The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-12-23

sistance, as | had somewhat boldly pro.
claimed it was my intention Of doing. l
thanked them for their advice, and re-
piled that | would take the matter into
serious consideration.
At Perote, | repeat, all who had been
my companions from Vera Cruz took
leave of me, this being the end of their
journey in that direction, but there was
one new passenger here to 60 forward,
whom to my agreeable surprise, found
to be beautiful young lady, some twen-
ty years of age.
Senorita Paula,as subsequently, ascer-
tanned her name to be, was indeed one of
those rare beauties seldom met with except
in works of fction-tall, graceful, with a
profuson of long black hair-soft, clear,
melting dark eyos-festures as perfect as
ever came from the hands of the sculptor,
and with an animation the most fascina-
ting, varying in expression with every
changing mood Of the Intellectual pos
SCISSOR. A glance at her bewitchiug dark
eyes showed NE that she was one who was
naturally of social disposition; and as We
ratified away from the gloomy town, [
took the liberty of opening a conversa-
ton.
They tell me, said I, that the route
between here and Mexico is a very dan
gerous one to travel
There is little to fear, she replied with
sweet smile and in a melodious tone,
except from the professional robbers, and
they seldom harm any but those who
make resistance
1T seems strange to me- [ rejoined
that you Mexicans should take such
things as matter Of course, and deem
resistance a very impolite way of treating
the knights of the road, instead of boldly
asserting your rights, and abating the e.
vii by a manly spirit of resistance. For
myself, | must consider it the most cow
ardly of proceeding, for any respectable
party to set out prepared to quietly graf
ify the cupidity of the Iad50neS, and un-
prepared to treat them to their just de-
serts.'
Every traveller, Senor,' she replied,
should, before setting out, count the cost
of his journey, aud of course it is natur-
al be should value bis life highly, it seems
to me natural that be should pay Ger
tain sum for positive safety rather than
put that life in jeopardy. For instance,
in travelling from Vera Cruz to Mexico,
if he will first reckon that so much is the
fare by the diligencia, and that so much
will be required for entertainment on the
way; aud so much for the contingency
you speak of, be will then have the exact
cost between two points; and if be will
look at the whole as the sum total Of his
journey, be will not seem to be robbed
by any one party more than another
That l replied, may be, l believe is,
the Mexican mode of doing business, but
does not tally with the preconceived ideas
of us foreigners
But every one,' replied the fair speak
er, should conform to the customs of the
country he visits
And do you then 60 prepared for this
highway rObberyl and have you no fear
in thus journeying by yourself!'
well, Senor, what can | do! | am as
you perceive, an unprotected lady; who,
for certain reasons, am required to make
the journey to Perote and the Capital
some twice or thrice year, and you GER.
tainly could not expect me to go prepar-
ed to resist an armed hand! As to fear,
| will not deny-I have any share of that;
but, SO far, have never met with any
rough treatment, and of course | trust to
the saints that my fortune will ever be as
propitious.
And have you really been robbed on
your journey back and forth!' injured.
81 think have paid my share to the
hadrones for my transit through their
couatry! she laughed.
And you expect to continue rcpeti-
ton of the same for the rest of your ifel'
who knows!' she replied. At least [
hope to be always prepared
And your felow-tra,elers;' said |;
have you never seen any disposed to re-
sist these unlawful actsl'
Once, Senor, an American and an
EnglisbWaD, who we're in the same dill
gencia with me, fred upon the robbers,
killing one and wouuding two.
And did the robbers fire backl'
Yes, but fed Immediately, and fortu-
nately injured none of our party
"a. | should have expected, returned
[. You were not robbed On that occa-
sion. supposed
We were not, Senor; but the two for
eigners subsequently, paid dearly for their
resistance; for in journeyiDg back and
forth, both were killed, separate and at
different times. near the same spot. You
see those crosses by the side of the road,
Senorl'
q have observed them frequently. but
here they seem to be much more numer-
ous.' I replied, looking forth from the ve-
hicle.
Each. stands on the spot where some
one has met a violent death, she rejoin-
ed; 'and as we 60 along, will call your
attention to those which mark the places
where the foreigners met theirs.