New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-24

meadows of velvet grass.
Noon found me stretched under the shade of a
tree, overhauling the provision basket
so closely packed for me by the Kind old rancho
'ito {farmer's wife, Tortillas beans, and eggs |
took as Il matter of course but when | withdrew
from its fragrant covering of leaves delicious
cream-cheese, my feelings became too many for
me, and exclaimed in rapture
30, woman! in our hours OF ease,
s and varab Sey 4, an" ,be h esS to please
When gnawed by hnngcr's pangs as now,
minis;ering angel thonl"
The surrounding scenery was strange wild, and
beautiful. On every side lowered mountains to
whose extreme altitude the eye could scarcely
attain. Here lay grass plateau, sprinkled with
dazzling flowers there u gloomy forest of frs
enveloped the mountain side in shade save where
some brook betrayed its presence by Il svery
CLEAN. On one hand yawned deep and precipit-
Gus ravlne, almost oyergrown by heavy foliage;
while on the other rose perpendicular rocks, their
rugged sides draped by creeping plants of every
form and hue.
The evening was far advanced when entered
the dark forest through whose depths lay my
on the open plateau became almost night in its
gloomy recesses, and after stumbling along for
some time, sat down on messy bank to await
the rising OF the moon. ! was very weary, and the
soft moss made most luxurious couch so that
after some Intellectual struggles to resist tempta-
ton. fell asleep. The bright moonlight streams
ing through the branches, and falling full on my
face reused me at last from heavy slumber, and
| awoke from dream of home TO find myself at n
late hour OF the night alone in dreary forest.
A painful feeling of intense solitude stole over
me. | listened intently for a sound to break the
oppressive sience--a twitter of bird-anything
to remove the uncomfortable sensation of insola.
ton from every living thing, but all was STILL The
gnarled trunks with their dark estoons of creepers
stood motionless in the moonlight There was not
even rustic among the leaves.
started up and proceeded a few steps and then
ad M ya from y,,+Il
As Brother Jonathan would say, felt ''fnely
fixed" 1t was clearly impossible to find my way
in this light. The only thing was to wait till day;
and counseling myself to take it coolly, was
ton was arrested by an object which the
moon was shining brightly. On looking further
saw distinctly part of q stone building. Overjoyed
at the discovery fastened forward; but on near
ing the scorched and ruined walls showed all too
plainly who had been before me- and now recol-
lected that it must be the ruins of hacienda
(cattle-farm) named FL salto, which shortly before
had been devastated by the Indians and all its in
habtants most cruelty massacred.
Searching the ruins, discovered n room the
flames had left untouched. In it resolved to take
up my quarters for the night, and placing my arms
at my side, I threw myself down upon the bed.
Though thoroughly worn out, found it impos-
sble to sleep, and tossed restlessly from side to
side. In spite of my efforts to Danish it from my
mind, the account given me of the midnight attack
on this place occurred to me again and again. The
mother lay on this bed with her babes around her,
when the peaceful silence was broken by savage
yels, and she awoke to meet the fiery eyes of
fierce warrior bending over her.
Shuddering at my own fancy, raised myself in
bed and cast an involuntary glance into the dark
corners of the room. The window was directly
opposite the bed, and what then met my gaze |
shall never forget. On the outside, pressed closely
CHASTITY white in the moonlight Though years
have passed since beheld it. cannot write Of that
face without shudder. Not that the features were
repulsive, on the contrary, though wan and ema-
ciated they still retained traces of beauty, but it
was in the large dark eyes that the fascination lay,
that held me spell-bound for some minutes, when,
with wang cry that echoed drearily through the
room, the figure suddenly disappeared | ssprang
from the bed, and throwing open the window,
gazed around, but nothing was to be SEEM every
thing was motionless as before.
lay down again, not to sleep, but to watch the
easement, but the pallid face did not return. Ora
dually my eyes closed, and falling asleep, l in
dulged in pleasant dreams of ghosts and Indians
murder and cream cheeses. When awoke it was
broad daylight and the cheerful sun soon dspelled
the WEAKNESS that the nights adventure had left
on me- | resolved to search the ruins before leav-
ing, for the idea occurred to me that my ghosty
visitor might be one of the inmates who had es-
capped in the confusion, and whom the fearful fate
Of the others had driven insane. The supposition
seemed not unlikely, and commenced my search
Immediately. 1t was in vain, however, that ex
piored every corner; no :" sheeted phantom wan
dering wild'' was to be met with. At last desist
ed, and was passing through the court, when 8
clitterng substance caught my eye, lying below
the window of the room in which had passed the
night. On examination, it turned out to be rosa
nv. put it carefully in my pocket, that nigh
be able to produce it at the next village when
| told my story.
| into the depths of the forest where
| Enormous e,nre bolea did stoop and lean
Upon the dak S.Is ssGraS y cesres green
New from its silken sheath.
Growths of jasmine twn'd
Their humid ARMS sio o rem fse 70 iupd
The red anemone
Only in lieu of jasmine and anemone, imagin
myriads of flowers of every variety of dye AM
| form. from the small silvery stars in the emerald
moss to the gorgeous scarlet blossom, whose radi
| ant hue almost dazzles the eye. The cool dimnes
Of the forest aises of lofty oaks and gigantic cedar
was very pleasant, where, few and far between
| came the CLEANS of sunshine penetrating the heay.
foliage. and Pickering on the messy turf. Ever,
| now and then, through openings in the fores
glades, came glimpses of the mountains, their boil
Cliffs cast in shadow by the dark fir trees.
| Rut scenery however lovely, can hardly b.
properly appreciated by man whose nights res
| has been disturbed by COLLINS, and who is at tn
moment suffering severely from hunger and
walked along hanging my head all on one side
and muttering, in a very dlscohsolate way
| aGic my love brose, brose
| Gle my love brose and butter
| lie IN love brOse btnse'
| Ycsreen he wanted his supper"
Never was gushing stream in the desert NOR
welcome to the thirsty traveller than were tn
buildings OF FL Coyote to me when deserted thei
in the distance In an incredibly short time wa
seated in the ,neson, before a plentiful rcpas
where my capabilities in the way of deyourin
everything set before me excited the wonder an
admiration of my hostess, whose favor | had wo
by telling her she looked as young and boomin
as her daughter IN. B.-The one was q shrivele
old bag, the other remarkably pretty youn
then told my story to a gaping crowd Of ra,
cleros, (farmers) When began to describe tn
face at the window one and all crossed themselves
turning pale f; but when explained my own theory
and lastly produced the rosary there arose
clamor of voices. After some time gathered tn
II appeared that when they had hastily burie
the hoaIes of the murdered victims, there was miss
ING that of Margarita, the daughter of the hea
ranchero. She was lovely girl, and the geners
smnnosifion was that the Indians, struck by he
beapty. had carried her away with them. The re
sary was recognized us one she had worn, and wa
nassed ropnd the circle. And now arose the clamo
Of conflicting opinions. The majority declared sh
was dead, and that her spirit had appeared to m
in order that might inform her friends that furthe