Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-02-20
HOW HE WON HER.

We were gathered around blaz-
ing CRATE fire one winters night in
the cozy apartments Of a bachelor
friend ON Church street. Outside II
was bitter cold, and the clustering
wind was playing a doleful dirge on
the caves of the adjoining buildings.
Inside all was bright and cheerful.
We had all been boys together, and
had gathered in one of our occasional
reunions to smoke our pipes and talk
of old school days, of the gray haired
old schoolmaster who had long ago
been laid to rest in the old city ceme.
terry. We talked of the sweetbearts
of boyhood days--of those who had
married, and Of those who, like us,
had preferred to fight. .ife's battles
alone.
Now and then the name of some
old schoolmate. who, in the busy
cares of life, had almost been forgot
ten. would be mentioned. AS his
name was spoken it would recall,
perhaps, some prank he had played
on the stern faced but kindly old
schoolmaster. He was absent now,
but we could. in memory, still see
his happy, boyish face and mis-
chievous, laughing eyes and hear his
joyous laughter Where was the
light hearted boy we knew and loved
80 well9 None could tell. Perhaps
he was dead; or. maybe, he was a
wanderer on the face of the earth
this cold and cheerless night, far
away from home and friends.
We habitat is, with one excep-
ton long since passed that age when
we should be classed al young men
in the sti'ictest meaning OF the word
young; yet at the same time we
could hardly have been reckoned old.
The fact is, we were nothing more
nor less than bachelors old or
young, as you please, The excep-
ton that have mentioned not that
he was any older or younger than
the rest of us, for we were all near
the same age-but the reason de.
nominate him an exception is that he
was a married man. He had several
years before forsaken us and led tc
the altar a charming girl whose gift
of mind were as rare as her beauty
was perfect.
They have pleasant home out IN
the West end and two lovely chill
dren to make complete their happi
ness. said he had forsaken us. TC
certain extent he had, but not en-
tirely. for he would occasionally droI
in To have chat with his old com
panions. He is the happiest man
ever saw, and would never leave III
without delivering a lecture ON thu
satisfaction and contentment OF mar
ried life, and advising us to forsak'
the paths of single blessedness, MARI,
some girl and settle down. We knew
his advice was sound and good, bu
somehow we preferred to drift alonI
in the old, easy way. We had no
dreamed that there was romano
connected with our friends marriage
and we would doubtless have foreve
remained in ignorance had he no
chosen to tell the story himself, o.
tho night of which | write our MAJ
ried friend, who had been silen
listener, suddenly spoke up
Boys did ever tell you the stor,
of how won my wifef"
None of us had ever heard it.
IF you will have the patience :
hear me out, he continued, II vii
tell you of n little romance, the equa
of which one rarely meets with eve
in novels. To begin with, ! won m
wife by means of game of cards
Now, do not look surprised did no
literally win her at cards, l-bu
wait until you have heard the story
was about twenty-six years old a
the time my story begins and, as yo
are all aware, was passionately ton
of gaming at that time. II was i
the spring and the races were in ful
blast, which Of course brought grea
crowds Of sporting men 10 the city
| was invited to join a number Q
gentlemen In a game of draw poker
The boys all had plenty of money
and the game was a stiff one from tn
start
Lack favored me and began /
win from the moment took sen
at tho table, and continued 10 Wi
until quit the game, when ! foun'
myself nearly $500 richer than whel
| commenced.
TO my left sat a young man who
although intensely pale, was one o
the handsomest men | had ever seen
He was tail and fair, and rather slen
der, with short. light clustering hal
covering a splendidly shaped head
His eyes were large Of deep hlu