The Newtown bee., 1879-03-25
THE CARD-TABLE.

A STORY THAT TELLS ITS OWN MORAL. Lydia Dearborn sat alone in her little 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 cheerful fire burned in the grate, for it was winter, and the lamp upon the center-table was lighted, for it was even- ing. She sat thus, trying to read. when the door was opened and stranger en- tered. She started up with fear at thus seeing a strange man enter her apart ment unbidden.
 "Lydia," said the stranger, "don't you know me ?"
 The young woman started at the sound of the voice, and the blood rushed to her brow and temples. She took a step forward and gazed more sharply into the intruder's face.
 "James ?" she murmured, interroga- lively.
 "Yes, my sister, he replied. "Didn't you know me?"
 Instead of answering in words, Lydia rushed forward, sank upon her brothers bosom, and wept for joy.
 "And you didn't know me ?" said her brother, with smile, after he had taken a seat.
 "Why, no, James," she replied. | ( Ior fully. But then that beard all over your face makes good deal of difference"
 "All the difference in the world, sis- ter," said James. "Two years ago, while my ship lay at Canton, I had my beard all shaved off, and when I came aboard some of my own men did not know me at first"
 "Then I wish you'd shave it off now, said his sister, "for you look more like bear than you do like James Bar rows."
 The brother laughed, and then the conversation ran for awhile upon various topics suggested by the return of tho loved one. James Barrows was now thirty-two years of age, and had beer absent for five years, during which time he had command of fine ship.
 "By the way," said the brother, a the end of half an hour, "I stopped il - street on my way here, and say Kate Waldron. She told me she hear' you say you wished your husband hat never known me. Did you ever sa, such thing as thatp"
 Lydia's eyes filled with tears in a mo ment, and deep sob broke from he lips. Her brother was startled. H. moved to her side, and pat his arn about her neck.
 "What is it, my sister2" he asked anxiously.
 "Alas, James, will tell you," sh replied. "But first let me assure yo that did not mean exactly what sai to Kate. You remember about fiv years ago, when you used to tell m such stories about the gambling scenes that Ambrose asked you to teach him play 'picquet, as you called it. Yo taught him the game, and for one or tw evenings you went with him to som , social card parties"
 "Yes, yes-I remember all that, said James.
 "Well, continued Lydia, the spir of gaming is now fastening itself upo him. can see it plainly, though | tries to laugh away my fears. know is so, for I have been told by one wh is my friend, and who told me, out ' pure friendship for Ambrose. But |, have not yet dared to let him know ho sure my information is, for he would l : angry did he know that any one ha told this to me. Oh, I know his in petuous nature, and fear. he will l lost ere he is aware of it. Evil con g a panions are leading him astray, and y @ he thinks them friends"
 "And do you think he is gone to u = card table tonight ?" inquired h brother.
 'I am afraid so," she replied. 'sAl , if he does-ohi dare not think of :. He has good deal of money with hil Before you came I was weeping over T fears. I have never let him know ht |. much knew concerning his course, I I feared 'twould only make him mo
 excited. Alasl know not what to
 I do not think he has yet lost much. m know he will never leave the fascinI i, ing habit until he is ruined, unlt N something can be done to move him. "
 "'Tis true enough, Lydia, :" return pr the captain, sI did teach Ambrose
 play-though God knows I never mes
 to teach him to gamble-and will cr