The Newtown bee., 1879-03-25

2 He had been there but few moments when he felt hand upon his shoulder. He looked up, and by the moonlight he could see the dark face of the man who had ruined him.
 "Why do you sit here in the cold 2' asked the stranger.
 "Leave me p cried Ambrose. bitter 1y. "Oh, would never see you more from this timei"
 "But perhaps I may help you" re- piled the other. "You are young enough to 1earn."
 "Learn l" exclaimed Ambrose. "Oh. great heavens and have l not learned this night what never-never "-
 The young man burst into tears, and
 is sobs were deep and painful.
 "Come, come," said the stranger "stand up and trust me, and may yet help you.'
 There was something so kind in the voice that Ambrose could not resist, and he arose to his feet.
 Ambrose D Dearborn, "said the strange man, "I have 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 re- store to you every penny I have won from you to night" 1"
 Ambrose for a moment stood like man in dream. Then he caught his companion by the arm. "You do not trife?" he said in horse whisper.
 "Give me the promise, and see," re- piled the stranger.
 Ambrose clasped his hands, and turn ing his eyes toward heaven, he made an oath embracing just the proposition which had been made to him 1; and when he had done, his eyes sank to the earth, and he burst into tears. The stranger took roll from his pocket, and handed it over.
 "Here," said he, "here is the full sum-every penny-iust as I took it from you. And now let us walk up into the town again. My way is toward - street."
 "So is mine," whispered Ambrose, as he clutched the money.
 "Ah-then we'll walk together said
 the stranger.
 "But tell me what this means ?" said
 Ambrose, energetically. "Who are you,
 sir 2"
 "Never mind now," replied the
 stranger. "I shall see you again, and
 then I will explain. But let us be on
 our way, for it is cold here." On the way the stranger kept up such
 rattle of conversation that Ambrose
 not only had no chance to mention the
 subject of the evenings transaction, but
 by the time he had reached his own door his feelings had gone back into their wonted channel. 1T would invite you in" said Am.
 brose, "but"- "Never mind" said the stranger. 'qJust let me step into the passage, for I want to light my cigar" Of course Ambrose could not object to this, and as he opened his door the
 stranger followed him in. He walked thro ugh the passage, and as he opened
 the door of the sitting-room his com
 panion was at his back. Lydia sat at her table, and her face was pale; but she had not been crying l for the words her brother had spoken te
 her before he went out had inspired hel l with strange hope. She arose to hel ] feet, and while her husband was wishing . that his companion had remained in thu passage, he was not little startled tt x hear the said individual speak somewha q jocularly as follows: r "Well. sister, you see I've brough l him; and we are both of us all right, @ can assure you"
 !. For a moment Ambrose was wonder e struck. but the truth quickly flashed ,. upon him.
 "Jim-Jim Barrows l" he gasped. r. "Captain Barrows, at your service 0 sir" he replied. "Ha, ha, ha l-yol : didn't know me. He's just found m @ out, Lydia.
 Ambrose tried to laugh, but he coul, 6 not. He struggled moment with tn e feelings that rushed up in his bosom
 and then sinking down into chair, h y burst into tears. His wife uttered r quick cry, and started forward. r "Don't be afraid, gasped Ambrose
 I'm safe-safe. But can't help this @ Tell her, Jim-tell her all. Tell he > all now, for she has a right to know" y The stout captain drew his sister upo 'r his knee, and then related to her a n that had happened since he left her. d 'sAh, Ambrose" he concluded, eth k moment saw you take the last ten so' Q ereigns from your pocket, I knew gan le ing would soon ruin you, and when
 saw you draw forth the package of note le l only knew that I should take thel Id every one from you, and that any exper r, enced card player could have done u is same. Having taught you your fir ,n lesson in picquet, resolved on giviI Id you the second lesson. hope it ms re work we'll"
 a- And it did work we'll. Captain Ba h. rows remained with his sister montl c. and then he went away. At the end 7. a year he came again, and this time SC found Lydia as happy as princess. ,h h A Literary Curiosity. he The following is specimen Of tl