Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-06-24

though she had never encouraged his
advances, but had rather treated him
with certain cousinly kindness and
familiarity. which, while it pleased
him, prevented him from making open
love to her. He was determined how
ever, during this visit to his home in
tn country, to propose in real earn
eft, even at the risk of being disposed
o.
Accordingly approaching Mrs. Big
son he desired her to prepare sub
stantial supper for party of four in
the private room. Then ordering
Bottle of wine he and Loudoun, with
Neale and Gardiner, sat down at ia
BILE to sip their wine and talk over the
Il ventures of the day.
They had scarcely been seated,
wnen one of the dusky walters ap-
-pSed with pack oil cards and a
slate with pencil attached.
"Wha are these things fer in
luIred Ncale, assuming and intense
look of innocent ignorance.
-"Why, Massa Neale, dem is cards,
sab, genuine cards. De Lor' bless
me, how inherent We is. Ha, ha, ha !
Don't know Il pack of cards from a
prayer book !" exclaimed old Pete.
go long, You woolly headed son Of
an African progenitor." laughed Le:-
ter; what do We pious chris,lans
kgow about cards: We are members
Of the church and you oughtn't to
tempt us with those pictures from Sa
tan"
IF ye'se am members of dc church
Sc be purify fast ones, reckon Massa
Charlie, from de way We rides horse
races and breaks heads" cried old
Pete, ducking his head and running
of. as Lester struck him on the base
of the body with a wine glass.
At this moment IA tall ge!tesl look
lug man, fauitlessly attired, with large
black whiskers. who had been stand.
ing near by, an amused spectator of
this little by-play, approached the Ia
BILE and sugguested that they make up
\ game of "euchre." TO while away the
time before supper.
Elsewhere than III q crowded bar
room, Lester and his friends would
have rega ded this request rs an in-
trusion upon their privacy and an in
friagement Of the rnles of social Ell.
1uette, but here where democracy
rlgned supreme, aud everybody vas
supposed to have the implied privilege
Of speaking to every body else, the re-
quest was listened TO politely.
Lester, who Was in for fun. aud
Gardiner who Was always accommo-
dating, responded Immediately that
they bad no objection, l,oudoun aud
Neale shook their heads and declined
TO play.
eli you need "a hand to make up the
gstss will join you" said bystander,
Stlo efutif this moment se,.u,s,. deeply
absorbed in watching a game of ''old
sledge." u, an adjoining table.
All right" langhiugly cried les
ter. "Shall Ne cut for dea. or play Us
We sit:
'Jsst AS you please, " replied the first
stranger.
We'll, then let US play as We are"
remarked Gardiner, wAo was sitting
opposite Lester.
"What shall We play for::" said
stranger No. 2.
Nv hat say yon 10 a dollar head.
or two dollars corner" observed the
~hiskerel gentleman in bland tone
All right. agreed" said Gardiner,
who was shuitl'ug the cards.
The monrg AS deposited and the
game began.
Lester. yau viii excuse me for a
few moncn,+ snail take u stroll to
stretch ms limbs. said Loudoun. and
taking Nealr's ar,n. he sauntered forth
in the open AIR.
Let us 20 out here. Mr.. Nea!e,
away from the house. Walls have
ears aud desire to say itw words
To you privately. There is mischief
atloat and scent it IN the air. That
bar-room is filled with those Balti,
more rowdies and black legs. know
those TWO men we'll, who are PLAYING
with our friends, in spite of their dis,
guise. They are both professional
gamblers aud notorious sharpers.
fhey intend to win all Testers money
and that Of your friend. either BY fair
means or by foul. Now propose.
that yon and | return to that table
and keep sharp lookout. Ion watch
every movement OF the second stran-
ger and shall take care of the first.
In the meantime, if you have ary
friends in that bar room, 90 and tell
them to lookout for squalls and be
careful Of their money.
shall have word or two with
Mrs. Bigson, to prepare her for any
emergency. Meet HE at the bar and
We will take drink together. This
is the first day of our intercourse Mr..
Neale, but | know you are a gentle.
man, and | am glad to have made
your acquaintance.
"Rest assured Mr.. Loudoun that
appreciate your confidence, and fully
reciprocate your kind feelings Of es
TEEN. Those rascals in there will be
obliged to get up early, when they at
tempt to play their sharp tricks upon
the young men of Charles county.
We are not SO green as they imagine;
and with You to assist us, You who
have Travelled and seen the world in
its various phases, We will, am sure,
clrcumvent them again, as we did
once before to-day
AS the young men were about en-
tering the house, they were accosted
by the Colonels boy jim, who an
nounced that the carriage was ready.
Loudoun ordered the bar-he"per to
give Jim glass of whiskey, then
turning to jim, he told him to take
the carriage and horses round to the
stable, and not to leave them for one
moment-to keep his eyes and ears