Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-01-24


accept the challenge, and writing note to
that effect, selected one of their number to
be the bearer of it to the friend of Jennings.
On receiving information that Barnsley
would not give him satisfaction" Jennings
was furious, and vowed to shoot the Doctor
on sight This he endeavored to do few
days Afterwards and was only prevented by
some of the bystanders.
Through his representations, the son easily
induced the parents to side with him in the
difficulties. Their family pride was touched,
and they at once forbade the Doctors being
received at their house, and commanded their
daughter to meet him no more But, she
though perfectly respectful, would make no
promises; and the lovers continued to have
occasional meetings at the house of mutual
friend interviews the more affectionate as
they were their only consolation. And thus
the winter passed the Doctor continually
harrassed to avoid his enemy, and only per-
mitted to see in secret, the one he loved
With the hope of soothing the irritation, the
/ Doctor was advised to leave the town for
season, and he, conceiving it to be for the
BEST entered one of the numerous regi-
ments Of troops being mustered for service
in the Mexican war, and, though offered the
post of chief surgeon, he chose the more ac-
tive Office of Captain in which he was dis
tinguished at Monterey and other battles.-
The history of the war is so familiar to ALL
that it would be mere repetition to follow
the valiant Captain through the succeeding
campaigns. His career was brilliant, though
to a candid observer much too reckless. Cut
off in his expectations of happiness with his
hearts only choice, he was careless Of life,
and sought opportunities to throw himself in
the path of the swift-winged messengers of
death.
At the close of the war the DR.. returned
to his home, Major; having been promoted
for his gallantry, and was joyously received
by his numerous friends His stolen inter-
view with the constant Lorain was one of
those mixtures Of grief and hope, cloud and
sunshine, which so fixes itself in the mind
that no after years can eradicate it, Their
path of happiness led over the dead bodies of
her father mother and only brother, and their
feet refused to turn in that direction; so they
only permitted themselves to think of an
union in the better world.
The animosity of young Jennings had not
abated, but had rather become the more NOR
bid; and no sooner did he hear Of the return
of Major Barnsley, than he renewed his
challenge This was again rejected, and the
Major only saved himself from a street ren.
contre by leaving the vicinity.
During the war, the Major had acquired
some bad habits-among which was that Of
intemperance, and now that he was exiled
from his friends, he gave way to the allure
ments of the wine-cup, and endeayored to
drown his despair in its sparkling contents.
The tales of gold from the far off land OF
the Pacific, fell upon his ear like joyful
sound. His burdened mind seized on the
hope Of adventure in the new III Dorado as
a panacea for his sorrows, and be was one
of the first to embark for that wonderou;
country.
Ia ,pta 10 fnl1. tk,.0, y
all the vcissitudes of miners life in thai
early day. We shall therefore only say thai
in the winter of 1852 he was living at -
Bar on the American river Here, he wa
admired for his genius and daring, but th'
demon of the bowl held too full sway owe
him to command respect Holding no cor
respondence with any, his friends in tn,
Atlantic States knew not of his habits ol
the place of his residence.
In the mean time Squire Jennings and hi
wife had received that summons which al
must obey and Lorain was an Orphan Hel
cheeks had lost their bloom, her eyes theil
wonted brightness, and her step was no Ion
ger light and buoyant. Sorrow was slowly
but surely corroding her heart-strings, anS
day-by-day she ielt herself drawing near he
only goal of peace, the grave.
From the report of a returned Californian
she learned the locality of her once respect
ed lover, and of his now loose and aimles