Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-05-12
!Ql@ 96rn Cider q

A STORY OF REAL LIFE.

-
OF November Well DO | remember the
day-upt alone from tho circumstances
an aboutsto relate. but no matter. The
expsi Iencoo OF every early adventurer here
IL eotted with enduring lsndmarks.-to
guido tha .noiseless step of recollection
back through the dim sistas of the past,
and lengthan the great way of life. Broad
this evening is tho rcad-of travel day.
and fUwsrs still blossom beside it. and
thorns finger in the sight: but further. and
it narfows into thresdiike path; along
which the flowers lie dead and scentless.
and touching here and there at q few mo-
ments Of bliss, or sepa.cher OF hopo. APP
proaches the confines OF memory and is
soon lost to sight.
Well. 1t Was tho 18th OF November
The day had been a dreary drizzling one,
and as the night approached the wind
!ullej. and q heavy fog rolled like a
mighty avalanche OF snow over the hills
wsspok6au Francisco.r and settled in
tlsek Almost drcnchihg mist. over the
nully streets and house-tops. 1t was In
deed cherries evening. and we did not
wonier then nor do we now, that the gam
bling houses were crowded. and the bars Of
the drinking saloons thronged for the city
was full OF Strangers, and promenading
the hAff paved sirssts BY tho uncertain
light OF an occasional door lamp. could
scarcely be deemed a positive enjoyment.
The "El Dorado" was the great centre
OF attraction. 1t was not only one Of the
largest andimost substantial structures in
the city. but Its proprietorsi were men
whose wealth was. counted By tens of
thousands. and every bank in its spacious
saloon, Kas tosded With golden slngs and
ounces. Through the room were ranged
no less thsn twenty tables. at which were
played faro, monte, rouge etnoir, lans-
queuet shdsavariety OF other games, The
veg namss OF which have escaped me;
whle from raised platform poured forth
q continuous food of exquisite music. from
atandtof the best musicians in the conn
tryts The finest musical talent IN the Sfats
ound-empioymsnt in the gambling sa-
looms oil San Francisco and Sacramento.
and many of the most noted performers in
the country to-day made their debut before
an Audience Of gamblers Simonton. the
well known vioiinist, and Pattinos, one
ofsthe best pianists In the State. for two
yesrs occupied together the platform of the
al Dorado" al Sacramento, receiving
sixty-fonr dollars per day for their servi-
ces, and the very first musician in the city
once led an orchestra at another gambling
house. IN the srCity Of ,tha plaips,SgX
As we said before, the "E1 Dorado"
Wa crowded. Many were betting and ven-
trring their last dollar with an u uncertainty
CHARACTERISTIC of the times, while as many
more were slbowing their way from one
tabfeIto other, with no other object than
the gratifying of their curiosity, ard the
Vain hope of seeing some desperate game
ster clap bank and win it, a dozen
OF more were reeliBg through the saloon,
entirely too wealthy. in their own estimae
ton. even to covef1he piles OF .ucre around
ten, while not few might be observed
with han1s damned in their empty peck
cts. staring abstractedTy at the progress of
game that had relieved them of the last
ouaeG fs7ffG$ 30 6N G. &
The band commsncsd its second perform
aalce for The evening. and seemed intent in
eboisterous execution to drown the clamor
OF tingliBg silver, when a tall muscular
looking miner stopped in trent Of the door,
and gazing q moment at the scene with
In, buttoned his thin coat around him, and
started slowly down Washington street.
lie was coarsely but comfoTtly clad. A pair
Oh heavy, brown whiskers completely COW
cred his face, and the broad brim of a
siouchcd hat rested almost upon his Shout
ders. Ssstz-E.Isac ilr1as a.1'ts.sss,
This way. jane" said voice to fe-
male who. had just emerged from small
sboderbu fding Immediately, below=the
EIDorado. and stood hesitating beside a
pool OF mud and water The miner stop
ped, and'as the woman carefully selected
stepping place and sprang to the pave
ruent, he involuntarily caught her by the
arm. Somewhat surprised at the prompt
assistance, she gazed into his unshorn face
Tor moment. and thanking him politely,
passed on with her companion. who had
taken a more circuitous but less danger
Gus ito his polished boots) route to the
Hesitatins a moment the miner, tu1 turn.
ing, followed. He started as he saw her
enter the gambling saloon. Pushing his
way through the crowd, he next discover
ed her seated at q monte table. We do
not wonder that be looked at her more
than once. and that his heart beat and his
dark eye ,fiiashed--for hersweet face was
pale and care-worn, and the smile that
play on it was as meaningless as way.
side sunbeam. Her companion who .scall-
cd" and ''cashcd" the game as she turned
the cards. was what any lady without too
close scrutiny of his face, would have pro.
nouncedj sfne looking man. He was
dressed in extraordinary good taste. with
the exception, perhaps Of too great dis
played ofjewelry. His features were regu-
lar, and his eyes piercing and restless; but
that proud curl of the lip which not unfre-
a656Gy dkuOtes firmness and manly inde-
pendence, in him was a repulsive indica-
ton of reeklessness and disdain.
The cards were shuffled, and clay ort''
given
Make your bets, gentlemen" sang out
tAS Sambser, while he jinsled 4 pile OF ssil.
yer lying before him. "a jack ond ten
make your BETS
Pnlling bis hat over his eyes, the miner
annroachad th,. fable and careless1v fossed