The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-10-16

be ready to return to the states.
Il was enthralled by the beauty and |
charm of Wythe's daughter My de- |
vOtiOn grew each time / spoke with |
her until l admitted that l loved her
and was joyous when she told me that
the love was returned.
About this time a New York friend
of mine, James Lawton, came on d
visit. He was a rather wild youth
whom l had not seen for some years,
and was on visit to Mexico. He de-
cided also to stay with me. 1t was but
a very short time before he let it be
openly known that he, too. was in love
, with Frances. l paid little attention,
however, feeling sure that my suit was
safe.
zone evening, about a month after
! Lawton's arrival, he learned that Mr.
Wythe's passion was gambling, and
engaged him in a game of cards, at
high stakes l merely watched;
never gambled. The game was long
and disastrous to Wythe. He lost all
of the money which he had brought
with him to invest.
when l returned, some time later,
was astounded. The words that
room, struck as a mighty blow. /
could scarcely believe they were true.
Wythe was desperate He had lost
every thing. Years of saving, hope
of investment and a bright future
/. prospects of comfort in late years
all had vanished in a single evening
The crafty Lawton had made a daring
proposition. He had offered to stake
all that he had won-the thousands
) that had belonged to Wythe and thai
meant almost life itself to him
; against permission to wed his daugh.
} ter. The Southerner was indignant
He was insulted, as indeed he had
r right to be. But Lawton was clever
f and he was smooth. He convinced
f Wythe that he loved his daughter an,
: wished to marry her for that reason
= alone / entered the room Just il
, time to hear my friend say: All tina
b, I have won against your daughter il
D marriage-and on one cast of tn
= dice!' l held up my hand. Just
>, moment, gentlemen / said. If you
{ daughter is for sale, Mr.. Wythe, / shal
d buy her LawtOn sneered. Myth
o Redeemed. To a gentleman of hi
# bearing the situation was past EN-
y barrassment. 1t would have appeare
j. most utterly absurd had it not bee
It so treacherously serious. 1t took fiji
d teen minutes for them to attempt a
e explanation to me. l demanded, a
il host, to be permitted to play wit
o them. They could not refuse. Lawto
IT counted what he had won, and / pI
d up an equal amount Wythe squirme
|: like a dying snake as he looked
the money and thought of his stalk
l We played-one cast of the dice fC
lie each man. Lawton won!
M
,e "The scene that followed was OF
~ to shudder at. In a civilized cOuntr
Id at a rich estate, it seemed too ridicl
lous for belief Yet it was true; al
er its absurdity made it the more sorroN
s. full. Lawton, having won everythin
he made an offer To this day / do n
of know whether it was a selfish or ge
&c erous motive that melted it. He sa
r he would return his monetary wi
n nings if Wythe would induce Franc
at to consent to marry him. We all lie
s. the room.
Frances was on the verand, cryin
tie l was the first to reach her. but
RI said nothing of the game. When
ge attempted to approach her, howevs
1T. she spurned me. l learned later tn
ne she had heard my offer to buy h
I'M and had not waited for the explain
er ton. l naturally was despicable
n her eyes.
as "Wythe took her upstairs and plea
ok ed with her. He told her that it W
IN, his desire that she agree to mar
to Lawton in order that a vast sum
I'D money which he had lost gambli