The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18

in the United States. he had brourha
her to house he owned In this beau.
tiful Southern city. which to her seemed
like some dream out OF Paradise. with
its lovely parks. its ever-blooming
roses, and it's soft autumn sunshine
She never tired Of the roses and al.
ways carried them with her. or had her
rooms full OF them.
The old house In Harlem was kept
warm now the year round: plenty Of
food In the larder and plenty Of Goals
In the crate; another servant. stronger
tea. and more butter on the toast: be.
sides new furniture. and q fresh pack
Of cards month II they chose to have
them-these were among the increased
comforts.
There was wonderful cribbage board
Of real ebony inlaid with real ivory Just
arrived there as a Christmas present
from the fairy city down by the gulf.
where Dewey had pitched her perman>
ent tent.
Her husband. Irving Valverdie. is not
unusual In any way-good-looking and
manly-but called a crank" by his
friends in the matter Of his one super
stition. He had observed that on the
eve Of any great event In his life which
augured well for him. he always found
in his path the ace of diamond card.
When Il boy of seventeen he had gone
to the Colorado mines, where he had
staked out his claim and worked in
defatigably for months, and nothing
came of 1t. One day 1t became a ques-
tion in his mind: "Shall l give it all
up. or shall try little longer?"
To determine his action one way on
the other, he took a pack of cards in
his hand and said: II will cut-a
black card l goa red card I stay"
He cut the ace of diamonds and stayed.
Within twenty-four hours he had
struck the finest lead" in the section,
and his fortune was made. ~
That was the beginning Of his super
stition, and the thing had now ceased
to be a matter Of speculation with him..
1t was a fact. When he saw the card
in Dewey's hand, he was just as sure
that she was to be his wife, and the
right wife for him to secure, as he was
when he stood at the altar with her.
His wealth, which to Colorado peo-
pie seemed moderate. to his wife
seemed boundless affiuence. Never to
think. before she bought any article of
her desire; never to walk in mud and
rain. but to have a pair of sleek horses
at her disposal; no rattling omnibus
nor even the finer luxury of a hanson
cab, but her own carriage, soft-cush-
iOned, easy rolling, servants to do her
bidding. and an adoring husband to
anticipate her most careless wish.
Her big amiable husband found tears
In her eyes as he came in from the
garden with a. bunch of violets he had
gathered with his own hands for her.
rs wife hOmesick for New York on
this lovtly morning." he asked teas.
ingly.
"Homesick?" and she smiled through
her tears. Il was thinking this" she
said, smiling in her precise little way.
which had not ceased tn please him
in these two years Of familiar COM
panionship.
II was thinking of two December
day. Could there be greater contrast
between this and the day ] first met
you? think the ace Of diamonds must
be my fate card, too. for you know |
held it when you found me fainting In
the street; and don't you remember
the day we were walking on Keens
street, and l turned q card over with
my foot and found it was your card?
WE'LL that was just little while before
l got the letter from my old guardian.
telling that my little fortune had un-
eXpectedly come back to me-"
well, and has my darling decided
what to do with it yet? You know you
are to spend it all in charity"
II have just been thinking of that"
she said. and some of 1t shall go to
the Young Women's Christian associa-
tion. believe that to be the greatest
beneficial organization for young wo'
men in the world"
That afternoon they drove to tho
rooms to witness the charity dinner,
daily given to the hungry Of the great
city.
1t was a novel scene to Dewey, and
one which she never forgot.
Long tables We're spread with q SUBJ
stantial feast. and a bevy Of young
ladies' were silently serving the food
out alike to the professional tramp, the
seen-better-d days man. the gentael vag-
abOnd, and the disappointed immi.
grant
MY God, Dewey!'
Could she be awake? Did some ghost
from the past speak to her? That cold,
cramped past which seemed like grim
dream?
For it was the voice of George Neal.
and there he sat, shabbily attired, with
plate before him full of Charity's
Christmas Cheer!
He had not married Emily Laurence
after all, but had, in his turn, been
Tilted with one for more money. There
was III llttlt uiLlculty, too' sioouh oOah~
money which had disappeared from
the bank. There was no actual proof
against him, but he was known to have
debts, and, WE'LL they intimated to him
that his services We're mo longer re-
quired." So he had gone to Australia,
and drifted thence to New Orleans,
knowing nothing of Dewey's history
during those. to him, barren years. lie
often deplored his actions towards her.
and imagined her still in, her shabDy
frOck, making toast on foggy mornings
or shivering i'm her seat In the choir.
Dewey was silent all the way home.
and as the carriage drew up beneath
the stone-pillared portico Of her hand
some home, she said:
II have a. plan by which I can dis
pose of some of my little fortune. II 1t
meets your approval. | was thinking
we might give some OF 1t to George
Neal to start him anew IN the world.
Let him have one more chance. The
question is whether 1t would be q real
charity" =.
Suppose you cut the cards." said
her husband ''That's the way settle
all perplexing questions. Here is n
deck. Red. yes; black, no use doing
anything for him."
with a hand that trembled a little.
for she so much wanted it to be yes.
Dewey lifted a few cards and exposed
the cut:
1t was the ace of diamonds! E.
,,>v,CunN1 IN up1NTs