Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-06-21


fiendish light, drew pistol, and aiming with
deadly intent full at the breast Of Frank,
pulled the trigger With the first motion
Harry had sprung towards the villain, with
the intention of seizing the pistol-but he
was too late to prevent the discharge, though
he saved the life of his brother by receiving
the ball in his own breast, and with moan
of anguish sank down at the feet of Frank.
Mike Henley gazed for moment upon the
deed he had committed, then springing up
the bank, was lost to view in the bushes
The crowd appalled, by the horrible termina-
ton of their unjust proceedings, skunk away
one by one, not wishing to be identified with
the affair, and Frank was left alone with his
murdered brother.
"Oh God dear Harry, he has murdered
YOU" he cryed, sinking upon his knees and
tearing open the coarse shirt which covered
the wound; "why did you spring before the
pistol?p
''To save you, dear Frank" calmly replied
the noble Harry, beam of fond affection
lighting up his palled face '1m going,
Frank-going," he painfully continued, after
a pause; "his shot was shure one-Im
bleeding internally"
en- brother; what shall do without you in
this land of strangers?"
Go home where youhave friends" replied
poor Harry. Listen, Frank to the words
of dying brother. One stay of the tot
tering steps is taken from our aged parents
do not risk the other, but return without the
coveted wealth carry n dying childs love
marry Alice, and be happy. You know
loved her once, Frank, fondly loved her but
found her heart was given to you; be kind
to her, Frank, and a departed brother will
implore the blessings Of heaven for your wei
! fare"
A" You shall not die !" wildly cried Frank,
clasping him i'll his arms, as if to protect him
| from the grip of death. "You shall not be
torn from me ="
"Ah, brother that is blasphemy It's the
expressed wish of God that | am cut off in
my youth, and we must yield to His behests
| have but few moments to live bear kind
remembrance to all the friends at home-a
home, alas shall never see again. Cut a
lock of hair from my head and carry it to
our mother It's the last she will ever see of
her poor SON"
The agony of the bereaved brother pen
cannot describe. A sudden change took
place in his manner after these words, and
with one arm raised above his head, his face
turned heavenward, and a solemn expression
appearing upon his face, he said, in a deep
still voice
Heaven witness my vow You shall
not die unrevenged, my brother | will pur-
sue your murderer to the extreme end of the
earth, and with the might of Just avengers
arm, send his soul to the hell which is waiting
to receive it y
The dying man, unheeding the wrath of
his brother, continued, "name the first son of
Alice, after me, Frank twill cause you to
remember me when years have paled the mem
ory of Harry"
A tremor now run through his whole frame
but he recovered slightly, and in scarcely
audible whisper went ON Where are you,
Frank-my sight grows dim; | cannot see
your hand, brother-here carry this kiss to
mother the breath is leaving me bark -
hear that sweet music II die happy | am
going to God farewell, dear Frank, fare
well y
As he uttered these words he suddenly
raised his body, supported by the arms of
Frank, to an upright position, then with II
long drawn sigh, the pure spirit left the tene-
ment of clay, to be borne in the arms of an
gels to the home of the happy
What pen can portray the anguish of the
stricken brother? Mine surely cannot and |
draw the curtain around the scene of soul
moving agony.
The murderer Henley fed, and after the
lapse Of week, might have been seen enter
ing village some distance from the scene of
his foul crime; he had scarcely entered .he
tavern of the place, when man in the dress
of native Californian, rode in from the same
direction, and giving the reins of his animal
to the attending hostler, also entered the
house, as Henley was turning from the desk,
where he had entered his name for a room -
the Californian stepped to the book, and
writing his name, said to the clerk:
al will take a bed in the same room with
my friend" pointing to Henley.
Very well, SIR was the reply; when
you wish to retire will show you the room.
In the morning, when the chamber-maid
entered the room to perform the necessary
labor, she was horrilicd by the sight which
met her gaze.
The body of Henley lay partly hanging
from the bed the clothes bcs2rnked with
blood, and large Bowe-knifc buried to the
hilt in his breast To the handle was at
tached slip of paper bearing the following
words:
" Life for life is the established social law
of the country Whether the murderer falls
by the hand of self appointed judges, or by