The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1849-03-20
PART FIRST.
A Hundred Years Ago.

,.d A Hundred Years Ago.
One hundred years ago, an adveniurer
who had penetrated into the heart of Mexi
co, was sitting in his hacienda, near The
Ctylof Montezumas, with the last rays o
the setting sun upon his moody brow. His
check rested on bis hand, his eyes were
fixed upon the floor, and his lip compressed
between his clonched teeth, indicated a
Tnind absorbed in The nazes of n trembling
Hope, or troublous Memory. The view
from the easement was beautiful-,he lake
and The City of Mexico, bathed in the sun.
set rays, with the Volcanic Mountain rising
in the blue heaven, a lane pyramid Of snow
and fire, in canopy of cloudless azure.
But the thoughts of the adveuturcr were
not upon sublime scenery or bewitching
landscapes. He was from the land Of old
CASTLE, he had wandered TO the land O!
Mexico in search Of Ell Dorado; he was now
thirty years Of age, with Muscular form
clad in dingy velvet, bold forehead dark.
cned by perpetual anxiety, and pocket
excuse the ti-climax--tenanted by soil.
,ary douboon. Therefore Juan Gonzas sal
at sunset in his lonely hacerda, near the
city Of Mon,czuma, with his check on his
hand, and his eyes fixed upon the floor.
'inez! ne signed 'El Dorddo'
lnez was u dark.eyed, volupiuous lady,
whom he had often seen in the City-at the
Cathedral, on the Alameda, OF her fathers
palace ssn'ihg Iron the balcony and, with.
out an El Dorado, ii was impossible 10 win
her hand. That was the meaning of the
words coupled with sigh. There was also
the thought of hlIfwild, peasant girl, who
oitenlime went singing under burden of
fruits and flowers, along the road 10 the great
City. She was n brown checked, dark,eyed
maiden, with the mingled blood of CASTLE
and Mexico throSbing in her veins. Her
name, Coyotla, was otlenime on the lips of
The poor adventurer, and once or twice he
had spoken 10 her-she was in sooih rude
wild flower of q beauty; but the lady Inez
was beautiful and rich, and noble-alas! for
poor Coyola!
Juan 50. alone for a long time, until the
shadows of evening gathered over the City
and the Lake while Popocaepetl iamed like
a funeral pyre through tho night Sudden
ly our advcnturer became aware of the pre-.
sence Of an intruder, who had entered up.
observed, and seated himself at the opposite
SIDE Of the table. The Stranger was re-
narkable for his height and vigorous form,
and also for a singular hood, which relieved
his boldly marked features His eyes were
very bright; they sparklcd like fire flies in the
gloom. Who the Stranger was, or what
was the nature of his mission with the poor
Castilan, we cannot tell, but it is rccordeu
,ha: his interview lasted untl the daylight
rushed through the easement, when Juan
was discovered with his forehead resting un
his hand, and his starting eyes fixed upon
tho table, while the Stranger sat opposite,
regarding him with quiet look and a
smile.
'El Dorado said the Stranger, in bland
voice. 'There is the map of 1.-THE Jesuits
call il California; ;'-he pointed to the parch-
ment which was spread upon the table. 1T
is yours, friend Juan. for mere song. Come,
we mus. be going
But Juan pressed his hand against his
brow.
The Stranger rested his chin upon his
hands, and threw one leg over the arm Of
the chair.
'Parchmcn,sr he echoed, "a fig for such
nonsense! Twill discover the gold to you
for the sake Of doing you pleasure. I'm
IN eccentric sort Of character beloved by
everybody, and respected alike by the Mer-
chant, the Priest and the King. Just come
with me-get this gold-marry tho Lady
lnez, and with your two hundred and thirty
bilious of Millions Of bright doubloons, you
may become the actual Monarch Of World.
Bah! What ..ecd Of parchmen,s in such a
case?
lie smiled pleasantly, while Juan abb
sorbed in contemplation Of the map felt q
soft hand stealing around his neck, under
his dark curls, and heard mild voice whis-
per, in tone that slaiiled him
srhis room-full of gold. GolI in the river
sands, gold in bars, gold in rocks, and all in
this region, which you say you will discover
10 me, for wha,?' He gazed upwards into
!. tha.lace Of the Stranger, without changing
8ite position of his head, and awaited his re-
ply in breathless suspense. Il am 10 sign
no parch h1s4ssnt. mark ye, bartering away my
Immortal soul. No devils work now-you
understand?
sThe man who sacrifices all his hopes, his
home, bis days and nights for Gold, has no
neod Of parchments or written obligations,
TO bind his soul to the Evil One.' 'fl'"
1t was Coyotla, the half Indian maiden,
who had entered into the room and listened
10 the words of the Stranger, and shudder-
ing for her lover-who had dnever spoken Of