Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-07-03


sembled in the Public Square an
the full moon, in cloudless splendc
rendered the air SO luminous as
, require no lamps. nor torches. Th
entire Mexican population turne
out besides the members Of the ba
and all the young officers of th
army from the neighboring fort.
Il A scene of greater gayety or an
imatlon could not well be pictured
as the merry dancers foated ik
fairies in the moonlight, and ever,
faceseemed radient with smiles of low
and happiness. But all did not enio,
themselves thus innocently. Nea
one corner of the old church, in.tht
ieentre Of the square, gathered I;
large circle Of both sexes around
| that altar Of Mexican worship-tht
monte-table.
Juana Palacios was dealer of the
cards, while her husband raked down
the money woD, or paid the lost debts
And never did a stronger contrast
present itself than that which
stood revealed in the appearance oil
the couple just mentioned, He was
a man Of herculean mould, with dark
froWning, ferocious features, mostly
concealed by coarse masses Of bla ok
hair and long, busby beard; indeed
little OF his yisage could be seen, save
a pair of sinister flashing eyes, and
a nose resembling the beak of q
hawk. His clothes we're costly; adorn-
ed with glitteriDg jewels while the
silver handle Of bis enormous knife
shone conspicuously above the snowy
ruffles of bis shirt bosom.
The wife was fair, slender wo-
man, Of. exquisite shape-every
limb and feature being alike full of
grace-with shining, Finglets, black
as the ravens hue, face beamy and
beautiful as star, and eyes so large,
dark, dreamy and overaowing with
fire, that they seemed every moment
melting with the warmest emotions
of unutterable love. And this look
of tenderest passion constituted the
magic of her power-the indefnable
and resistlesS charm which encbained
the gazer's heart, and fettered eve
ry thought to the footstool of the
mighty enchantress..
Several officers wearing the uni.
form of the United States, and a
young attorney, esteemed the most
handsome man in Texas, one Ebert
Wallace, approached the monte-table.
and uttered simultaneously exelama-
tlons of surprise when they beheld
the lovely vision presiding as dealer
at the game.
"How beautiful cried Captain
Brewton.
"She is an angell'' added Lieu
tenant Tucker.
The whiskers Of the jealous hus-
band curled with ire, like those Of
an infuriate tiger; andsuch terrible
gleam shot from bis diabolical dark
eyes, that dozen Of the spectators
grew pale with fright, aud several
retreated from the circle in antici-
patton Of an immediate explosion,
!. But the young lawyer, Ebert
Wallace, who was himself ofaa most
fierce and irascible disposition, and
who felt insulted by the scornful
glance of the gambler, precipita!ed
the catastrophe by an act ofreckless
audacity. Taking two steps forward,
he thrust his fingers play fully into
the shower of raven ringlets, and ad-
dressing the beautiful Juana in ten
der tones, he said sa.al
'.Pretty one, come, leave that ug-
ly he greaser, and go home with me
to Brownsville. ] will make you
mistress Of fiue mansion, and that
will be better than following such a
donkeylike vagabond as the wretch
beside you II
She smiled. and blushed Q look of
nameless fascination, and be was on
the point Of urging bis request in
perhaps warmer and wilder words,
when the impetuous husband snatch
ed up handful of silver from the
table, ana dashed itin bis face with
such fury, as to bring blood both
from his lips and nose, crying out at
the same time ~
ssThere take that as an insult from
| the ugly greaser, and fight about it
Liz YOU dare!!' d