| Show jil aboin nil avoid two ti lings said uncle kichard list evening together aind im venerable uncle who had supplied the of father to be ever since my recollection was giving ino his parting advice never gamble and never light 1 kodi vices prevalent llian to render such counsel to a young man leaving gioino acsa than it might appear at present 1 I nm very anxious to impress this injunction lie after 1 fill pause and cin think of no better mode of doing so than by relating an incident of my early manhood bieh lias left its shadow on ny whole lifo since I 1 had lung some mystery en shrouded uncle auth on n certain div every year lie would klinl himself in ln room from morn till evening and when am reappeared his face would wear n look so saddened aliat it was easy to lie hid been communing with secret sorrow on one of these occasions lie had forgotten to lock the buor as usual I 1 suddenly liis chamber ire was willi hiis elbow on alic table supporting his forehead with his led hand and gazing intently on n licud in lil right liand he looked up quickly at my and I 1 shall never forgat alic pi p i ingul capra ciori of his great were courting down liis furrowed eli ecks ii apology I 1 withdrew and unell turn the key behind me vas ever married I 1 inquired of aunt who kept biou ay iy for hidu aej to eliom I 1 what I 1 had seen acu r she ic plied 1 I wonder it wa arc inar ked seeking to didiw out something ali it salis fy ny hut aunt know of any picture alio laid married young ami while glicr husband alic and uncle richard resided far l and of that period of hi life slick new bill little alic only knew it wa connected with some hidden grief which lie laid always shrunk frum alluding to and which alic felt it would pain him to be questioned I 1 was s older than you arc ill baid uncle richard when I 1 benl to alio winter in new a city alio c to say nothing of their attendant vices were unrivaled outride of aaris one evening curiosity prompted me to visit a noted gaming house an establishment lish ment playing elite I 1 ind nothing of alie in my dipo ilion gjul liall licarie 0 o much such places and of alic magnificent froyle in they were conducted eliat I 1 wished to sec and for myself not desiring to appear a lucre intruder I 1 sat down at one of alie tables intending to ask 1 few dollars a a sort of admi sion tec opposite sat tw 0 voicing men one was fair and hands imo the other daik with t biter that glanced furtively from beneath a licary black cyca ro t s 1 I lot several stakes ively iv cly my daik caceil vi ft i if ais winning I 1 felt a lillic piqued at what I 1 imagined wn u covert sneer as lie pocketed his agnini 1 put down a licad nr wager anil this time detected my adversary in the act of slipping a card I 1 rose excitedly and openly taxed laira with cheating III an instant all was in an uproar Ilc firo it had I 1 felt a on alic firm and looking round found my elf confronted b 1 alio objector object of accusation of whom I ind loit bihl in hie ion T demand immediate lie said in a one enough to avoid notice I 1 owe none to a cheat and swindler I 1 replied shaking his liand willi unconcealed cigut di gut Perli aps you will not refuse it to inc interposed the fair faced youth who had been the others comp at the table at alio speakers countenance convinced me his present associations lie was a gentleman and that he believed he charge against his comrade groundless I 1 have no cause of quarrel willi you I 1 said unless you chloc to make 1 one 1 I choose to discover one he is my recognized associate ind friend therefore your asbor fion of him on mycle 1 1 I disclaim any such clion I 1 returned your disclaimer cannot alter th 0 fact he rejoined with something of i insist on you meeting him or mo indeed prudential should decide you to decline I 1 was already too much irritated to be conciliatory very well I 1 said be it as you will at clial moment I 1 saw a gentleman near whom t hid p fitial acquaintance and beckoning him to me explained what had requesting him to represent me in tho affair which ue lo 10 do A whispered consultation held apart olwe cr alus buo ouo selected by tho challenger resulted in an rr for an meeting with pistols pis lols abia was we to deferring alio llio affair till us alic publicity of alio llio altercation at thu card bablo load to inter ami in the clear moonlight of latt bright southern night 1 with nn arm i waa ns practicable as in the open day A surgeon also WAS secured and quiet by tb is time having been restored we withdrew to evade observation and started for alic agreed upon my friend and I 1 walking a behind tho others if I 1 fall I 1 heard my adversary say to bis friend 1 I want on to write to 1 I fell back to avoid licia ring what was evidently not intended for oilier cars 1 I would abo of want followed act inu hasten over it as rapidly 03 possible at a retired spot near the river wo took our places alio won ghan ami we A quick sharp burning pain shot like a nish mv temple I 1 raised 1113 liand and fell tho i roughened ridge left on alio od akin by the bullet that had so nearly pierced my brain an exclamation drew my attention to my uli lie lay upon the ground the surgeon and lib second bending orar liim instantly every feeling but that of solicitude for liis condition was bannion from my mind I 1 hurried to liis side A deadly pallor biad already overspread liis face and the blood was slowly trickling from a wound in his uncovered breast forgive me I 1 said stooping to take liis hand 1 I have isioro re being drawn into n quarrel with one against whom I 1 bore no grudge 1 I was wrong to force it on yon lie replied speaking slowly and halh biln culla ith 1 smile returned the pressure of my band then hia lingers still ened alic upturned eyes became gln my and HIP features fixed and rigid I 1 knew I 1 had thenceforward to answer to my conscience for fellow crea tures life it MAS with very din rent feelings 1 approached my ciomo from thoe which 1 li id lilt it two before then I 1 was looking forward willi buoyant hope and spirits to alic end of the brief period to pc before alice lockwood I 1 was now to claim alio he I 1 onylia in ha c fell happy would have flonc so but for alic ciar that the hand about to clap cla p hers at tho altar wa cd willi blood 1 I that alice should be alio birol to whom I 1 would mv troubled conscience if any onu could soothe and bring it peace it would be alic they told me she ara 1 ing ill very ill alien I 1 reached alic door tell her I 1 come 1 said it was all I 1 could articulate tho messenger soon returned anil conducted me to her bedside by which i group of anxious weeping friends were aa and like were glicr pallid features to elioso I 1 had looked upon in alic moonlight on that dalal ni lit Sho looked up at my sweetly and readied which 1 took eagerly amut I mut leave you Itic liard she said fun lly I 1 must go to my poor dear brother they will tell ou how cruelly ho waa murdered you never auw him but here is liis picture lait I 1 leavo kept by my pillow take it it will licup remind you of me for we were very very like hut ho cill roe I 1 1 must go and the gentlest purest spirit that eer animated mortal chiy took its llean cnway d from alie dear face still beautiful in alic of dehli my eci to alic in my liand A liala sup pressed cry rose lo 10 my lips H was atthe crying from was o to cease ringing in my care thank bod ro c alio from my i lio died without knowing whose was alic arm l liand that crushed her tender loving heart Y Y ledger |
