The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-11-11
From the New York Sunday Times.
The Slave Wife, or the Sudden Duels

At the close Of the Mexican war, the city
of Brownsville, on the Texan bank Of tho Ric
Grandc river, end Immediately opposite Mat
amoras, sprung up suddenly as If by magic
developed the full growth of an urban commu
nifty within the course ola few months. Thi;
singular flow Of emigration, and rapid ad
vanccmcnt in business was the result Of the
living spirit of American enterprise, the com
mcrca position Of n restless people, eager,
alike for glory and gain.
Amongst The many adventures who swarm
cd to the Rio Grande in the first prime Of its
golden promise, was young lawyer, one
Elan Parks, recently from South Carolina.
Although descended from m ancient tide Of
ancestors, and bearing in his veins the blood
Of the Revolution, and having received a
classical education, yet his fathers vices hav-
ing squandercd IN immense fortune, the son
was left poor, to fight the fierce battle Of life,
relying altogether on his own resources, with
out hope or aid or comfort from kindred or
friends. Nature had endowed him with n
handsome person, excellent judgment, and
true courage.
On arriving at his new sphere Of acsion,
Young Parks encountered mn unexpected diff
Guilty. He discovered TINT there was very lit
tlc lucrative business transacted in the court,
and this had already fallen into the hands Of
n few advocates, who managed adroitiy to
monopolize every case of the sma lest import
ancc. 1t was evidently impossible TO sit down
and patiently wait until matters would mend
bv he doubtful evoluiions Of Time or chance.
Tho price of board and lodging were dear,
and his wardrobe nee ed renovation even be.
fore no was fitted to appear in the forum at
nll In this crisis Of affairs, he conceived n
p'nn that looked in tho light Of reason, wild
and visionary. lie sold off his books ut auc.
tion. and with the proceeds opened garden,
within mile Of the city, for the purpose OF
supplying the market with vegetables, which
happened ut that time to be extremely scarce,
as the natives Of the soil wanted both the will
and the wisdom to turn the rich aluvial of
the soil To any account. As the experiment
flonrshed. the Mexican labor was very cheap
tho cx.attorucy urged his operations still FUR
thcr. and tho little garden soon expanded in
10 fold. To sum up the general result in
n single sentence. the end of three years fot nd
him not only independent, but wealthy.
Having amused sufficient fortune to satisfy
his desire he tn ught Of selling out, and re-
curing again to his profession which he had
been forced to nban on, when an incident oc-
curted to change his purpose. a family 10y
the name of Garcia, assumed TO be OF Span.
ish origin, arrived in Brownsville, from New
Orleans. They were apparently in atflucnt
circumstances. intelligent. polished in their
mnnners, and remarkably handsome in their
person. They were all dark featured, as is
commonly the fact with the race from which
they claimed their descent. Indeed, they
made it q matter Of boast that slight tlncture
of Moorish blood colored the current in their
veins. Wealth possesses golden key to un-
lock the most exclusive doors, and beauty has
the force of fire TO melt the hardest hcart--so
that the new addition to the society OF the Rio
Grandc, rs one might well imagine, caused
the utmost enthusiasm, and was hailed as an
era in the history Of frontier life.
There was one member of this comely
household who Immediately became an cspccl-
al favorite in the community, and drew the
admiring attention of every observer by the
powers Of her unspcakabe lovelincss. May
Gracia was one of those rare combinations OF
graceful form, luminous features, and sprltu-
al EXPRESSION. that resembled the fauItless
ideas Of imagination, or the radiant picture
Of perfection which glittcrcd in the dreams Of
early youth, rather than the shapes Of flesh
and blood that brcathed common mir and min
gled with the things of earth. Her small,
regular, exquisite face, revealed complexion
some what dark in its tints, hut literally trans.
lucent, whore the warm blood could be seen
- L <.,l, La uufs
ding blush Of maiden modcsty. Her eyes OF
the deepest jet, appeared to swim in a sea Of
light---wild, waving and mixed with LIQUID
FIRE. Her long, dark hair, flowed around
bust and bosorn Of indcscribablc symmetry.-
But her voice possessed the most marvellous
fascination Of ALL. 1t was clear silvery aud
ringing with gentlo cadence in its tono, a.
tho fell Of esch SENTENCE, like fhe lispiug u1ur-