The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-01-04


the players aud the carousals Of the incbria-
AreaSJ had passed the "Stcambolt" and
"Picayunc Tier" and was now fast approach
ing large Gambling House which sat upon
the corner of one Of the numerous ero-s
streets which cut the Crescent City at right
angles with the Mississippi tiycr;rwhcn
heard shrck from IL interior and immcdi-
atcly after struggle aud confused sound
Of voices. FASTENED 10 the spot, \ sight
rcplctc with horror met my eyes IN the
foreground and seemingly in the arms Of
Death, lay q manly, though cmacatcd lorm
cNtcntcd upon the marble door, which was
.dled by tho hot blood yelling from recent
wound in hi. breast Upon either haud |
saw card table, overturned, and those iustru-
mcnis Of ruin spread upon the floor
IN the background a man OF dark aud stern
exterior sat, bound aud overlooked by two
Police officers,
70 me-, uuaccustomcd a. | had been to
such scenes of riot and death, II was fear
fui sight, thu. td behold one apparently in
the prime of liic.md no doubt wnh many
hrightapl beautiful prospects and aniitipa-
lion- before him, wcltcrne IN his own blood
The dead body aud also the criminal as he
appeared were soon removed by the officers
from the room BY making inquiries Of the
Bar keeper and others present collected the
following migration Of the circumstances as
well as some preceding incident, in the lives
of the parties.
Some three years antcccdcnt 10 this event
NJ Laharec, a planter Of opulcncc resided
upon the hank Of the Mississippi, near the
city Of Naichcz ITc was Of French descent
although born in this country. His mansion
partook OF the order ofmnny of the southern
palaces which may be found iotting the low
shores ofthr Fa,hrrof Waters ever open Ia
stranger, ,,rrr visiting ii,-,,.,
was the pursuit of pleasure and excitement
NJ Laharcc had long years agonc mourncd
the departure to the haven of rest of his CON
sort and now nothing renamed to him, to
chccr his declining age aud smpoth down
his dying pillow, but the person of his only
child and daughter, the fair 9nd beautiful
Stella Labarcc. Scarcely sixteen summers
had famed her check, the breezcs of hardly
sixteen springs had played with the glossy
and raven like ringlcts upon her brow, yet
was she the perfect woWan.
Ripening beauty blvShcd upon her check
and lips and the long lashcs which hung over
her dark aud lustous eyes seemed the cur
tains 10 The Windows of her soul.
Among the numerous visitors which throng-
cd her fathers hospitable halls was Ralph
Conant, the elder son of a ncighboring plan
tcrand with his many accomplishments NOV
ed the perfect gentleman.
His noble bearing and manly figure were
not uuhoticed or unapprcciated by the lovely
Stella, nor indeed were her bewitching
charms lost upon his soul. 1t is enough that
rnG urrd ir-tfi t.+l.
before Him 'who sceth in secret" The faith
cr saw and was pleased Not many years
were destined in the natural course of events
to roll over his head ere the silent Messenger
must come with his tidings OF rest to.his wca-
red nature, and could he leave the flower
which had blossomcd ON his age alone in this
world of sin AS said, the father saw, was
pleased, and gave his free and full consent to
their marriage. The day was appointed, and
all things seemed to smile happiness to their
approaching nuptials, until the hour which
brought Charles Lcyton' to the House of
NJ. Laharec. "A stranger in the vicinity and
to the inhabitants of the Mansion, he strove
by bland words and pleasing address to in
gratate himself into the respect ofthe parent
and the affections Of the daughter. But his
personal appearance seconded not his hopes.
That insinuating smile but i'll disguised the
lurking demon within
He made his proposals, and they were re-
iocted with scorn. His tactics were chang
ed, lie pretended his motives pure and his
intcptions honorable. This time she treated
him with politeness, although, she despised
him. She told him that she loved another.
"And who may that be !' he inquired
''Ralph Conant." "Ralph Conant repeated
he, "and you love him. Indeed you are a
bold Miss thus to tell me of your affections,
and that as concerning my mortal enemy
t"Iwill admit SIR" she said that / ,ras bold
!inlhns declaring my preference for another,
but did it that yon might be the sooner in
formed that YOU must have no hopes Of OBJ
tanning my hand. SIR, bid you good csc