The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-02-28
It seem strange to persons uni;

but the singular fact admits of easy ex-
planation. For two or three years after
the war the courts were not organized ;
and besides, he pe1petrated all his various
homicides in fair fight. and according to
the forms recognized by the code Of honor;
and, moreover, when prosecutions at last
assailed him, he obtained security in the
character of the jurors called to try the
issues.
It must not be imagined, however, that
his countless quarrcls originated at the ga
ming-table, or grew out Of the questions
relating to his fairness in dealing cards {:
the cause was both moro romantic and
revolving. His wife Juana, one of the
most fascinating women ever born in
Mexico, accompanied him as a partner,
and bewildcrcd the adverse players as
much by her extraordinary beauty as the
husband did his skill; while on every oc-
casion, and wherever she went, her charms
inspired the beholder with q sort Of
phrenzicd passion that, in spite of reason,
prudence and peril, brought adventurous
lovers to her feet.
But Pedro Palacios was jealous even to
madness, and the slightest attentions to
his bcwitching siren aroused his murder
GUS wrath and vengeance; and lie never
failed to throw the onus of the challenge
on his enemy, or to provoke the first as
sault. when one blow of his Bowie knife
usually settled the controversy, and 81
lcnccd the wooing of his rival forever!
In the month of September 1852, the
District Court was inaugurited i'll the
town of Laredo, and II grand tandango
was given on the first night in honor of
tho new judgc, and to the boundlcss de-
light of the lawyers in attendance. The
multitude assembled in the public square,
and the full moon, in cloudless splcndor,
rendered the air so luminous us to require
no lamps OF torches The entire Mexican
population turned out, besides the mem
bcrs of the bar, and all the young officers
of, the army from the ncighboring fort.
A scene of greater gaicty or animation
could not well be pictured, as tho merry
dancers foatcd like fairies in the moon
light, and every face seemed radiant with
smiles Of love and happiness. But all did
not enjoy themselves thus innocently
Near one corner of the old stone church,
which occupied the centre of the square,
gathered u large circle Of both sexes
around that altar of Mexican worship
the Monte table.
Juan Palacios was dealer of the cards.
while acr husband raked down the money
won, or paid the lost bets. And never
did q stronger contrast present itself than
that which stood revealed in the appear
ance of the couple just mentioned. He
was man Of Hcrculcan mould, with
dark, frowning, ferocious features, mostly
concealed by coarse masses of black hair
and q long bushy beard indeed, little ofhis
visage could be seen save pair Of sinister
flashing eyes and a nose resembling The
bcak of hawk His clothing was costly.
and adorned with glittcringjcwels, while
the silver handle of his enormous knife
shone conspicnously above the snowy
ruff1es of his shirt bosom.
The wife was a fair, slender woman of
exquisite shapc-every limb and feature
being alike full of gracc-with shining
ringlets black as the ravens hue, face
bcamy and beautiful as star, and eyes
so large, dark, dreamy, and overfowing
with fire, that they seemed every moment
melting with the warmest emotions of un-
utterable love- And this look OF tender
est passion constituted the magic of her
power-thc indcfnablc and restless charm
which enchanted the gazer's heart, and
fettcrcd every thong hit to the tootstool OF
the mighty onchantrcss.
Several officers wearing the uniform OF
the United States. and young attorney,
esteemed the most handsome man in
Texas, one Elbert Wallace, approached
the Monte table, and uttered simultane-
ously cxclamations of surprise when they
beheld the lovely vision presiding as deal
er at the game.
>"How beautiful" cried Captain Brew
erton.
@sho is an angel" added Lieutenant
Tucker.
The black whiskcrs of the jealous hus-