The Two Wives; Or, Lost and Won

arlton had not only enticed his victim to drink until his mind was confused, but had played against him with trick and false dealing-passed, not by the bar-r

n miles from the city, and that it would take him hours to walk that distance. His predominant feeling

e zenith, shone with an unusual radiance. Not a leaf moved on the forest tr

The unhappy man was conscious only of the folly he had committed and the wrong he had sustained; and thou

th rapid pace, and soon his thoughts

hours when you are away," arose before his eyes. Then, as the image grew more and mo

I not resist this temptation? Why was I so thoughtless of the best, t

most a running speed. Soon the perspiration was gushing freely from every pore, and this, in a short time, relieved the still confused pressure on the brain of the alcohol which h

er and over, "what if our dear Ell

arlton. The latter called to him three or four times, and invited him to get up and ride; but Wilkinson strode on, without so much as uttering a w

d his home, and how he was re

ered in consequence of his absence for half the night-how visible, alas! was the effect written on her pale face, and eyes still red and swollen from excessive tears-but the remembrance, also, that he had permitted himself, while under the influence of drink, to lose s

. They parted, after the morning meal, in silence; Wilkinson to repair to his place of business, his wife to busy

ep clear of him in this way. Oh, no. Carlton held his due-bills for "debts of honour," calling for various sums, amounting in all, as we have before said, to about two thousand dollars, and he was not a person at all likely to forget this fact. Of this Wilkinson was made sensible, about an hour after appearing at his store. He was at his desk musing over certain results figure

on, I believ

sed and indifferent. But that was impossible, for he h

s of this for what he wanted, but drew directly therefrom sundry small, variously shaped pieces of paper, much blotted and scrawled over

collect these," s

hing. Running back his thoughts, as distinctly as it was possible for him to do, to the occurrences of the previous night, he remembered much that fully satisfied him that Carlton had played against him most unfair

do any thing with t

s," was the simple reply, made in a tone

lt than you imagine," replied W

is kind." There was a meaning emphasis on the last two words,

esent case than you imagine. I never recei

," was promptly returned, with a curling lip, and in a tone

lkinson, who, stung by the manner and words of the collector,

I remarked a little while ago, my business is to collect the sums

the decisi

clination to go off in a huff; "you do not clearly understand your position, nor the consequences likely to

ffort to collect b

urse w

law will not recognise

o come at the nat

kinson stopp

mily, friends, creditors, and mercantile associates will be edified, no doubt, when it comes to light on the trial, under your

, who saw the trap into which he had fallen, and fro

hich he saw, more clearly than before, the unhappy position in which he was placed. "It will be ruin anyhow;

," said the collector, coldly,

that I would l

this morning," rep

the

roperty, for which I have paid a valuable consideration. They are, therefore, legal claims against you in the full

-day, a

and all I will do. You can take up five hundred of these bills to-day, five hundred in one week, and the balance in equal sums at

matum, he thus broke in upon the perplexed and undecided silence of the unhappy victim

ill be prepared to give a

one hour to a minute," and

minute wa

e air of one who felt indifferent as to which way the decision had been made. Without replying, Wilkinson to

d, immediately producing his large pocket-book, drew forth Wilkinson's due-bills, and se

e again," said the man, impressivel

said to himself-"Perish, sad evidences of my miserable folly! The lesson would be salutary, were it not received at too heavy a cost. Can I

et Carlton, kept away from such places, and therefore drank but little during the time; nor did he once go out in the evening, except in company with his wife,

, leaving Wilkinson five hundred dollars poorer with each visitation-poorer, unhappier, and more discouraged

. To all her questions on the subject, he gave evasive answers; still she gathered enough to satisfy her that every thing was not right in regard to his business. Assuming this to be