The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-11-15

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eating heat aud poisoned atmosphere of
the room, which had by this time been
brilliantly lighted up. & o. -.rrs' 90
As | followed closely on his steps |
congratulated myself that | hal not
been recognized by him while he was
at the table, as it might have placed
him and myself in rather awkward po,
sitions, which might call for mutual
explanations While thus reasoning
with myself, Walter hastened onward
and passed through throug that was
making toward the centre of the saloon
My progress was momentarily inter.
rupted, and Host sight of my friend.
HoweverI hastenc1 through tie crowd
as oest l could, and finally reached the
doorway -. t....... ..
The uight was exceedingly dark, and
| paused, chagriaed at the thought that
Walter had escaped me.yre I....I .
While l'stood hesitating. uscertain
which path to pursue in the hope of
overtaking him, pistol was fired on the
Plaza and next l heard, but could but
dlnily discern, a number OF persons has,
tening in the direction from whence the
report had come. v1mpelled by curiosi,
ty, also followed. and soon came up
to group Of men who were apparently
looking at something lying prone upon
the ground. | was about to make in.
quiry, when one Of those standing near
exclaimed
Poor fellow he has blown his brains
out %
"'Wbo is he ?" cried another, " Let
us take him into the house, whoever he
is"
Very carefully the body of the man
was raised and carried to the hallway of
the Dennison House, where there was
a strong light, and where it was sugges,
a phtaician could be found.
When they had placed him on the
floor, | had an opportunity, for the FIRST
time Of noticing the features.
Great God it was the body of my
friend, Walter EdgeEorth. I knolt by
his side and voluntarily placed hand
on his breast. His heart had ceased to
pulsate IFe was dead. Fifteen min.
utes previously he was in the vigor OF
lile-in the flush Of manly beauty
y
It was not until | had returned to
New York, some three years subsequent,
ly to the sad event here related, ,hat
was enabled to gather the full particu-
lars Of the motives which induced Wal
ter Edgeworth to adventure to Califbr.
MIA. .. .." z''
The old story of suhrequited affection
was told me. Walter fell, as had long
besn satisfied, desperately, uadly IN
love with the sweet, amiable pretty En-.
lily Bond ; and when in moment Of
sweet communion he had vowed his ras.
sion and asked for her hand, the fair
creature sighed, and in melting touo-
Hccl'"oa tho honor of an alliance--sae
was already engaged. 81 ..
Then Wo5er found that he had been
throwing MS Ioveaway upon u hear;.ess,
undemonstrativa coquctte--a woman Of
fair exterior, of winning manners, Of in,
tellectuul endowmonts, who, without
any effort to make captive the
hearts Of her followers never failed to
bring them to her feet. '' ...-'
Poor fcllow when hechaA fully as
certained his fate, he plunged at once
into desperate courses He threw h's
fortune to the winds; and when his
friends drew away from him, when he
became au outcast, refused entrance in
TO the circles of society in which he
had from childhood moved, he gathered
mp tho fIasmen'S Of his fortune, reSoly
ed to forget the past and emigrate to
the laud of gold '"'
He had hardly arrived in SanFrancis
co, when he surrounded himself vita
good fellows, au4 plunged wildly in
to every excitement Drinking and
gambling were his daily and nighr'y oc
cupations; and [ Happened to see him,
for the first time in California, on the
memorial 4tlt Of July,lS43, when, hav-
ing thrown away his last dollar at faro,
he deliberately1'left the table and pro
ceeded to the Plaza and there ent into
the silver cord of life-a life That
might uuder happier auspices, have
made one of honor and Of use to bis
fellow men.