*nd was dealt, and this time Am
brose won twenty pounds. He began to re-
vive. Next he won fifty pounds more. He
went and got another glass of wine, and then
hand he lost .e hundred. His s irits 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 professed gambler, nor did he now
gamble at all for his own amusement. But
he had been among gamblers much, and he
could handle cards as he pleased. And more
still, he could handle nervous, excisable
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 staggard up from
the table-penniless! All-all was gone! His
four hundred pOunds-tne SUM which he had
seen steadily growing for the last four years
was now sweptaway.
The young tradesman staggered from the
house-he tried to borrow first; to borrow
something to commence again to win back
something, but no one would lend. He made
his way to the street, and without noting his
way staggered on. By and by he came to 8
narrow alley which led down to the water
side, and he turned down upon the wharf and
but few moments when he felt hand upon
his shoulder. He looked up, and by the moon
lighC he could see the dark face of the fnaN
who had ruined him.
why do you sit here in the coldg' asked
the stranger.
Leave mew cried Ambrose, bitterly. "Oh
1 would never see you more from this ,ti9e!'
but perhaps may help you," replied the
other. You are young enough to learn"
"Learn!' exclaimed Ambrose. "0h, great
heavens! and have 1 not learned this night
| what never-never"-
The young man burst into tears, and his
sobs were deep and painful.
| Come, come," said the stranger, "stand uE
and trust'me, and may yet help you"
There was something so kind in the voice
that Ambrose could not resist. and he arose tt
his feet
"Ambrose Dearborn" said the strange man
"Ihave this evening taken from you more than
four hundred pounds, and do not think YOU
can afford to lose it. Here we are, alone and
before God. Now promise me, upon your
honor as 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 have won from you te-night!''
Ambrose for moment stood like man
in dream. Then he caught his companion
"You do not trile?' he said IN a horse
whisper.
'Give me the promise, and see,'' replied the
stranger.
Ambrose claspcd his hands, and turning his
eyes toward heaven, he made an oath embrac.
ing just the proposition which had been made
to him; and when he had done, his eyes sank
to The earlh and he burst into tears. The
stranger took a roll from his pocket, and
handed it over.
"Here," said he, 'here is the full sum--every
penny-just as took it from you. And now
let us walk up into the town again. My way
is toward street."
$50 is mine," whispered Ambrose, as he
clutched the money.
"Ah-then Wen walk together" said the
stranger.
But tell me what this means?" said Am
brose, energeticaIy. "Who are YOU, sir?"
"Never mind now," replied the stranger
II shall see you again, and then will explain
But let us be on our way, for it is cold here. ,
On the way the stranger kept up such q
rattle of conversation that Ambrose not only
had no chance to mention the subject of the
evenings transaction, but bv the time he hal
reached his own door his feelings had gone
back into their wonted channel.
II would invite you in" said Ambrose
"but'-
"Never mind" said the stranger. "Just lei
me step into the passage, for want to light
my cigar"
Of course Ambrose could not object to this
and as he opened his door the stranger fol-
lowed him in. He walked through the pas
sage, 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
4 her brother had spoken to her before he went
out had inspired her with a. STRANGE hone