The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-03-02
From Lppards Quaker City
The Gold Devil:
OR CALIFORNIA SOW AND 100 YEARS AGO.

\ HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

who had penetrated into the heart Of Mexi-
CO, was sitting in his hHcieRdd, nearthe city
oi Montezuma, with the last rays ofthe set.
ting ,un upon his moody brow. His cheek
rested on his hand, his eyes were fixed upon
the floor, and his lip compressed between
his clehched teeth, indicated mind absorb.
ed in the mazes of trembling hope, or a
trouOlOu> memory. The view from the ase
ment was beautIful-the lake aud the city
OF Mexico, bathed III the sunset rays, witt
the volcanic mountain rising in the blue
heaven, a lone pyramid ofsnow and fire in
a canopy OF cloudlcSS azure.
Bot lhe thoughts Of the adveuturCr were
not upon sublime scenery or bewitchina
landscapes. lie was from the land of the
old CASTLE; he had wandered TO the land oI
Mexico in search of IL Dorado; he was no,g
thirty years of age, with muscular form
clad in dingy velvet, bold forehead dark
ened by perpetual anxiety, and pocket
excuse the ti-chimaX-tenantcd by n sol
itary douboon. Therefore Juan Gon2as sal
at sunset in his lonely hacienda. near the ci-
ty of Momte2uma, with his cheek on his
hand, and his eyes fixed upon the floor.
"Inex," he sighed, 'EI Doradom
IneX was dark eyed, voluptuous lady,
whom he had often seen the city-at the Ca
thedral, on the Alameda, at her fathers
palace smiling from the balcony and, with
ont an FL Dorado, it was impossible TO win
her hand. That wa. the meaning Of the
words coupled with sigh. There was also
the thought Of half wild peasant girl who
oiteniime went singing under burden Of
fruits and flowers, along thd road TO the
great city. She was a brown check ed. dark
eyed maiden, with the mingled blood OF Gas
tile and Mexico throbbing in her veins.
Her name, CCyotla, was ortcutirnc on the
lips Of the poor adventurcr, and once or
twice he had spoken to ne'-she was in
sooth a rude wild flower Of beauty, but the
Lady lnez was heau'lel and rich aud noble
alas for poor Coyotla!
Juan sat alone for some time, until the
shadows Of evening gathered over the city
and the lake, while Popocatcpeti famed ike
a funeral ryre through the night. Sudden
ly our advaB'urer became aware Of the
presence of an intruder, who had entered
unobServcd, and seated himself atthe oppo.
site side Of the table. The stranger was re g..
markable for his height aud vigorous form.
aud also for singular hood, which relieved
his boldly marked features. His ewes were
very bHght-thcy spanked like iire-nes in
the gloom. Who the the stranger wa.. or
what was the nature o! his mission with the
poor CaS'lIian, we cannot tell but itiSrecord-
cd tina! his interview lasted until tie day.
hight rushed through The easement. when
Juan was discovered with his forehead rest.
ing upon his haad, and his starting eyes t,x
ed upon the table, while the stranger sat on
positc, regarding him with a quiet look and
4 smile.
f.! Dorado said the stranger, in Bland
voice. There is the map OF THE JeSuils
call It California, = he pointed 10 the parch-
mcnt which was spread upon the table. 1t
is yours, friend Juan for a mere song,
Come we must be gonna
But Juan pressed his hand agains, his
brow, which was damp with sweat, and fix
ed his glazing eyes upon the map, muimu,-
iug IN an imprisoned tone
This room is full of gold. Gold in the
river sands, gold in bars, gold III rocks. and
all in this region. which YOU say You will
discover to me-for WHAT He ga2cd up
wards into the face Of the stranger, without
changing the position Of his head, and a.
waited his reply in breatnles> suspense.
am to sign no parchment, mark We. barter
lng away my immortal soul.-Nu devils
work nuw-yuu understand!
The Stranger rested his chin upon III,
hands and threw one leg over the arm o!
the chair.
'Parchmen's = lie echoed, "a fg for such
nonsense, ! will discover the gold TO YOU
for the sake Of doing You pleasure, I'm an
cXccntrc sort OF character, beloved bv
every body, and respected alike uy the Mcr-
oh IA | al I,
with mc-gct this gold marry the Lady l.
nee, aud with your two hundred and thirty
billions Of millions Outright dhublcloou> yot.
may become the actual Monarch Ola World.
Bah What need Of rarchmcuts in such a
case .
Ae smiled pleasantly, while Juan absorb.
ed in contemplation OF the map, felt a sart
hand stealing around his neck, under his
dark curlS, and heard n mild voice whisper,
in tone that startled him
the man who sacrifices all his hopes, his
home, lis days and nights for Gold, has no
need OF parchmenis or written Obligations,
10 bind his soul TO the Evil One
II was Cuyolla, the half Indian maiden,
who had entered into the room aud li>tcnrd
10 the words ufthe Stranger, aud shuddciiug
for her lovcr-who had never spoken oilovc
to her, she whispered the warning in his
ear.
Juan heard her voice, he felt the thrill Of
her pulse, as hcrhand encountered his neck g,
but he did not raise his head and gaze upon
her face. The Map OF Ii Dorado rvitcd his
Sonl.
The light Of the rising sun Strcamed thr'o
the easement over Juau's pallid brow, aud
over the mild, and tmid face OF Coyotla,
while the viSagc Of the Stranger was in
shadow. The empty goblet on the floor
Gttcrcd like coal. Atthis moment,
Juan raised his head, aud shuddrrcd as he
caught CLEAN Of face which grinncd up
on him from an aperture in the wall.
IL is the face of Death he talercd, and
reached forth his hand 10 grasp the hand Of
Coyotla Take your map. Here Is III Do.
rado,' and claSped the hand Of the Mexican
girl, while his haggard face was overSprcad
by momentary smile. Here in the light
of home, shines the true Dorado
Keeping his hand beneath his chin, the
Stranger whispered gently, as his eyes de .
vourcd juan'S face. Gold in the rivers
SandS.-Gold in bars. Gold in rockS-W With
this room irll of gold you can sway the com
mcrcc of the woIld.'
Aud then CoyOtla. and the Stranger con.
tended for the possession Of Juan, while the