Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-08-05

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and seemed anxious to get out Of
the sufiocating heat and poisoned
atmosphere of the room, which had
by this time been brilliantly lighted.
As | followed closely on his steps
| congratulated myself that l had
not been recognized by him while
he was engaged at the gaming ta-
Bile, as it might have placed him and
myself in rather awkward positions,
which might call for mutual explain
ations. While thus reasoning with
myself w a tier hastened onward.
and passed through thrOng that
was making towards the centre sa-
loon. My progress was momenta-
rily interrupted, and | lost sight Of
my friend. However, | hastened on
through the crowd as best | could,
and finally reached the doorway.
The night was exceedingly dark,
and l paused, chagrined at the tho't
that Walter had escaped me.
While / stood, hesitating, mcer-
tain which path to pursue, i'll the
hope of oyertaking him, a pistol was
fired in the Plaza; and the next |
heard, but could but dimly discern,
a number of persons fastening in
the direction from whence the re
port had come. Impelled by curl
osity | also followed; and soon /
came up to a group Of men who were
apparently looking at something ly-
ing prone on the ground. | was
about to make inquiry, when one of
those standing near exclaimed:
Poor fellow! He has blown his
brains outm
@Who is he'?" cried another
let US take him into the house,
whoever he is"
"a good suggestion" replied a
bystander. "Come, let US take him
to the Parker; he may yet be alive.
Perhaps, after all, the wound is not
mortal.
Very carefully the body of the
unfortunate man was raised and con-
veyed to the hallway OF the Denui-
son House, where there was a light,
and where it was suggested a physi-
clan could be found. When they
had placed him on the floor, | had
an opportunity, for the first time, Of
noting the features.
Great God! 1t was the body of
my friend, Walter Edgeworth! |
knelt by his side, and iuvoluntarily
placed a hand ON his breast. His
heart had ceased to pulsate, He
was dead But fifteen minutes pre-
yiously hewas in the vigor Of life
in the flush of manly beauty!
1t was not until | had returned to
New York, some three years subse-
ouent to the sad event here related
that [ was enabled to gather the full
particulars of the motives which in
duced Walter Edgeworth to adven-
ture to California.
The old story Of mrequited alfec-
ton was told me. Walter fell, as |
had long been satisfied, desperate
iy, madly in love with the amiable,
sweet, pretty Emily Bond; and,
when in moment of sweet eOmmu-
MON, he ayowed his passion and ask
ed for her hand, the fair creature
sighed, and in melting tones declin-
ed the honor of the alHance-she
was already engaged.
Then Walter found that he had
been throwing his love upon heart
less, undemonstrative coquette-a
woman of fair exterior Of winning
manners, ofintellectual endowments,
who, without making any effort to
make captive the hearts Of her fol-
lowers, never failed to bring them
to her feet.
Poor fellow, when he had fully
ascertained his fate, he plunged at
once into desperate courses. He
threw his fortune to the winds and
when his friends drew away from
him-when he became an outcast,
he refused entrance to the circles Of
society in which he had from child
hood moved-gathered up the frag.
ments of his fortune-resOlyed to
forget thepast and immigrate to the
land of gold. He had hardly land
ed in San Francisco when he sur
rounded himself with good fellows,
and plunged wildly into every eX-
citement. Drinking and gambling
were his daily and nightly occupa-
tion and l happened to see him for
the first time in California, on the
memorable 4th of July, lS49 when
having thrown away his last dollar
at faro, he deliberately left the table
and proceeded to the Plaza, and
there cut in two the silver cord Of
life-a life that under happier aus
pices might have been one of honor
and usefulness to his felloW-men.
An hnnnst man is the nnhlest