Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-01-08
A Woman's Curse.

eff you want to hear a strange sto-
ry," said a gentleman to reporter of
the Alta, yesterday, In Golden Gate
Park, ''engage that gray haired man in
conversation and get him to tell you
his story. 1t will repay you for your
time" and he indicated a Premature
aged man with a sad face setting in the
sun on one of the benches of the park.
The reporter needed no second invita-.
ton, and was soon seated by the man
with the strange history.
81 am told" said the seeker after
facts, THAT you have life story strange
in the extreme. and that you are notad-
verse to relating It,"
The eyes Of the man were turned on
the speaker moment, and then fold
ing his white hands in his lap, he said /:
Yes it is story, l am a murderer
and reformed gambler but you
need not shrink SO form me, for the
murder was not intentional. Ten
years ago owned the largest and most
popular gambling parlors in the city of
Chicago, and on Saturday nights 1 dealt
my own faro game, In which business,
of course i madea great of deal money
! Many unpleasant incidents grew out Of
my bushes, but always excused it on
the ground that men did not have to
play my games any more than they
were Obliged to drink poison. finally
g)t to noticing and expecting one
young man in particular, who always
came when it was my night to deal.
At first he played boldly; and as con-
sequences, lost heavily, but as he grew
more familiar with the game he played
carefully, and acted as though fife de-
pended on his winning, which in fact
was tie case, as it asterward proved,
got acquainted with him, addressed
him as Brown, but knowing that that
was not his true name. think he fol.
lowed the game for months, winning a
little sometimes, but generally losing
heavily. At last he came one night,
and saw by his flushed face that he
had been drinking, although he looked
apparently cool. He sat down to the
table, drew out small roll Of money,
and, laying it down before him, said,
There is in that little pile my fortune,
my honor and my life. either win all
or lose all. this night. Begin your
game ; am ready" Others joined in
at first and played for while, but f.
nally Withdrew from the game AMI
watched the strange young man at my
right. He played to win. but fate was
against him for he lost, won and lost a
gain, and finally after about two hours
of playing, evidently in the most fear
full suspense, he lost his last dollar.
Leaning back in his chair, with COM
pressed lips and face blanched to a
deathly whiteness, he looked me in the
eye moment, and rising said MY
money, honor and happiness have gone
over that table, never to return. l said
my life would 60 with them, and it
shall. Tell my wife l had gone too far
to return" Before we could prevent
it he put derringer to his breast and
shot himself through the heart falling
upon the table that had been his ruin
| and death.
His wife came, awful in the majes.
ty of her grief, and after satisfying
herself that her husband was dead, she
asked 'Where is the keeper of this
dreadful place ?" I was pointed out,
and, striding up to me 80 that her
finger almost touched my pallid face,
she exclaimed in tones that are ring
ing in my ears yet 'Oh, you soul
less wretch, with heart of stone You
haye lured my husband from me, sent
him to perdition, widowed me and or
phaned my children. You are his
murderer, and may Gods curse rest
upon you eternally y 'Oh, my husband
my children y she fell fainting on the
corpse.
81 fingered for weeks in brain fever,
that curse seeming always to be the
burden Of my mind. On my recovery L
burned the fixtures of my den and closed
the place, and have DEVOTED most of my
time To travel with the hope of escap.