St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-09-24
smiled as he showed it-four


queensi
Ambrose uttered a.eep groan as
he unfolded his cards aud placed
them On the table.
by NY souL that's hard, my
friend. Better luck next time.
Come-I will deal for you this
time"
A new hand was dealt, and this
time Ambrose won q hundred dol
lars He began to revive. Next he
won two hundred more. He went
and got another glass of wine, and
then returned in better spirits, but
at the next hand he lost FIVE hun
dred. His spirits sank again. But
he was now resolved to play care
fully and win back what he had
lost, and then stop playing
There is no need of following the
game step by step. The Kan who
held the cards was not a professet
gambler. nor did he now gamble at
all for his own amusement. But be
had been among gamblers much,
and he could handle cards 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 staggered up from the
table pennilessl All, all, was
gone. His four Thousand dollars
the sum which had been steadily
growing beneath his efforts for the
last four years : was now swept
away.
The young merchant staggered
from tho hail-he tried to borrow
first; to borrow something TO COM
mence again to win back something,
5ut no one would lend. He made
his way to the street, and without
noting his course he staggered on.
By-and-by he came to narrow
alley, which led down to the water,
and turned down upon the wharf
and sat upon an old spar. He had
been there but a few moments when
he felt hand upon his shoulder.
He looked up, and by the moon
liz ht be could see the dark face of
the man who had ruined him.
"Why do you sit heIe in the
snow?" asked the stranger.
Leave mel cried Ambrose bit
terly. ooh, I would never see you
more from this time!"
"But perhaps may help you"
replied the other. You are young
enough % learn"
Learn! Oh, great heavens!
have ! not learned this night what
never-never-"
The young man burst into tears.
and his sobs were deep and pain
ful.
Come, eome," said the stranger,
"stand up and trust me, and l may
vet help you.
There was something so kind in
the voice that Ambrose could not
resist, and he rose to his feet
Ambrose Dearborn" spoke the
strange man, Il have this evening
taken from you over foyty-two hun
dred dollars, ard | dos not think
YOU can afford to lose it. Here We
are before God. Now promise me,
uron your honor as man, that you
will neyar stake any amount at
hazard again that never again
viii you play at any game ofchance
for the value of anythina-and l
will restore to you every penhy l
have won tonight"
The young man stood for mo-
ment like a man in dream. Then
he caught his companion by the
arm.
"You do not trife?" he said, in a
hoarse whisper.
"Give me the promise aud see.
Ambrose clasped his hands, aud
turning his eyes towards heaven, he
made an oath embracing just tie
proposition which had been made
to him; and when he had done this
his eyes sunk to the snow-covered
eartE, and he burst irto tears.
The stranger took roll from his
pocket and handed it over.
"Here." said be, lis the full sum.
every penny, just as 1 took it from
you. And now let us walk up into
the city again. My way is toward
Adams street"
$50 is mine,' whispered Am
brose, as be clutched the money.
"Ah-then we'll walk together"
"But tell me what this means, .
the young man uttered, energetic
allv "Who are Won. sir?'