The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-25

usual with young men, DC inuu'Bou 'h '"o
full liberty Of unbridled license, nnd while
the ship stopped at one Of tho South Amer''
can ports he engendered the first seeds Of
''play;n but for while after his arrival the
excitement Of trade, and tho energy noces't
ary to accomplish q successful issue, KEEP
his mind busy. Ono day, by appointment
ho staked few dollars on the turning cards,
when the latent disease sprang into life, and
il carried him headlong over the prccipicc,
and ended In the tragic manner related.
The "Mine dj Oro" was a gambling sa.
loon, situated on Washington street, and
"Eldorado," and in 40 1t was the principle
resort Of the disbanded soldiers who had
been engaged in the war with Mexico. Be-
hind one Of the largest monte banks in the
room sat man who had won for himself
honorable mention, and On officers commits
nca wao given him for his bravery at tho
storming Of Monterey: but prefering tho
climate Of California, and its prospects to q
more northern homo, he embarked for that
country st the close Of the war with Mexico,
and upon his arrival ho opened bank for
gambling The emisrants came in by thou.
sands, and q few nights after his arrival n
young nun entered this saloon and seato,
himself al tho bank, and saked various sums
upon the cards until he had lost nearly all
the money he possessed. Excited with the
play, and naddened by bis losses, he accused
the dealer Of cheating the dealer replied
sharply Il the accusation - tho lie passed.
when The young man struck the dealer q
severe How upon his face; rs quick as
though, the sharp report Of pistol followed,
and tho gamblers clothing was covered with
tho yong mans blood he had been shot
through the right breast. The room was
soon cleared of the spectators present, the
door, closed and medical attendance called
in aid Of the wounded man. The gambler
sat moody over his bank, running the small
mate cards through his fingers, and per
hops thinking over the deed just perpetrated,
when the wounded man gave q moan OF
agony rs the Doctors probe reached the
bo,tom of his wound. The doctor inquired
what State he was from, and the wounded
man replied
Vermont" r
The gambler raised his head, for It had
been long time since he had seen person
from the homo OF his childhood, and Vermont
being his native State, the mere mention Of
its name interested him. The doctor next
inquired the name Of the place where
his parents resided, If he had any. The
wounded man replied
Montpelier
The gambler sprang to his feet, his limbs
trembled, and his face was as pale as death,
for Montpelier was the home Of his youth,
land perhaps tho wounded man might have
been his playmate in childhood perhaps a
schoolmate-knew his parents, his brothers
and sisters. lie clung convulsively to the
table, and with the contending emotions Of
rapid thought, and the weight Of the injury
he had inflicted, he could scarcely keep upon
his feet. A stimulant was given to the
wounded man. and he was momentarily 70.
lieved from that weakness the body is so
subject to after q severe wound - when the
doctor inquired il there was any friend in the
city hc wished sent for.
"Yes," he replied. any vile - she is
a, the City Hotel, on tho corner Of Clay and
Kearny streets. Tell Mary to hasten, for l
am badly hurt"
A nan was sent to bring his wife.
"Doctor said tho gambler, "save that
mans life and there is my bank, and SlO,.
900 in Burgoyne's-you shall have II all"
The doctor felt tho pulse Of the man and
probed the wound anew. Tho gambler
watched him with the greatest anxiety until
his inspection was finished, when the doctor
shook his head in token Of impossibility.-
The gambler sal down by the side Of the
wounded man, and bathed his head with
water, and staunched tho Aow Of blood from
the wound until the arrival Of the wife ; she
came. accompanied by few friends, and rs
heroic women bear their misfortunes, she
bore hers. Not word Of reproach escaped
her-words of cheerlulness only came from
her lips rs tho tears courscd down her
cheeks. To her inquiry MS to the chances
of her husbands recovery, tho doctor assured
her that there was no hope, that the wound
was mortal: and that in few hours he
would die. She sank upon her knees and
invoked tho mercy Of a forgiving God for her
dying husband aad his murderer. The gam.
bier asked the forgiveness Of the dying man
Tor the wrong he had committed, and also
that Of the wife, which was readily granted.
"This,' said he, "is for not obcying the
sacred injunction Of my nged mother-nof 10
gamble. have faced death a thousands
times, and still have escaped; the balls oi
an enemy have whistled past my ears rs
thick as hailstones, and tho bursting bomb
has exploded at my feet still I have lived
oh, God! and for this. High above the red
tide Of battle have carried my country's
cnsigu-and that won for me name among
men-whcn not one comrade was left to tell
Of the deeds in tho battle, escaped unscath.
ed. Why was l not killed like the rest'-
All that was proud and pleasing to man !
have had; and if could recall this last net
by living upon carion, sleeping in apaupers
grave, and renouncing every proud act in my
life, / would dot. Twas born in the same
village with that man; wo have bceu class