Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1878 — A Carious Wager. [ARTICLE]

A Carious Wager.

A few evenings since a party was given at the house of one of our prominent citizens. One of the guests was a most charming and accomplished lady, who had worn the weeds of widowhood two years; another was a gentleman but recently come to our town, a native of Hartford, Conn. The amusements of the evening were varied and thoroughly enjoyable; but the chief attraction proved, by a delightful event, to be the game of bassino. Several had tried their skill at the board, with varying fortunes, when the gentleman and the lady referred to approached the table, and the gentleman suggested to his partner that they should try their skill at the pins. The challenge was accepted, and the lady playfully proposed that they play for a wager. * The gentleman gallantly assented, and asked her to name the stake. Seeing her confusion, the host jokingly said: “His hand against vours.” The lady demurred and was turning to leave the table, when the gentleman, after a moment’s thought, said: “My hand for yours, if I win; or at your disposal for any young lady of respectability (her consent being first obtained), if I lose.” A proposition so gallant the lady could not resist, for the gentleman was a prize, whoever might win him. Excitement now ran high—all other amusements being suspended, as the company-gathered round the bassino board. The lady was reputed skillful with the mace, but the gentleman knew nothing about the game, yet possessed an admirable coolness, which was almost an offset for inexperience. The lady led off, getting a “ king strike,” and the gentleman followed, missing little bassino, and making a “muff” with the third ball. A laughing sensation was indulged in when the score for first prize was announced, “ lady, 45, and a bassino spare gentleman, minus 18.” Nothing daunted, S continued the play, followed with equal spirit by the fair antagonist, until near the close of the game, after the seventh play, when the score stood, “gentleman, 215: lady, 164.” The excitement among the guests was now intense; and the lady, flushed and trembling, played very badly her last three plays, losing heavily. At the close of the tenth and last play the score stood, “lady, 188; gentleman, 385,” 3aid to be the best score ever made in town. A decorous applause followed the announcement; and the lady, covered with confusion, scarce had presence of mind enough to acknowledge the low bow of S , who murmured a few sentences expressive of joy. The hostess now advanced, took the feebly resisting hand of the fair widow and placed in that of the winning gentleman. And we hear that the latter ceremony is to be repeated with more solemnity, some few months hence, due notice of which will bo published in the Register. The mace used S begged of his host, saying that he would treasure it carefully for a perpetual reminder of that happy evening.— Franklin (Mass.) Register.