Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-06-09
A RolrANCB OF RorDA.

The Inhabitants Of the mountains of Ronds
still bear evident traces in their moral and
physical qualities Of the admixture Of Moorish
blood, which during the long period of the
Arab domination In Spain, was 30 largely In.
fused into the veins Of the conquered people Of
the southern portion of the Peninsula. They
ere daring and courageous, devoted to those
they love, but ct the same time obstinate and
vindictive, never forgiving an injury, and pur.
suing the infiictlon of one with vengeance,
which too often ends In bloodshed. The noun
tainecrs are at once active and indolent, pre-
terring the exciting perils Of occasional contra.
b0ndistG adventures to the prosecution of some
more regular and cTcditable branch Ofindustry ;
but there are exceptions 70 this lawlcss rule,
and when native OF R0nd6 turns his mind
seriously to business, the energy Of his charac-
ter enables him to succeed in the teeth of dif-
Rculties which mere plOdding patience could
never surmOunt.
0fthis latter description was Isidso Ealdes,
one Of the most prosperous proprietors in the
immediate vicinity Of the little mountain city
OF Ronda. He possessed an excellent habita.
tiOn in the town, and tlourishing farm in the
environs; his breed Of horses and Of game bulls
were in greater estimation than those Of any
other proprietor in the mountains; he was
handsome, afniable and only twenty -four years
Of age His dark countenance possessed all
| che. animation and regular beauty, aRd. his
slight, well'knit form all the symmetry and
grace for which the Andalusians are celcbra-
ted and never Was nGi0- dress worn by one
who so happily knew how to draw a line be-
tween elegance and -coxcombry-daSh and
swsgger; q distinction rarely understood by
the bully beaux of Andalusia All that was
wanting to render his happiness complete was
. wife; and with his natural advantages, that
want was easily supplied. His choice fell upon
| young girl Of R0nda, Of his own class, more
richly endowed by nature than by fortune
but as he was wealthy enough to marry q
portiOnless bride, and too disinterested to make
money the chief end Of matrimony, he did not
sufier the objection to inteTfe1e with his ishes
He rendered his hand to the fair Carmen Diaz,
and vas accepted by her with every demon
stration Of satisfaction.
The marriage was to be celebrated at the pc
riOd Of the fair at Ronda, when the town is one
scrne Of hustle and gaiety Il n morning till
night, and the population Of all the villages in
the mountains, as well as many English off.
GERS from the garrison of Gibraltar, and gentry
from the more distant cities of Andalusia, flock
into ROndA to attend the bull-fights, which
form the great attraction Of the period, and al
ways draw thithcr the most celebrated TORE.
dors Of Spain. At these times Isidro's house
generally afforded hospitality to some of the
English strangers whom the scanty accoInmo-
dations of the Ronda pOsadGs would otherwise
have condemned to sleep "a Ia belle etoiIc :"
and they Jared so comfortably in his cool clean
chambers, that those who had once been his
guests always sought to return to him. One
Of these, more especially, al officer attached
to the medical staff at Gibraltar, was often led
thither by his regard for ISdrO as by his par-
tiality for the sports Of Ronda. Mutual bene-
fits had been conferred, Of q nature to create
no common regard between them, and in q
measure to neutralize thcir differences of sta
ton. Doctor w. had saved ISidro's life during
the dreadful period Of the cholera; Isidro had
rescued the Engshman from the hands of
those desperate bandits who infest the noun
tains Of Andalusia, and thus, when the young
man had decided upon becoming the husband
Of Carmen, he dispatched letter to his friend
to appTise him Of the common event, and to
solicit his presence at the solemn marriage
ceremony.
am, as you know, an orphan" he wrote
to him, "and have not even any near relations
living but since fortunate chance has be-
slowed upon me such friend as yourself,
feel that do not stand alone. Come, then,
Senor Doctor, and replace the father and the
brothers l have lost-come and witness the
event that Is to insure the happiness Of my fu.
ture life. To oil other guests but yourself my
house will be closed during the period of the
approaching fair"
The invitation was accepted with all the
warmth that had dictated it; and on the day
previous to the one that had been fixed upon
for the wedding, the Doctor arrived at ROnda
VVn k,N1h h..
countenance beaming with the happiest hopes,
and the first words addressed TO him, after
those Of welcome, were an assurance Of the
inetfable contentmert of his heart.
~ see that you are desperately in love-"
observed his friend.
"In love! Oh, Doctor, if you knew my
Carmen but you will soon behold her, YOU
would understand my transport Yes, / am
marrying her for love alone. She possesses
nothing but that which surpasses all the wealth
in the world, and which gold could never buy
beauty and grace that intoxicate the senses
goodness and purity that captvate the soul!
Such are her perfections, that scarcely dared
to hope she would have accepted me-"
"Whatl young, rich, handsome. as YOU are,
you scarcely dared to hopeg"
"Ahi" replied IsidrO, "yOu know not all.
It is becausc--"
Then, suddenly checking himself, he stam-
mered few incohCrent words, and became
silent
His friend discrectly forebore to question
him farther, and the conversation soon took
another turn. The chamber Doctor w. was
In the habit Of occupying, next to that of his
host, had been prepared for him and after n
tete-a.tete dinner with lSidro, he pretexted
some visits among the early tertulias of his
fair friends at Ronda, and went out in order
to leave the young man at liberty to pass the
evening with his betrothcd. At liA he re.
turned to the house, and was preparing to
retire for the night, when Isidro entered the
room, pale and agitated, and threw himself
upon chair by his side.
"What is the matter with you?" inquired
the doctor, "are you ill?"
NO" was the brief reply.
"Have you had lovers quarrel, thenp"
"No-nO," he repeated. 'But, good God
who would have thought that"
"Speak out Isidro; open your heart to me
surely I have right to your confidence"
"YOu have" said lsidrO, pressing the doc.
tors hands; land you shall know eli. This
evening went to the house Of the Viada Juan
DiaS Carmen's mother, and where all the
family were assembled. Carmen watched he's
opportunity, and at . moment when her mother
and her brother were both 80 occupied as moi
to observe her, she whispered In my ear
'Isidro, will you be at home tonight. and
alone, at midnightr Of fcourse I SHALL re-
piled, astonished 1t the question. well, then,
INhe resumed send vOur servanta o,Hk f,f khs