Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-06-25
Expectations
b. EDuARD x. DRoANE

IN echt their own way up in the world
mast fortunate aHd those brought up
10 wealth most unfortunate.
came Of family of the middle
.,ass and from childhood was made to
understand thar would have to fight
nv own way In the world. But was
p4vea an education. which Is consider
al and usually Is essential to success.
Al sixteen was about to accept DO.
s.tIon In business when an uncle Of
mine suddenly made fortune by a
ssal in the stock market He had the
good sense to Unrest his gains In good
ars, mortgage bonds and never after
Srard rlsked cent In speculation.
Ny uncle was bachelor sixty years
old and my mother was his favorite
sister. He had always shown a par
tianty for me and proposed to my
mother that be should send me TO col
legs and make me his heir, for he
claimed that be had no desire TO marry
ari II he should marry at his time of
life he would wish he had not mar
ried. ionged for college educa-
ttEB HAAl aEt III PAtA was ktHN "
cept my uncie's proposition
spent four years at college. my ex-
penses being paid by my uncle In,
deed. he gave me an allowance that
enabled me 10 associate with such of
my fellow students as were not obiig-
ed to earn their living or part of IL
while getting their education
when | was graduated with fair
standing In my class was one of
the all around prominent men OF Il.
| began the study of Professional
my uncle's expense-ene had nearly
finished IL when | received a telegram
that my uncle was very ILL., went to
him at once and assumed the direction
Of his household. His Illness was
destined to be protrncted one. and.
there being no one but myself to do
anything for him. | assumed charge not
only Of his domestic but bis other az
fairs.
spent Eve years ministering to the
Old man. living in bis house with him
and devoting myself exclusively to
him. | regretted that my professional
studies had been broken into. but since
was heir to fortune and had what
money needed did not repine. True.
my uncle was very irritable and often
tried my patience. but the doctors as
sured me that he could live only few
years at most. and then. having means
at my command, could make up for
lost time. for, be II understood. was
not content TO live In idleness and es-
peciaily desired career,
Ny uncle fingered longer than had
been expected, and toward the last
found the work of amusing him very
trying. l suggested cards. and he was
pleased with the idea. He had been
a poker player In his time. and by
playing with him for a small stake
got through many hours that would
otherwise have been burden. Never
theless playing penny ante with a
broken down old map hour after hour
was not 10 me pleasing way Of spend
Ing my time. and when my uncle pro-
posed to raise the stake TO 8 cents
acquiesced-
This was a mistake He was a nat
ural gambler, and It was a knowledge
OF this facr--a fear that he would lose
what he had made In the stock mar
ket-that led him TO quit 'the street q"
Since then his passion for gambling
had lain dormant IL was now excit-
ed anew. He kept raising the stake.
and | did not dare to oppose him
When he got the value OF a chip up to
Is cents | began to be troubled How
ever. hoped that by refusing TO win
] might keep out OF trouble, for real
lied that to win any considerable
amount from him would irritate him.
and in his broken condition l feared he
might break with me.
One afternoon when be was more
fretful than usual got out the cards
and the chips During the sitting there
occurred one OF those marvellous runs
Of luck by which players are enabled
to break banks. A jack pot had been
growing on the table for some time
when 1 was dealt three queens and
drew a fourth | would have bet
small sum, but since the cards must
be shown a feared to irritate my uncle
by appearing TO favor him. At the
N~ShAVwA AE tAAa u AGi VI avs "AN~~
gave me the pot
From that TIME the devil seemed to
be in the cards Whenever | dealt l
gave myself large hands and invari-
ably gave my uncle hands but little
below mine When l had straight
flush he would have a full; when had
three aces he would have three lower
cards. Terrified. l attempted to deal
him hand larger than mine. He
caught me In the act
For some time had seen by his ex-
preston that be suspected | was In
tentionally dealing to myself large
hands and to him hands but Little
smaller to draw him on. When ne
caught me trying to deal him win
ner he fell back on the pillows behind