Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-02

in that region has nothing to do with the
providing of either refreshments or music
that part of the entertainment being usu-
ally farmed by some professional cook or
confectioner, who depends upon the liberal {
ity of the guests for payment. Nor is this
a broken reed on which they lean, for not t
unfrequently the profits are divided with the
hostess paying very handsomely.
Each cavalier on finishing a dance, is
bound to take his partner to the refreshment- |
table, where she chooses what she likes, and
he pays the price. [ was myself puzzled
for long time, to conjecture why these pref
ty Senoritas, who might be expected to have
sweet tooth, SO frequently ignored the
confectionery and sweet bread, and without
hesitation chose the plain wheaton rolls-a
fact for which the really very elegant quail
ty of the latter did not sufficiently account.
But l finally learned the reason. 1t is this
The Mexicans are so iHdolent, and are such
inveterate gamblers, that their families can
never be certain that the morrow will not
find them without enough to eat and to
guard against the possibility of want, the
girls at the fandangoes make their gallants |
buy them substantials rather than fanciful
things. l learned this one night in taking a
pretty little girl home from an assemblage
of this sort, when, having accepted my con-
yoy, she loaded me, like abaker's boy, with
, about two score rolls of wheaton bread l
carried them, much to my own amusement,
) about quarter of mile-and for compen-
: sation, got kiss as g Buenas Noches at
l the door
= But to return. Lance and I looked anx-
!, iously about the room for Isabella-for. in
I truth, had become almost as much intcres-
a ted in finding her as was he. It was some
d minutes before could see her, though I
u heard voice, deep, rich, musical, and mel
e low, which l was sure, though had never
d heard her speak, could belong to none but
her. Its sound gave no index to the point
lie where she was standing it foated upon the
IN air and pervaded every place alike. But at
last | saw her, standing in the upper end Of
e. the room, leaning gracefully against her
aunt's high chair, and talkingin those tone:
Of to a group of American officers clustered a
p bout her. Lance was impatient to rush in
90 but l remonstrated-insisting that the eti
quette would not allow it.
'D-n the etiquette ? said he. III q
10 in first, and observe that afterwaId i
T. = At least said I, let me precede yol
~ : and introduce you
> ! Go on, then, in the Devils name /! h
as exclaimed and without further alteration
| pushed the door open and stepped in
ny closely followed by Lance. My first stel
le- was of course, toward the Sonora look
ke ed for Isabella-but she was gone Lane
saw it in the same instant, and cast sweep
for ing glance around the room-she was nc
ad there. He rushed at once toward the bac'
lst door to seek her and as he put his foot W
'ur on the Threshold, l saw the figure of ma
u. in white meet him face to face.
it Pero! Dog Villain 7 furiously shot
AN ted Lance what have you done with her
On He raised his arm to strike, and saw th
Up blade of knife glitter in the moonlight
not but the next moment he fell back within th
the room at full length. The blood gushe
Get from wound in his breast, spouting out VI
on the clothes of those around, his eyes b,
vas came fixed, and his jaw fell, as if in deatl
,an Seize the murderer cut him down
,ne 1 shouted, and springing across Lance
md PROSTATE body, pursued the flying figure
,on white toward the lower end of the gardel
the Several Americans followed at a run b.
ned before we could seize him, he had sprur
had rapidly up tree, and from this reached Il
s of top of the wall, whence he seemed to
ws. meditating a spring into the water
of snatched pistol from the belt of an offic
nm and fred the figure in white leaped in
and the air with loud cry, and fell plashing i
moi to the river. The gate was unlocked
prs hastily as possible, and several persons can
,ost with torches. We followed the current
sa- the bridge, but he did not reappear.
not He'll be picked up at the Footway,' sa
g e the officer of the patrol. You certainly
E of him, and We may as well go back and attel
Of 70 your friend
en- Hist = said /, suddenly-for there car
IS of floating upon the air, and mingling with t
exi- roar of the river, cry-a female voice,
med loud, so deep, so agonizing, that the We
oent atmosphere thrilled as it passed away.
be- knew the voice, and with all speed ran ba
Wig to the house. As l re-entered the saloc
les l found Isabella wildly embracing the bloc
{ by victim, with her lips pressed to his, and
nm blood still gushing in streams over her Wh
the dress. She resisted every effort to DR.
nary her away, and called frantically upon
Tam whom she embraced, and upon Cod to pr
ism his murderer. The look she cast W
me when l ordered her taken away by for
l shall never forget.
vail Doctor P, surgeon in the arr
nded was present, and Immediately examined
the wound. 1t was dangerous, he said. in
upon extreme but with great care he might
con- saved. | begged him to do all he coulC
le ta- and nobly. for he was a man of heart as '