Year: 1864

"A fairy brought 1t to me. 1t is all mine,
not to be returned, but paid away. or expended
as please"
Margaret, more seriously. Then suddenly, as
an unwelcome suspicion forced itself on her
mind, she asked, Edward, where did you
supp


''At a-club house." answered he, rather
hesitatingly.


"Oh! Edward, you haze not gambleds"


why, Maggie, how startled you are. What
was the harm if risked trife. just to paw
how could help it if dame Fortune ,oould
smile upon me, and turn my ten. dollars into
the very hundreds which so much needed
Will you take your shawl nOw?"


"NO, no! not for the world! Take it away
destroy it all-throw it in the street. Oh!
my husband, better, far better l should have
gone to my aunt and borrowed the money,
than that you should have got it in that way. "


Margaret, this is folly" said he, in an
offended tone. am not likely to become a
gambler, and did not go with the slightest
intention of PLAYING 1t was in my character
as a candidate tnat visited the club-rOOm, and
Il put down stake, from the motive which l
said, with the expectation OF losing it. won
by chance, not through knowledge or skill of
my own. and cannot see that the money so
obtained is any worse than if our lottery ticket
had drawn prize"


Bitterly did she remember then that some
little time previous, when reading of some one
who had drawn large prize in a lottery, she
had consented to his purchasinga ticket, which
proved blank, though they had both built
some castles on its being prize.


MAY God forgive me for that error, Ed
ward, and will never again, if can help it,
forget that portion of His prayer which says !:
Lead us not into temptation But, pardon
me, dear husband, if have wounded your feel
ings; l have such q dread, such horror of
your gambling"


With kind words and earnest assurances Ed
ward Morton quieted his fond wifes apprehen-
sions, and all went smoothly with them once
more. He was young lawyer, of fine talents
and excellent prospects, who had been nomi-
mated for the legislature His character was
honorable and his habits good. The note the
payment of which had embarrassed him. was
one coming due on the next day, on which one
of his best friends was endorsed. He had pro-
vided the means to meet it. but had been robbed
by an employee, a fact which he had only
found out when too late to replace the sum
stolen in time to cancel his obligation. With
rue wifely devotion, Margaret, who shared all
his secrets and cares, had offered to borrow the
amount needed from a wealthy aunt, with
whom she was favOrite but her husband
had not consented to this suggestion until he
could first try some of his own friends. Chance,





wants, though not SO much to his wife's satis-
faction, as, perhaps, his own.


The next day the note was duly paid, leaving
q considerable balance; but Margaret declined
the hundred dollar. shawl, with the excuse that
he would want it for the election expenses
Better that she had taken it for, with an un-
usual surplus in his pocket, Edward Morton
was again induced to visit the clubhouse, as
he called it which was no other than one of
the fashionable hells in his district. He did not
go at first for the purpose of gambling, but to
make himself popular and get votes. Once
there, however, with mODey at his command
it was impossible for one of his disposition to
decline stake, especially when good natured
ly congratulated on his previous luck. He,
therefore, played occasionally with various for
tune; but never suffered himself to become SO
engrossed US to remain away unseasonably from
home. Feeling himself safe from temptation,
he would not distress Margaret by mentioning
where he had been, and, confiding in his as
surances she neither suspected nor questioned
him; but it may truthfnlly be said that she
was rather glad than sorry when the result of
the election was against him, and he returned
once more quietly to his professional pursuits.
She dreaded the association into which politics
had led him. more than she valued his prefer
ment


Ihe practice of concealment, however We
NAL we may consider it in the first instance
soon grows into habit. leading to deceit and
falsehoOd. Thus unfortunately it was with
Edward Morton towards his wife. He had re-
Trained from mentioning his subsequent visits
to the gambling house, not exactly from bad
motive; tut rather to save Margaret uneasi-
ness on his account, which he honestly thought
without cause; for he did not acknowledge to
himself there was the slightest danger in thus
Drawing temptation. Alas! he little knew the
seductive influences that were being woven
around him. Gradually his absences from
home became more frequent and though he
always had a plausible excuse ready yet it was
impossible to hide altogether the anxiety of his
mind. or the growing embarrassment of his af-
fairs from the penetrating eyes of affection.
Too soon Margaret became aware Of the sad
truth. She exhibited neither anger nor harsh
ness; but earnestly, tearfully and affectionate-
ly she pleaded with him, until his heart melted
with tenderness and he would promise reform
only to yield in secret again to the tempter.
With what plausible sophistry did he try to
satisfy his own conscience? He would just
trv his luck once more and, if successful, he
would never play again. 1t would give him
such new start in business. and he could
make Maggie and the little ones so happy-for
children were growing up around him. But
Fortune, with malicious spite, ,eluded him now;
only to lead him on to moro certain ruin.


Poor Margaret! what life of sorrow was
hers Still'she loved her husband most fondly;
for in all, except this fatal and uncomfortable
passion, he was kind and affectiOnate as ever.
Closely she hugged her children to her heart,
as if love alone could shield them from harm.
She did move, however; she toiled unremit-
tirgly for their comfort and happiness. How
remorselessly did Edward sometin es look up
on her faded cheek and sunken eyes, and how
bitterly did he curse his own infatuatiOn. Yet
still the evil spirit whispered in his ear


Zone lucky throw, and all will 60 well with
you again. Fortune must change before long. "


Yes! one single change in his favor, and he
would reform. Only little money to get q
start and make his family comfortable; and
he would work like q slave, and never, never
trust to chance again.


Once more it was long past midnight, and in
her ecantily furnished rOom-one Of suite of
cheap observation-disclosures Morton awaited
her husband. She was less nervous and ap-
prehensive-fer long-sufering had brought