Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-23
From Graham's Magazine.
ISABELLA DE MoNTALvA.

ft Il
A STORY OF THE CENTRE DIVISION.
CcoNcLUDED.1
Half an hour before dawn on the follow
ing morning we were in the saddle, and RI
ding slowly over the Hill toward the Puebla,
where my detachment was to await my com
inE. Our eavalcade was small, but there
was constant freshness and novelty about
these little expeditions which give us the
high spirits and keen enjoyment usually at
trihuted to more numerous parties. lsa-
bella was especially gay Mounted upon
alight, spirited horse, and sitting upon a
dsagoon-saddle as securely as if it had been
made for one Of her sex, she rode along be-
side Lance with laughing grace that bade
defiance to every thought Of danger. As
VIC reached the brow Of the hill, which d.
vides the city proper from the Puebla, and
came Ia sight Of the watch-frc Of the picket,
VIC could discern the dragons, mounted for
amareh, already in waiting and the metal
scabbafds Of their swords, and the highly
polished barrels Of their carbines, glistened
as the fre-light shone upon them, or glanced
and gIintcd through the darkness with every
movement of the impatient horses. AS we
rode down the slope, the detachment wheel
cd out upon the road and soon after our
pic mic party riding somewhat in advance,
we found ourselves heading toward the North,
across wide, parchcd, and dusty plain
Wc made but little progress until the sun
rose for though the mountains were visible,
looming up like clouds upon the left, hidden
and revealed alternately by the morning
mists, It was not until the sunshine had
chased The wreaths away, that we could with
Any certainty determine our landmarks
As the morning poured over the ridge O
Santa Rosa, however, and the parallel sier
fas caught its warmth, the shapes and col
ofs rapidly came out upon the broken dc
clivities, and two tall peaks rose, clearly Gu
against tho sky, as if to guide US on our way
Assuming direction in which the nearer 0
these half hid the more remote, We strucl
directly across the plain, paying no heed t,
tracks or paths, but moving as the bir,
flies, > straight forward to our point Of des
tinaiion
We rode on, morrily talking and laugh
ing--sometimes in sweeping gallop, an
anon in sober walk, for several hours. II
ward ten o'clock, the ridges and ravincs, th
groves Of palms and waving pines along th
mountain-sides began to grow distinct an
hanging over the edges Of the precipicei
we could see festoons and strcamers, mos
and ivy, swinging in the wind. Betwoe
the bands Of verdure, and among the pint
and cedars, little rills and miniature torren
were glitsering down the slopes and hcl
and there among the rocks the sunlight pai
ted rainbow colors on the spray and mist
silvsry waterfalls. Gray rocks rose weat
er-stained and rugged toward the sky al
nodding from their highest clefts, or twinil
lovingly about their base, the mountain vim
and flowers softened down their hoar al
teFity, and fringed with graceful life al
beauty, the rents and gaps Of centurie
As VIC rode nearer, the roaring Of the win
among the pines came solemnly upon Q
ears; and, as quiet under-tone, the q
tlor sounds Of sweeter brcezes mingled W
the trembling stiffness Of the plain
We had reached the base Of the hills, a
were about turning toward the north ag
to reach the point to be observed, when
sergeant rode forward and informed ME t
he had seen small body Of men at SO
distance to the right.
sIfI was not Mistaken said he, &
rode down into a ravine and though ] h
been watching for them, they have not
appeared
You must have been mistaken, sal,
However, take tho detachment, and
of IN that direction. And while you
in the region, seek a commanding point f
which You can see into the Hacienda
How long shall remain, and wi
shall ! find your he asked.
Let him stay and make the recon
sanes, said lance and we can go on u
La Esmeralda, where be can find u.s.
did not much ike this suggestion |;
alter moments Thought, though with /
misglving, assented, l was unwillir
let the mon sec the terms upon which
stood with isabella, for thew knew no
Of her than the information which had
given to the garrison that she Cor he as
supposedly was Lauee's servant and
fear Of betrayiug her. upon this occasi
upon others. outweighed the sense Of
directed the sergeant, therefore. 10
the observation, and return 10 us at /,
meralda, by two o'clock at the furtbe
Turning sharply 70 the left as the d
mcnt rode away to She right, VIC struc