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

was as lalf ana beautiful DIS HdJuI6
could make a daughter of our great
Mother Eve. Constant associations
with Emily assured Walter that in
all womanhood he could not select
one who would, like Emily, make
him so amiable and loving a friend
in his journey through the world,
Like all heroes, he Of course fell
desperately in love with the pretty
girl. He wooed, and | had satisfied
myself, by general reasoning, how
ever, had won her, and long before
| had recognized him in the Bay Of
San Francisco, even when wander
ing along the skirts Of the Celestial
Kingdom determined in my mind
they were long since, according to
the philosophy of the church, "bone
of one bone and flesh of one flesh.
Toward the latter part Of the
day. just as the golden rays Of the
sun were kissing the purple crowned
hills of the coast, ! placed myself
in the boat of the schooner, by the
side Of its captain, and was landed
on the beach near the line Of what
is now called Montgomery Street,
the Wall Street Of the Metropolis
of the W western side Of our conti-
nent.
A few minutes walk, aided by
the direction Of persons | inquired
Of in the street, brought me to the
Plaza-an open space, bounded on
its western side by along adobe
building, which had been devoted,
previous to my arrival, to a variety
Of government purposes; but which
had been turned into an Indifferent
sort of stable at one end, and house
of entertainment for certain children
of Asia, who had about the same
time with those Of Europe, been at
tackled by the ORE fcver-and must
come to California to participate I'M
fabulous wealth which it was supp
posed to yield wi h no grudging
hand, to all who worshipped at the
shrine Of mammon. On the eastcrn|
side were the Eldorado, the United
States, Denison's Exchange. and the
Parker House. In one of the last
| unhesitatingly entered. |
found myself, on ascending a fight
Of stairs, in a spacious saloon, round.
the walls Of which and through the
centre were placed monte, faro and
roulette tables. On each side of
these were placed, in regular order,
piles of Mexican silver dollars, gold
en- onZas, American eagles, and bags
Of various sizes and shapes, made of
every conceivable material, filled
with the auriferous metal which
those who had starved, and sweatedI
and toiled under the boiling sun,
had brought thither that they might
enjoy a few minutes excitement at
the gaming table.
Those who were attracted to these
tables were dressed in every posi-
Bile style of costume, and were Of ev-
cry country under the sun. All were.
engaged winning and losing their
hundreds, and, in some instances,
thousands of dollars, with a non
chalance that to one unaccustomed
to such scenes, as | was, was really
astonishing. At one table, and at
the further end of the saloon, [ no.
ticed a number of gentlemen ele-
gantly attired, compared with those.
in other parts Of the room. To this
table | quietly made my wsy, and
before it, gambling desperately, |
found Walter Edgeworth. "A thous-
and on the tcn,' | heard aim ex-
claim and then as | drew to his
side, he whispered, as the dealer
turned a card, in low, hoarse and
tremulous voice
"Lost p
Again the game was resumed, and
while it was progressing, Walter
wrote on slip an acceptance,
which he handed to the keeper of
the table, who nodded assentingly
as he glanced over it.
"Place it on the queen!" said
Walter, as he saw that his credit
was good with the bank.
The dealer did as he was bidden,
and resumed the distribution of the
cards.
I could not ascertain at the mo-
ment how much my friend had stalk
ed, but l saw that his eyes, yet un-
conscious of my presence, glared
like those of a wild beast in the
dark, on the particular card on
which he had wagered, as fhe were
with maniacy.
@Damnationr p he growled, as he
sprang to his feet, T'ye lost-lost
again! Ten thousand dollars gone,
and now I'm a beggar?"
Those who like myself had been
watching the game-one of whom
unhesitatingly accepted the seat va