The Republican journal., 1914-05-21
A Game Of Chance.
By DR.. w. H. Winslow.
CHAPTER XVI.

By DR.. w.
CHAPTER XVI.
PAPA BEM1s' BIRTHDAY. HAMBRlGHT S
EXPLANATION AND PROPOSAL. HIS AR
REST AND FLIGHT. ATRAGEDY.
II was a sunny October day and Nature
and the people had recovered somewhat
from the calamity of August. Plants,
shrubs and trees had shaken of their
burnt leaves and put out tender new
shoots Of green and timid, colored petals.
The Garden around the Bemis house
showed little damage from the ordeal
through which it had passed, and birds
,.anu IN the trees that shaded its pleasant
gravelled walks. .;.o
tent on the green at one side of the man.
sion. and were busy preparing noon
dav tiffin for few friends, who were to
helm celebrate Papa Bemis' birthday.
MRS. Over and James had put a flag
above the tent angle and were occupied
placing festoons of smilax and deWberry
outside and within the tent, while Lucy.
CAROLYN, Cutnet and Chapman twlned
flowers amid the lush green decorations.
Alice, Jack and maid came in process
sion from the house and loaded httle
table within the tent with refreshments;
Mr.. Bemis was escorted by Wendell ana
Miss Patterson to an armchair Deneath
a nearby maple, and few nelgnDors
came over to see what was happening
and to taste the good things.
Alice placed a wreath of smllax and
flowers upon papa's head and kissed him,
and all the ladies kissed him, congratu-
lating him. The gentlemen shook hands
with him and wished him many more
BIRTHDAYS and all the blessings OF life.
81 thank you, friends, for your good
wishes" said the banker. 'You know
not the burden of years, the gradual fall
ure of body and mind as age advances;
You wish me what you most covet, gooc
health and the Joy of living. You arc IN
the heyday of youth. You cannot COM
nrehend that one should tire of the ex-
citement of the world and long for the
pleasant rest of Inconsistencies ana
death. Then we meet the dear ones who
have gone before and rest forever more.
If you have done your best.
Why should you fear!
Enter thou into rest,
Angels are waiting near
"But am not worn and weary enough,
yet, not to enjoy the battles and the
pleasures of life, and this merry party
makes me feel young again. Let US
.On with the dance,
Let Joy be unconfned.'
"What? tears, Alice? Wipe them
away; 1mean to live to be a grandpa
beautiful, and bravely spoken, Mr..
Bemis. Your physique promises longev'
ity. Your eyes and your arteries snow
no senile changes. You are good Tor
eighty, or I'm poor M. D." said Or.
Chapman, patting the banker on MS
shoulder.
al am doubtful about becoming an oc-
togenarian, because am so we'll. You
will remember Holmes said, The secret
of longevity is to have an incurable dis
ease, and we all know how the squeak.
ing door hangs longest on it's hinges.
"But he belied the saying, and lived to
advanced age without any chronic al
Fiction. He would make Joke even it
he sometimes strained the truth little:
1.-THE danties of the tent were ois-
tributed and healths drank in fruit punch
having dash of claret, and group about
Mr.. Bemis made merry talk and laugh.
ter, while the younger persons surolled
about the garden and sought shady hooks
for condolences and sentiment.
Mary Patterson, weary and sad, seat
ed herself within grape arbor and her
companions wandered into the depths OF
the garden. A shadow fell upon hei
and Mr.. Hambright stood regarding hel
intently. She was startled and hall
arose. as he said, "Do not be annoyed,
Miss Patterson. wish you to listen to
me few moments. / endeavored to IN
vest your savings in such way. as to
give you the largest income consistent
with the safety of the principal.
"And suppose you have lost them In
speculation and in the general decline OF
all values"
81 am sorry to confess great slump
in the Orc bonds, and l fear their loss by
the. bank.
''Their loss? l will ask Mr.. Bemis
about it"
''No, do not; they have been stolen.
We are keeping the fact secret and the
. Pinkerton' s are at work.
"Stolen!'' groaned Mary, almost faint
ing; then, recovering self-possesslon,
she said, "Well, sir; is that all?'
Il wish to ask your pardon for my
rudeness on our delightful auto ride; l
wished"
.sNo matter what you wished. Your
conduct was ungentlemanly and unpar-
donable," and Mary arose to escape.
''Oh! how can l set myself right?
How can regain your respect and con
fidence? My wife, the clog on my ambi-
ton, the sole obstacle between us, has
been removed providentially, and now
no, don't go-hsten to me moment.
love you devotedly. have long wished
to tell you, but have delayed because of
our mutual bereavement. l am rich;
YOU shall have life of ease and luxury
may, don't go! You must listen to
mev' and Hambright seized the fright
ened girl by the wrist.
"You dishonor your dead wife, and dis.
gust me. Let me 60. sir! Let me go!
Love?-ugb! l hate you!" screamed
Mary shrilly, as she wrenched her arm
free and her friends surrounded her.
Hambright stood aside with danger
GUS CLEAN in his eyes and sheer upon
his face.
"What is the matter, Mary? What
has this william done?" demanded Wen
dell, with his fists clinched, facing Ham,
bright threateningly.
''Nothing," replied she family. ''He
wished to explain somthing, and did
not wish. to listen.'