El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-20
LAURA'SFREEDOM

Curiosity one evening prompted me to
enter a famous gambling palace of the
German town at which 1 was stopping.
The scene cannot be easily imagined or
described.
Seated at table by themselves, the
center of a group of intent spectators,
were two men. \ pile of gold lay be-
tween them, and the cards had just been
dealt. One had his back toward me, but.
without seeing his face, it was easy to
divine the agitation which caused his
hand to tremble as he laid it upon the
cards, which he seemed almost afraid to
take up.
The features of his antagonist were
composed and might have been called
handsome but for sinister expression
which marred their effect.
The nervous player played and lost.
and, dashing his cards in his opponents
face, as though implying he had been
cheated, a scene ensued.
a crowd gathered about, conceainG
from my view what followed. and in the
confusion which ensued l left the place.
Next morning the circumstance had
passed from my mind. and 1 was taking
my accustomed early walk over an I'M
freQuented path in the neiShborhood
when the sound of a couple of shots in
quick succession broke the stiffness, and
almost Immediately two men emerged
from clump of trees near by, in one of
whom I recognized the successful gam
bier of the evening before. The pair
walked rapidly away. and, turning in the
direction whence l had heard the shots,
l caught a glimpse through the trees of
some one kneelinG over an object lying
before him.
I had not till now caught sight of the
wounded mans face, on which the pallor
of death was fast settling.
Great heaven"' 1 exclaimed, starting
back in horror.
It was my old friend, Paul Preston,
who lay dead or dying before me. We
had been separated for some years, but
we had long been friends and had loved
each other like brothers.
In vain l spoke his name and endeavor-
ed to rouse his attention. No human
skill could recall the vital spark. 1t had
fed forever.
1t was more than a year after my
friends death that l first met his sister
Laura. Her sweet, gentle face won me
from the first. She had often heard her
brother speak of me and knew what
friends we had been. This was the be-
ginning tie between US, which, uncon-
sciously to both, grew closer by degrees,
till ut length l ventured to declare my
feelings.
l had reason to think her not altogether
unprepared for this avowal and had not
expected it to give her any pain. But
judge of my surprise to see her burst into
tears. For time sobs choked her ut
terance.
'Alas, you know not what you ask"
she said. Il am not at my own disposal"
Then she went on to tell that, by her
fathers will, of which Mr.. Bradden, her
guardian, was executor, she was not to
marry without the latter's consent I'M
der pain of FORGETTING all share in her ia
Tiers estate; that it had been a cherish
ed scheme of her father and his friend
that she should one day become the wife
of George Bradden, her guardians son,
to whom she had allowed herself to be
engaged. accordingly, out of Difference to
her deceased fathers wishes, and Mr..
Bradden was disposed to hold her firmly
to her promise. Young Bradden had re-
turned from abroad within the last few
days, and his father was already press
ing for speedy contamination of the
match.
But do you love this MANI" asked.