Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-27
MOAT-GRANGE.
By Mrs. HENRY WooD.
CHAPTER IH-CoNTINIrEn

could do nothing with Charles, so he
resolved to ''wash his hands of him.
lnls own expression to himself) bv Law
ing the facts before Mrs. Dalrymple
one must do as she best could in the
matter. Oscar Dalrymple was not
aware that he had come to town too late
lie might have been able to effect no
good had he arrived earlier, but now
sne power to do so was removed from
an. Charles Dalrymple was ruined
Not only were all his available funds
gone, but he had entered into liabilities
tnick and threefold, far beyond what
the rent-roll at the Grange would be
sufhclent to meet. He had told Oscar
ne did not play much the previous
night. Why did he notP Because he
mad nothing left to play with, and had
Sat gloomy, morose man, looking on
at the others. Introduced to the evil
1asclnations of play by Colonel Haugh-
ton, that man had drawn him on until
the unhappy mania took full hold upon
charles himself. To remain away from
the gamblingtable for one night would
nave been intolerable, for the feverish
olsease was raging within him. Poor
infatuated man!-poor infatuated men,
all OF them, who thus lose themselves
he was positively indulging vision of
success and hope; every time that he
approached the pernicious table, it was
rife within him, buoying him up and
urging him on-that luck might turn
IN his favor, that night, that very night
and he might win the Grange back, and
the value of another Grange to it, and
so regain Isabel! Thus it is with all;
save with those habitual gamblers who
are behind the scenes, such as Colonel
Haughton and his confederate Piggott
and the sooner the crash comes the
better-as it had now come for Charles
Dalrymple.
Every thing was gone, every availa-
bic thing; he had nothing left but the
watch he had about him and the ring
he wore. Yes he had. Farmer Lee
had been wishing to invest few hun
dred pounds in the funds, and had
prayed his young landlord to transact
the business for him, and save him
journey to London. Charles good
naturally acquiesced. Had any one
told him he could touch that money for
his own purposes, he would have
Knocked the offender down with indig-
nation. The vouchers for the money
to be transferred had come from the
farmer that very morning; there they
lay at his elbow, on the breakfast
table; and there sat Charles striving to
turn his covetous eyes from them, yet
unable, for they bore for him the dead
ly fascination of the basilisk. He had
rather they were in the midst of some
blazi ng fire. smouldering away, than
there to tempt him. Once it came
across his mind to hand them to Oscar,
and request him to take them that day
WI tp hut a Of
wanting an excuse.
And the day went on to evening, and
Oscar Dalrymple departed, and that
unfortunate moneys worth still re-
manned in Charles possession. Mr..
Piggott had called late in the after
noon. Whether that worthy gentle
man scented the fact, or heard of it
casually from Charles Dalrymple, who
was too open upon most subjects, it is
probable that he did become acquaint-
ed with it, for he did not leave him
afterward. He carried him out to dine,
and between ten and eleven Charles re-
turned home alone. heated with wine.
He went to his desk, took something
out of it-something! and relocked it
again. Then he saw that Reuben had
followed him in, and was standing
close by.
..Mr. Charles-do not go out again
tonight
Charles stared at him.
''Sir, l carried you in my arms when
you were a child; your father, the very
day he died, told me to give you a
word of warning, if l saw you going
wrong; let that be my excuse for
speaking to you as you may think l
have no right to do. Do not 60 out
again. sir; for this night, at any rate,
stay away from the set; they are moth
gott waiting for you outside the door.
Reuben, don't be a fool. How
dare you say my friends are black
legs?"
'sThey are so, sir. And you are los
inc YOUR money to them, and it won, t
be their fault if they don't get it all. y
Charles Dalrymple did not reply.
He moved to the door, but Reuben
moved more quickly than he, and
stood with his back against it.
..What farce is this?" uttered
Charles. Indignantly. Stand away
from the door, or l shall be tempted to
fling you from it. -
..Oh, sir, hear reason. Two-and-
twenty years ago, stood, in like man.
ner, PRAYING your Uncle Charles not to
90 out to his ruin. He had come to
London, sir, as fine and generous
Young man as you, but little older,
he was. in years; and the gamblers got
hold of him, and drew him into their
WAYS, and stuck to him, like leech.
till all he had was gone. A night
came when he was half mad; saw he
was; and I stood before him and
PRAYED him not to go out with them,
as am now praying you. 1t was OF
no use, and he went. If l tell You
what that night brought forth, sir, will
YOU regard it as warningP"
What did it bring forth?' de-
manded Charles, arrested to interest
Il will tell you, sir. if you will take
warning by it, and break with them,
this night, and never 60 amongst them
more. Will you promise Mr.
Charles?"
Out of the way, Reuben. You are
getting into your dotage. If you have
nothing to tell me, let me GO
Listen, them" cried Reuben, bend
ing his head forward, in his excite
ment. AT three O'Clock. that same
morning, Mr.. Dalrymple returned
He had been half mad, say, when he
went, he was wholly mad when he
came back; mad with despair and
dependency He came in, his head
down, and his steps tagging, and went
into his bedroom. l went to mine, and
was undressing, when he called me
back He had got his portmanteau
from, apainSt the wall omen and was