Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-30
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and paw any interest YOU please p'
The other, looking the young man full
in the face, answered. "But you would
only gam BILE away the money, were l to
lend it to you"
perhaps So" was the reply-"but,"
Quickly "look here. I'll promise to
gamble with it at your saloon, SO that, if
it all vanlshes, you, and you alone, will
profit by the loss"
The proprietor smiled gravely as he
returned: "Young sir, should be sorry
to see you go to the devil through the
medium Of my gambling table, though
you would be ar from the first who had
suffered that fate. Several striking re-
semblances occur to me now, one es-
pecially, which | should like to tell you
OF, if you have the leisure to listen"
Now, Evasio desired nothing less
than to be bored with any Of this fell
lows stories. But, as it would not do
to offend him while there was any
chance of obtaining loan from him, he
said with as good grace as he could as
sumo: "By all means tell me the tale.
| should like to hear it,
sit happened many years ago." the
other began. IA young man. of about
your own age, was playing recklessly at
one of the tables in the saloon Of which
l.
against him, and he lost heavily
Moreover, the morey with which he
was specializing was not his own to lose.
All that he himself possessed had al
ready vanished, and he had borrowed
from friends on the strength OF drafts
and acknowledgements payable next
day, though he had no money lying to
his credit, and his only hope of meeting
these drafts rested in his chance OF win
ming. Luck was dead against him. He
lost all; and at length could borrow no
more. Nothing law before him but ruin
and intolerable disgrace. He left the
saloon pale and desperate, determined
to square accounts with the world in the
only remaining Way-namely, by taking
his own life."
"Well," observed Evasio, as the mar
rator paused q moment, "he blew out
his brains, suppose; and there was an
end of him ?"
"Hear me to the end" was the grave
reply. ga lady, young and beautiful,
had entered the saloon with her hus-
ban0, from curiosity, to see what such u
place was like. Her attention CHANGED
to be directed towards the young man
whom | have mentioned, and she
watched with pity his heavy losses.
But when she saw him rise and leave
| the saloon, with the pale set look OF
desperation on his face, she could not
bear to be silent, and, turning to her
husband, she said, Il am sure that the
dreadful to himself! Let us follow him,
and ask if we can help him !
Her husband resisted the notion as
| foolish; but she pleaded so charmingly
that he gave way, and they followed
| the ruined gambler into the'street. The
latter happened to have stopped and to
| be leaning against the wall, Just where
| the light of the street lamp fell full on
his face, and revealed its.expression in
all its CHASTITY agony.
"The beautiful lady's heart was more
smitten with com passion than ever.
"'Go and speak to him = she en-
| treated her husband. Ask him what
we can do for him! See the despair
| written on his face Oh, poor mani
| "And her husband went-for he was
| newly married, and his lovely wife
could do what she pleased with him
| shoulder and addressed him."
| Again the proprietor paused, and
turned his eye on his listeners face.
Evasio was interested in spite OF him
self, by the graphic manner in which
| the narrator told the tale, and he re-
quested him to proceed.
| "rhe result OF the conversation was, =
the proprietor continued, ''that the
ruined gambler accompanied the lady
| and gentleman back to their hotel, and
| there he told the exact circumstances
OF his losses, and of the disgrace and
ruin which awaited him next morning.
| The gentleman was In some hesita-
ton what to do; but his wife bent over
him from behind, as he sat considering.
and entreating him softly, You will
lend the poor man the money he needs,
will you not?'
"'My DEAR he protested, 'it is 5000
| forms
"'But you are RICH she pleaded. and
| will not miss the money. Oh, do lend
| it to him y
$50, to cut my story short, the beauti-
| full lady's pleading prevailed. And the
poor ruined devil left the hotel that
night with draft of 10000 ilorins in his
| pocket-a saved manp'
THAT is an unexpected end to the
story, exclaimed Evaslo. 81 did not
think that the gambler was going to
cheat the devil after all. Besides, l
don't see how it affects my present case,
to rise up and help me. Unless" with
an eager glance at the proprietor's lace,
'you will take pity on me and lend me
| some money!"
The other shook his head. 81 can
lend you nothing ~ he answered.
| every well-don't" retorted Evasio,
| angrily. (There was a frmness in the
mans tone which showed his decision
irrevocable, and thus rendered further
civillty useless.) "But I should have
thought that, after just speaking sc
warmly of your beautiful lady's kind
ness, and in consideration, too, of the
sum that have already lost at your ia
bles--''
"Stay ~ interposed the other, quick
ly. "You speak Of your losses. Ac-
cording to the account you gave me last
night, they amount to 10000 forms. Is
that correct estimate ?'
81 wish to God 1t was not" groaned
Evasio, bitterly, land that l had never
entered your cursed saloon"
The proprietor made no verbal reply,
but he took small bundle OF papers
from his breast-pocket and laid it on
the table in front of Evasio.
"What are these?" cried the young
| man in surprise.