The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-01-05
A GAME OF CARDS.
Disastrous Results Of an Tncon"
trouable Fascination.

rlsnta+iou house. A. room all alight with
brilliant chandeliers and lamps, which cast
their radiance over the luxurious furniture,
und brought out every fold in the. heavy
crimson curtains, every 1snt IN the DARK,
ltch carpet which covered the 1loor. A
blazing wood fire was in The large, Old
fashioned fireplace, and whenever 1t
showed signs Of dying out, a colored mfn,
who was seated on q stool IN The corner OF
the hearth, would repleaish it With tresh
logs A table stood III tire centsr OF the
room, and around 1t were seated four gen
t7arleu absorbed in Il game Of cards. On
side-table were silver trays, contain ug
cut glass decanters full Of liquor. goblets,
c.oM game, q venison pasty, olives, an.
chovies, and all the luxurious accessories OF
choice supper,
TIE servant at the fire yawned sleepily,
and glanced ut the clock, witch was or the
stroke Of two.
"Reckou mawster's gwine keep it up till
byoad day. he thought, dlscontentedly,
t'and Use dat sleepyI has ter pinch myself
to keep my eyes open. Wen dat Cunnet
Lowry comes to Ft,'rwood, it's cards! cards!
cards cards! from night till nlornin', anu
from ulornin: till night as we'll De Cunnel
amt cot No family ter lseer what ne does:
but my poor mistiss, she's jest a-cryin' her
3,urty eyes QUA, Gaze Mass Falknef. he's
Jest sot on lu,uin bisself''
Upon my word, Fa]kner," said one Of Tue
gentlemen, helping himself from cue o. tGe
decantars, til you and haven't had the
worst l,uls this EVENING" Staniaope ana
Lowry have beaten Us almost every game ~
"lt,s nothing new to nae to have bad lack
sat- cards, Atkins" MIR. Enikner said, with a
forced laugh.
He Wa; 8 man about thirty years Ola,
with handsome, ;vell-cut features and q
enc. intellectual head; man whose laugh.
ting, genial eyes usually looked with cordial
kindness upon every one, but to-u1gnt they
wore strained, excited, wandering look
", suppose ought never to touch card,
as lax as luck goes; but the tlde. is sure to-
iy,rn some day. Besides, my fortune was
once told by an Old gypsy, aud she saao q
game OF cards would save me from ruin
CO., with laugh, 'sas I'm not "a thousand
miles from the last game, I'VE right to
EXPECT a. fulf1llment Of she prophesy. Eth.
LoWry2''
Colonel lowry was the Oldest man ct the
yarSy--a man With grizzled hair and beard
cold, self-possessed, with an inscrutable
saca which never reflected his thoughts and
feelings, if he really mad feelings, which
these who knew him best doubted He
WAS OF u good family, the owner of fine
estate, and if he was fond Of cards, why
Vtut was q weakness common to all his
neighbors at that time. Though he played
aa excellent game, no one ever suspected
him ct an unfair one, He simply seemed to
have mastered tho cards, as lie mastered
every other chance in life, by the force %
sn indomitable will.
81 do not think our friend Falkner should
complain" he said, IL his cold, even voice.
Hiss been such a lucky man In things
more important than cards that, like the
ancients, he must make some sacrifice 10
destiny. He has the finest estate, the
best wife and the most beautiful children in
the country. He Is unlucky at cards. Well, I,
who am lucky, am lonely old bachelor, with
my Life more than half lived, and finding
my only amusement in q friendly game.
Now, gentlemen, appeal to YOU Which OF
us is She lucky one9n
s.Oh, Falkner! Falknerl" they cried, in
chorus "Come, g health to the lucky loser
aud the unlucky winner!" :
Tho toast was drank noisily, and was fol-
lowed by several others, and then two OF
the party took their leave, leaving, as usual,
Colonel Lowry and their host to finish the
night.
Poor Jerry, punching up the fire, groaned
In his Utmost SOUL
stDat ole Satap's gwine ter clean out
mawster fore he goes awayl' he thought.
"Wot fools white folks is, tobeshol don't
like dem little slips of paper mawster keeps
writin' and handin' to de Cunnel. Oh, I'se
30 sleepyv' and he dozed sitting upright CD
his stool, a habit he had acquired as fire.
tender during. the long watches OF the
NIGHT. The clock was striking four when
Jerry reused himself, and rubbed his eyes.
The attitude Of the two players was IN.
changed, but Jerry noticed that the sweat
was standing in big drops on Mr.. Falkr
.-.,ar,s brow, and his hand was tremulous