The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-01

Dut tue stranger dld not seem to hea
the last remark He was gazing at th
fire, With sad, weary expression.
"He's lonesome" thought the widow
"Mebbe thrihe O. music wud stir hin
up bit. Tommy !" she called up tn
ladder. Bring down the acohrgreen an
give us a chime :"
Presently the bare feet Of Tommy
made their appearance at the head of tht
ladder, and began to descend In hi
hand he held an ACCORDION. which looket
as il it had seen much active service
Sqnatted like young Turk before tht
fire, Tommy went through his repertory
while the heels of the old lady kept tim,
to the lively strains of Dirty James,
and murphy DelaDy." Above tn,
wheeling of the instrument arose tn,
sounds OF the combat of the elements .ant
it seemed 10 be o dispute as to which
would get the best Of it, At length
Tommy's arms relaxed, much to the ap
parent relief Of the guest, who arose ant
signifed his wish to retire.
! The next morning Monsieur Durdor
breaklasted, and then walked down to tn,
bar. Two hours afterward he returned
and made a bargain with the widow t
board aud lodge him for 80 much week
He had made up his mind to stay awhile
he briefly explained. Thus domiciec
with the Widow Carroll, Monsieur, with
the aid OF few kind acquaintance, locat
ed claim, provided himself with an out
tit aud settled down to hard work. II
was rather rough for Monsieur at first
the tender skin Of .he hands chafed under
the grasp Of pick and shovel, the arm
grew tired working the cradle, and the
buckets were very heavy. But better
men than haf done zis work-N i'm.
porte" argued Monsieur Durdon, with q
smile aud shrug.
The good nature aud gentlemanly de.
meanor of Monsieur won the respect and
esteem Of the rough spirits about him and
no man was held in higher regard at
kimbars Placer than "Munseer Dur.
douy," as they called him. By and by
the upright, military carriage gave way
to slight sioop. the hair turned ,rihe
grayer, and deeper grew the lines in Mon.
sienrs brow But Monsieur Durdon,
whatever was troubling him within, kept
up au outward show OF cheerfuness
Sometimes, indeed, while seated 10 the
Widow CAROLS hostelry, he gave way
to lii of sadness, but the watchful widow,
with tact most commendable speedily
put an end TO his gloomy reyerie. Mon
,ieur had almost u woman's taste in re-.
gard to dress and ornament. Coming
home from day Of toll in the blistering
sun, he would stop at buckeye bush, in.
hale the fragrance of its sweet blossoms,
and gather an arm full of the heavy laden
branches to decorate his rude apartment.
A Sunday never passed without floral
display; the buckeye, the azaba, the
syringa, the oleander and the mandrone
all had their place II love ze flowers"
said Monsieur Durdon "Zey look so
sweet, an zey costs notin. Zelas it re.
minds me OF my countree." Indeed. he
carried this passion to such an extreme,
that one night the Widow Carroll hear.
ing labored breathing. rushed into his
apartment and found him nearly asphyx.
ated. Mrs. Carroll at once heaved them
out on the road, and forbade him ever
indulging in the foolish fancy again.
Practical common sense on the part of
Mrs. Carroll, but then ruthless outrage
on the poetic.
The chronicle grieves TO say hat Mon.
sieur had serious failing. A failing
common to many men. lie was not
druukard-far from it-but then he
liked the ardent. Maybe from natural
taste, or maybe to drown care-who
knows?
Now TO get the stimulant Monsieur
had to 60 among meD, and going among
men he made acquantances and friends.
Among the latter was Bat Harmon. Two
years after Monsieur Durdon came to
Kimball's Placer, Bat Harmon made his
appearance. lie was gambler by pro.
iession, and in spite Of his precarous call.
ing was a generous hearted man. Hon.
or" and generosity" are queer words to
use in connection with the characteristics
of professional gamester, but Bat Han.
non was fully entitled to them. Tie stood
six feet in height, straight as an arrow,
with ali eye as black as midnight. lie
had the courage of the lion, was the best
shot 10 the district, and witha, was as
sensitive as a child. His purse was al.
ways open to the needy. and many a
charity was unostentatiously bestowed by
his hand. 1t is related of him that he
was once travelling in thinly settled dis.
trct, and meeting with an individual with
a well filed purse, sat down to play a
game of cards. Harmon had just two
doubloons in his pocket, and these he
stsked. The gamo continued for long
time, and when it ended. Hannon was the
winner Of large amount his adversary
was completely cleaned out. From re.
marks made, it seemed that the man had
saved the money through many months
of toll, intending TO send il East to bring
his family out. In hopes of increasing
the sum- be had staked aud lost. Han
non no sooner understood the case, than
pressing the whole sum upon the man, he
sprang upon his horse and was out OF
sight before his adversary recovered from
his astonishment. For thirty-six hours
after Harmon ate no food, nor did be
break his fast until he reached his destn.
alton.
He played square game through life,
and met men on equal terms, The man
who stepped into bis bank was sure OF
fair play, and il be lost his all at the ia.
BILE. he never went away empty-handed
Tender as woman, he never deserted q
friend but stood by him to the last Such
is the picture of model gambler of the
early days of California The socia
qualities Of Monsieur Durdon attracted
the attention of Hannon, and he gained
his friendship. This friendship began uu
der peculiar circumstances, and vas a,
follows
] Al