Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-09
ioss Of large suru OF money accused Boy
of cheating.

| Aoes OF large suTu OF money accused Boy
Of cheating.
The words had scarcely passed his lips
when pistol ball closed them forever.
Everyone rushed forward to the wounded
man, thus giving Boyden good chance to
escape unnoticed, which he did, aud rush.
| ing TO the depot saw tram just leaving,
and jumped aboard, bound he knew not
Whither. Riding, till the train reached It's
destination, he found himself in O city
some ninety miles from home He stayed
there during the day, shaving his beard
and moustache. and otherwise Disgusting
himself, and the next day took steamer
for California. Here he engaged In every
kind Of low dissipation, trying in vain TO
drive away the remembrance of his former
life, and to forget the act that caused him
10 fly from home. He did not dare TO
read the papers, fearing he should read
something regarding himself. A common
gambler, and with his usual good luck,
there was no lack of money to carry on
his life OF debauchery. Drink, play and
dissipate as he might, he could not still
bis conscience, and at last, resolved to
travel, hoping In vain TO leave his sin be-
hind HIM. He went to England and
France, visiting those scenes he remem
bered TO have sten first when full Of life
and hope. No gambling place, however
low, but knew his face, and he soon be-
came the terror of all professionals, and
the wonder of unlucky amateurs.
One day IN Paris, some ten years after
he had left home, he was eating his dinner
at cafe, when he noticed an American
paper lying near, and thought he saw his
Old name (he had assumed one while
away, In print, and taking il up, he read:
Dled-"ln this city, Mary, the wife of
Francis Boyden-"
The paper dropped from his hands, and
the man who had left his home ten years
ago In the prime of life, now bent down
and grown prematurely old by dissipation,
bent hIs head upon his hands, and wept as
be had not done since little child. Re-
solved that he would end his days In the
land of his birth, he sailed for America,
and arriving, went straight to his native
city. Here, by adr0it questionings. he
managed to Obtain unsuspected, the history
CT his family since he had left them.
His father had been 90 shocked when
the news was brought TO HIM OF the act
his son mad committed that bis mind was
unsettled from that day. His business,
for want OF his old tact and judgment,
became involved, and he finally failed 50
badly that. after setting with his credit
ors. there was scarcely enough left for the
family 10 live upon. This final blow made
him totally insane, so that, from the time
of his failure until his death, which oc-
Cured about two years after he had been
an inmate of an insane asylum, his mother
had liyed>upcn what had been saved from
the wreck of ner husbands fortune, a
broken hearted woman whose only hope
was In the hereafter, and she had died a
short time before, as he had seen i'm the
paper His wife had returned TO her
former home, and after waiting five
years FOR his return, or any news of his
whereabouts, had gwen him up for dead.
and married wealthy Cuban, with whom
she was then llylng happy In the posses
sion of a kind husband and one lovely
child. Eacn new particular or the dread
full story only added TO the weight of re-
morse that bore down upon the conscience
stricken man. After first hearing the
truth he had wandered about the streets,
always intoxicated in his endeavor to 81
lence the still small voice that was contin-
ually repeating.
"You did nj You did itl
Crazed at iast by the terrible visions of
the past, that were continually haunting
him, he mad resolved upon taking his own
life, hut being as ususl intoxicated, he had
succeeded only TO the extent mentioned.
The poor wretch had hardly strength
enough to finish the sad story ere he
breathed his last. The next day, when
his death appeared IN the newspapers, and
1t became known who he was, hundreds
who had known HIM IN his pride, came
and begged to see his face, but humanity
demanded that he should not thus be
made a show of. and be was buried by the
side of his father and mother, the stone
bearing the simple inscription, John
Boyden."