The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-03-27
A GAMESTER'S UMBERALLA

(Copyr1ght, 1902, by w. r. Hearst.j
My first recollection is of being handed
out for inspection to a beautiful girl by a
well-dressed clerk. / don't know what the
young lady paid for me, but I was taken
back to another room and the words,
"Dick from Nellie; Xmas, 49," were en-
graved on a silver plate on my handle
When the covering was again taken off
me l was in a s%plendily furnished parlor,
and in the hands Of a fine looking young
man.. while the young woman who had
bought me stood by.
Just what I wanted, you little darling"
said the young man. II will never forget
this present and leave it for some one else
to carry off,"
Then he took off my case and started to
open me up. Don't do that Dick" cried
the girl; don't you know it's bad luck to
open an umbrella In the house?'
Dick only laughed as he opened me up
and then held me over the girl as he drew
her to him and kissed her.
you superstitious little darling" he
said, las If anything could bring bad luck
to us. Why, we are going to be married
week after next, and 1 hope that just as
this umbrella will keep off the rain that
l will ever stand between you and all
trouble
II know you will, DEAR" said the girl.
DlCh LUX HE nome with MIN, Ana one
night there was a big wedding at Nellie's
house, and then we all rode to the depot,
away on a train, and all of Nellie's young
friends threw rice after US.
We finally came back to the pretty home
that Nellie's father had fitted up for the
young couple.
Bad luck seemed to have no place in
that house.
But reverses came nevertheless. Mel
lies father became heavily involved. Then
the firm with which Dick was connected
failed. We all moved, first into a smaller
house and then into a poor, mean little
flat. And all the pretty things were sold
to buy medicines, for a course of sick
ness came, as it always does, and Dick
was out Of work. Then came a little baby
girl.
And now I came to learn little by lit
tle-one does not gain wisdom in the ways
Of the world all at once-that Dick had
taken to gambling.
One night he sat on the side of the bed
and talked with Nellie a long time: The
rent was due and other bills coming in,
and finally 1 saw that Nellie was crying,
but by and by she drew a ring from her
finger. "It's for baby's sake, Dick" she
said, and then lay back on the pillow.
sobbing as If her very heart would break.
"And now you won't stay any longer
than you can help, Dick she said when
AN AAAN 6SSSSAA 1AS uAS jim 1 I V q
been wanting to tell you something, dear.
Do you know just how sick I really am?
The doctor told me today that these weak
spells I have may be fatal most any time.
He told me not to worry or get excited.
But when 1 am alone here I can't help
worrying"
1t looked stormy outside, and Dick took
me from the corner and started out. He
went down street till he came to what
seemed to be a big jewelry store. At tho
rear of the store a man sat behind a kind
Of screen.
"How much can I get on this 2" said
Dick, drawing Nellie's ring from his fin
ger. The man looked at the ring care
fully, and finally said, Fifty dollars"
Dick took the money, put it in his pocket,
and left the store.
\ Just then he was slapped on the shoul-
der by a flashily dressed young fellow,
who said, Hello, Dick, been making a
raise and going to break us all tonight?
It's just up to you to do 1T, l reckon"
mo, Lawson, I'm not going up tonight
said Dick. need the money at home
too badly to risk losing it,"
You can use twice as much as you got,
can't your said lawson. Come on, be
game; you've not lost very much lately"
He coaxed till Dick consented to play
was running
They went down the street till they
came to a big saloon, and up to a hand
somely furnished room, where others
were playing cards. Two men Joined
Dick and Lawson, and the four sat down
and began to play. Each of them hand
ed Lawson S., and he gave them celluloid
chips in return. I don't know anything
about the game, but in a little while all
Dicks chips were gone, and he bought
another S. worth. Finally Dicks last $40
bill was on the t~able-then came what
they call a Jack pot" and his last chip
went Into it-and Lawson won.
I'm lone, boys said Dick, as he arose
from the table, and as he picked me up !
could feel his fingers grip on my frame
as though they would crush in even my
steel ribs.
Its raining hard said one of the 9th
er men who had walked to the window
and looked out.
Raining" said Lawson, AND Nv no
umbrella Say. Dick, I'll give you another
show, I'll put up IS against that UNI
brella OF yours"
Poor Nellie's present" murmured Dick
as he looked at me. For q moment he
hesitated. "Ill do it, he said at last.
Lawson handed him out S. worth Of
chips, and Dick laid me on the table.
The other two men did not join in the
game this time.
Now, 1t seemed as If every shuttle Of
the cards conspired in favor Of Dick, and
his pile of chips became larger and larger,
till this time Dick was the winner, and
the tack pot" took Lawson's last chip.
Curse YOU umbrella" he said, with an
oath, as Dick took the last chip on the
table. well, cash in %here-let's see.
Three hundred dollars. I'd keep that UNI
brella for a mascot If I were you" Law
son passed over the money he had lost in
a large roll, and Dick put it in his pocket
and left the room. Out in the hallway he
raised me to his lips and kissed me again
and again. you have saved my life, lit
tie umbrella" he said, ''and, as God is
my judge, I'll never touch another card
as long as I live"
The clock was striking 3 as he entered
the cheap little flat. All was dark. .Nellf
must be asleep, I guess he whispered to
himself. He lit the lamp and stepped over
to the bed. Listen, Nell,"' he said,
heres $500, and I'm going to get your
ring back tomorrow and let you keep the
rest, You'll forgive me for playing to-
night and staying as long as I did?'' He
stopped and kissed his wife's forehead
and then burst from his lips such a cry as
only is heard from a lost soul on the Dor
der of eternity, as he fell f~ainting to the