Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-05

Mr. NJ Il
lfN seTw NhtA tavern, there 10 finish
AS the night drinking.
singing, gambling and rioting the
whole night through and long after
daylight. Truly the town Of Lynn wit
messed more prohigacy and wickedness
during this summer than all it's long
and ancient history had witnessed or
could relate.
The assembly was held twice a week,
on Thursday and on Friday. It was on
Thursday night that a certain state
ment was made in a drunken conversa-
ton which might have awakened sus-
picion of some dark design had it been
recorded A small company OF the said
high fliers, among whom were Colonel
Lanyon and a young man named Tom
Rising, marched of to the tavern most
froquented by them after the closing Of
the rooms and called for punch, cards
and candles. Then they sat down TO
play, with the ungodly and profane
discourse which they affected They
played and drank, the young man
drinking fast and hard, the colonel,
cool.
Tom Rising's estates lay near Swat
ham. He was well known as the best
and most fearless rider in the whole
county. He WIS the keenest sports
man. He knew where to find fox,
hare badger, ferret, stoat or weasel.
He knew where to put up pheasant
at all manly sports. He was a wild, fear
less, reckless, deboshed young fellow,
whom everybody loved aud everybody
feared, always ready with a blow or an
oath, afraid Of nothing If he set his
heart upon anything. You shah see
that he set his heart upon one thing
and failed. Tom lost heavily aud drank
deep.
Il will play til I have stripped every
man among you TO the very bones" be
said. "Why do ! say this? Because,
gentlemen, after tomorrow night shall
be the richest man in the county
D'you hear? The richest man in the
county. You don't know how? Very
well. Do you think I'm going TO tell
you? Ho. no. When you hear the
news, you'll say twas only Tom--only
Tom Rising-had the courage to ven.
ture and to win"
"He means the hazard table," said
the colonel.
mo, not the hazard table" Tom
went on. "Oh, know the table and
the woman who keeps the bank and
pretends to weep when you lose. /
know about her. I've heard talk about
her. What is itf Don't remember.
Tell you aomorrow."
"He should stop talking" said the
colonel. I'VE must not listen to his
wanderings.n
Richest man in the county" he re-
peated. Colonel, l like your COM
pany. You lay down your money Ike
a man. In week colonel. I'll have
It all There shan't be a guinea left
among you all. Richest man in coun.
-guipeOs-fy. His head sank
down again. He was once more
speeches..
His friends locked from one TO the
other. What did Tom Rieing mean7
"GeutlemeD," said the colonel, "he
has been drinking for many days. lie
has some kind OF lit upon him.
After a sleep he will be better. Just
now he dreams of riches. ! have
XII men IN such condition to see
az .ls and think that they are hunt
e. rats and clawed by devils"
A.gin Tom lifted his head and bab-
blei confusedly.
"1ic richest mantle richest man
81 the whole county. After tomorrow
nisnt-not tonight-after tomorrow
night. | have found out a short way
TO fortune. The richest man in the
county"
SO they left him sleeping in hi,
chair, with his head On the table
among the glasses and the split punch.
The next was the night Of the as
scmhliug, and Molly was present.
tftrr dancing with his loI,l ship, who
then offered his hand to lady of the
county she stood up with Tom Rising
who was 10y this time as sober as coull
he expected after such Il night, He, "
the hearing of everybody, loaded hen
with compliments Of the common kind
such MS would suit a nilkmaid huI
We're not proper for modest woman
to hear. 10 these, however. Molly r.
turned no reply ana danced as if sl,
heard them not. Sho then rcioined
Lady Anastasia and with her retired 10
the cardroom, WHITTIER many Of the
f,1