Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-18


II carried him headlong over the precipice,
and ended in the tragic manner related.
The /" Mine de Orc" was a gambling sa-
loon, situated on Washington street, and op-
I posite the =" FL Dorado" and in 40 it was
| the principal resort ofthe disbandcd soldiers
Of the California regiments, and also of the
soldiers who had been engaged in the war
with Mexico. Behind one Of the largest
monte banks in the room sat a man who had
won for himself honorable mention, and an
officers commission was given him for his
bravery at the storning Of Monterey; but
| prefering the climate Of California and its
golden prospects to a more northern home,
he embarked TO-. that country at the close Of
the war with MEXICO, and upon his arrival
he opened bank for gambling. The cmi~
grants came in by thousands, and few
nights after his arrival, young man enter
ed this saloon and seated himself OF the
bank, aud siaked various sums upon the
cards until he had lost nearly all the money
he possessed. Excited with the play and
maddened by his LOSSES he accused the
dealer of cheating the dealer replied sharp
ly TO the Hccusation-the lie passed, when
the young man struck the dealer n severe
blow upon his face as quick as thought the
sharp report Of pistol followed, and the
gamblers clothing was covered with the
young mau's blood - he had shot HIM through
the right breast Tho room WAS soon clear
ed Of the spectators present, the doors clos
ed and medical attendance called in aid Of
the wounded man.
The gambler sat mo, dily over his bank,
running the snail ~ ,ute cards through his
fingers, and perhaps thinking over the decd
Just pcrpeiraed. when the wounded man
gave a mo3n Of agony as the doctors probe
reached the bottom of his wound. The doc
tor inquired what State he Was from, and the
wounded nan replied from Vermont
The gambler raised his head, for 1t had
been long time since he had seen person
from the home of his childhood and YER
mont being his native State, the mere mem
ton Of its name interested han. The doc
tor next inquired the name Of the place
where HE parents resided, if he had any
Tie wounded man replied
Montpelier"
The gambler sprang to his feet. his limbs
treinblcd. and his face was as pale as death.
for Montpelier was the home OF his youth.
and perhaps the wounded man might h8ye
been his playmate 10 cElldhood-perhsps
schoolmaie-knew his parents his brothers
and sisters. lie clung conyulsWcIy TO tao
table, and with the coaiending emotions of
rapid ihnu 1h' and the weight Of the injury
he had inflicted. he could scarcely keep up
nn his feet \ stimu,ant was given the
wounded man and be was momennrly re-
lieyed from that weakness the body Is so
subject 10 after severe wound-when the
doctor inquired # there was any friend IN
the city he wished Sent for
Yes" ne replied. my wife she is At
the CITY Hotel, corner of Clay sud Kcarney
streets tell Mary 20 hasten for an badly
wounded
A man was sent to bring his wife
Doctor" said the gambler, " save that
mans life. and there is my bank and $4,000
in Blrgoyne's You shall have II ALL
The doctor felt the pulse Of the man and
prohed tho wound anew. The gambler
watched him with the greatest activity until
his Inspection was finished, when the doctor
shook his head in token OF imp, ssibilty; the
gambler sat down by the side Of the woun-
ded man and baihed his head with water,
and staunched the flow Of blood from the
wound until the arrival of the wife; she
came, accompanied by few friends and az
heroic women bear their misiorluncs she
bore hers. Not a word Of reproach escaped
her words of cheeflulness only came from
her lips as the tears couFs down her cheeks.
To her inquiry as to the chances Of her hus-
bands recovery, the doctor assured her that
there was no hope; that the wound was NOR
tai and that in a few hours he would die.
She sank down upon her knees aud invoked
.he mercy of a iOrgiying God for her dying
husband and his murderer. The gambler
asked the forgiveness Of the wounded man
tor the wrong he had committed, and also
that oi tho wife, winch was readily granted.
This said he, IS not Cor obeying the
sacred injunction OF my aged father and
mother-noi 10 gd,n5e ! have faced death
a thousand times anG still have escaped
the balls Of IN enemy have wnlstlcd past
my ears as thick as hail stones. and the burs-
ting bomb has exploded Of my fret; stli
lived oh, God and for THIS ! High above
the red tide of battle. | have carried my
cOumtry's ensign - and that won for the
name among meu-whcn no one comrade
was left 10 tell of the deeds in the battle, |
escaped unscaihed. Whv WAS | not killed
like the rost All that was proud and pleas
ing to man have had and If ! could re-
call this last act by living upon carton,
sleeping ~ pauper's grave, and renouncing
every proud act of NV life. would do IT. |
vas born IA the same village with that man
we have been CLASSMATES together at the
same school received instructions of the
same aged man we were born beneath the
same root aud, oh God the same mother
gave us birth lie must not lle-he Is MY
brother :"
4 And the gambler sank down IN a swoon
upon the floor. The wounded man raised
himself upon his elbows his CLASSY eyes
wandered about the room as if in search Of
some particular person
Mary said he, " is brother William
heref l." aud the words CHECKED in his
throat, the gurgling blood stopped his utter
ance, and he sank back corpse upon his
pillow. The wife knelt again, but 1t was
beside a dead body, and invoked the mercy
of God upon his soul, and forgiveness of The
murderer.
the gambler awoke from his swoon, and
staggered up TO the wife, and said:
Mary, would II were otherwise, for
have nothing to live for now the dead and
dying do not want anything IN this world
take this certificate OF deposit to our aged
father, and tell our parents we are both
dead--but, oh do not tell them how we d.
ed"
Before the woman could reply or any one
interfere, the report Of that pistol sounded a
gain, and the iractricide had ceased to live
On the bill near Rincon Point were two
graves, a few years ago, enclosed with
white picket fence, and one tombstone stood
At their head with the simple inscription
"BRoTnERs." - Golden Era.
The preceding is well told story; but
the best part of it remains untold. No Mont
peier men have met this iate.-Ed. HGieh-
man.
| The Rambnr4nent. A cnnn cotresnnnd.