The Western news., 1904-09-28
when he saw that his wife had guessed

when he saw that his wife had guessed
the truth. "All, all has gone for lot
terry tickets. The demon tempter lured
me; he held up glittering gold IN his
hand. but he gave me none OF 1t. on,
do not chide me! You know not what
l have suffered-what hours of agony
have passed-and you know how
cold is my heart now. Oh, my wife,
would to God had listened to you"
"Ah!" calmly whispered the faithful
wife, as she drew her hand across her
husbands heated brow. Mourn not
for what Is lost. l will not chide you.
1t is hard thus for you to lose your
scanty earnings, but there might be
many calamities worse than that. Cour-
age, James; we will soon forget It,"
"And Mr.. Rowse will foreclose the
mortgage. YOU will be homeless"
murmured young Lanning in broken
accents.
"No; l will see that all is sofe in
that quarter" added Hannah.
At that moment the baby awoke.
and the gentle mother was called to
care for it. On the next day, at noon,
Hannah Lanning gave her husband a
receipt for fifteen dollars from Mr..
Rowse.
Here" said she, interest is paid.
Now let us forget all that has passed,
and commence again."
"But how-what has paid this p
asked James, gazing flrst upon the re-
ceipt, and then upon his wife.
"Never mind"
"Ah, but l must mind. Tell me-
Hannah"
"Well, l have sold my gold watch.
"Sold itv'
"But l can buy 1t back again. The
man will not part with it, IL l want it.
But l don't want it, James, till we are
able. Perhaps l shall never want it
You must not chide me, for never did
derive one iota Of the pleasure from
its possession that l now feel In the
result of its disposal"
James Lanning clasped his wife tc
his bosom, and he murmured prayer
and in that prayer there was a pledge
Two years passed away. and during
that time James Lanning lost not 6
single day from his work. He wat
as punctual as the sun, and the result
was as sure.
1t was late on Saturday evening
when he came home. After supper b,
drew a paper from his pocket, and lait
1t upon the table.
"There, Hannah" said he, while .
noble pride beamed in every feature
there is my mortgage. 1--WE paid it
every cent This house Is ours; it Il
our own house. I've bought 1t will
dollars, every one of which has beel
honestly earned by the sweat Of N.
brow. l am happy now."
Hannah Lanning saw that her hus
band had opened his arms, and she sa
down upon his knee and laid her hea,
upon his shoulder.
"Oh, blessed momentl" she mul
INJURED.
"Yes, it is a blessed moment" r.
sponded her hsuband. DO you RI
member. Hannah, the hour of bitter
ness that we saw two years ago
The wife shuddered, but made no n
ply.
"Ah." continued the young man, 9
have never forgotten that bitter LEI
son; and even now / tremble when
think how fatally l was deceived
the tempter that has lured SO man
thousands to destruction"
But It's horror is lost in this happ
moment" said Hannah. looking u
, with a smile.
, Its terror may be lost" resume
James, "but its lesson must never /
I forgotten. All. the Turing lottery tick,
! has a dark side-a side which few 81
3 until they feel It."
g "And are not all its sides dark
: softly asked the wife. If there is ar
1 brightness about it, 1t Is only the glal
0 Of the fatal ignis fatuus which CO
only lead the wayward traveller in
. danger and disquiet."
= "You are right, my dear wife. "
n were right at first. Ah," he cont
> ued, as he drew the faithful beil
Ia more closely to his bosom. 'if hu
= bands would oftener obey the tend
dictates Of the loving wife. there wou
- be far less misery in the world tn.
"a there is now."-Waverley Magazine.