Amador weekly ledger., 1857-11-14
CHAPTER Y.
A STORY TWICE TOLD.

lie ucdtn Vi EdSlHciu ulu not dlotSe lHc
public feeling other than to palliate the deed
In those days, IN that new country, the courts
wnked at a mans redressing, even unto
death, wrongs of which they could not take
cognzance. SO no effort was ever made for
the punishment Of Waters
On the settlement of Eastfields estate, it
was ascertancd that he was thousands Of
dollars in debt at the time Of his death, with
but little to meet the demands. He was on
the verge of bankruptcy when he was mar
ried, and evidently sought Miss Stanford in
order to obtain her fathers aid Mr.. Stan
ford had signed notes in large amount for
his son-in-law, and the creditors now came
on him for their pay. The liquidation of
these liabilities reduced him to poverty. The
loss Of their fortune and the death of her
daughter, for which she blamed herself alone
as the first cause, so preyed upon the mind
of Mrs. Stanford that her health gave way
under the burden. and her spirit, proud as it
had been, was driven from its tenement, and
she slept in death. beside her daughter
Mr.. Stanford lived years longer, charge
upon his sons bis only comfort being the lit
tie Minnie, his daughters child, born but
three weeks prior to her mothers DEATH
But he too ere his darling had entered her
tenth year, was called to his final rest Mr..
Lorenzo Stanford aud his wife yet lived be-
loved by their neighbors.
The orphan Minnie was tenderly reared
by her uncles, and every expenditure lavshed
upon her that their limited means would al
low One Of her uncles was married, and
his wife's brother returning from California
in the autumn of '52, with glowing accounts
Of the country, the Stanfords resolved to re-
move to that golden gateway of the setting
sun. In the Spring they started in accord
ance with their resolve, Minnie accompany
ing them. On the journey one of them was
killed by the Indians, and his widow died ere
they reached the Sierras; thus leaving Min
ME in the care Of her bachelor uncle.
This was the substance of the strangers
narrative. To find Waters and communicate
it TO him was now my task advertise for
him in the papers as the only hope of gaining
knowledge of him, and was so fortunate
that in less than mouth he presented him
self before me. Scarcely waiting to pass the
usual compliments he exclaimed, you have
heard from her; where is she?' In few word,
informed him Of where the lady, whom be
had seen, resided. His impatience was SC
great that it was with difficulty induced hin
to listen to an explanation of who she was
This | expected would cool his ardor, but tc
my surprise he was as determined as ever to
see her, and had there been any means oi
conveyance he would have started for that
purpose the same hour of his arrival. That
evening gave him a full account of all that
the stranger had told me, but it was only
when mentioned the name of Minnie that
he listened with any degree of attention.
The next morning he left, without even ar
ranging bis business affairs with me, although
l had informed him that | had money belong
ing to him. He acted like monomanae; a
victim to the fanaticism of love. To see the
one whose features had caused him SO much
anxiety, seemed his only desire. How coulc
he expect to be received with appreciation by
one whose fathers life-bIood he had spilled
Certainly he could not, even though blinded
by singular passion hope for continued
acquaintance with Miss Eastield. But Wa
tiers considered none of these thngs and
with what to me looked like extreme pre-
SUMPTION pursued the bent of his own will