The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-12-09

MY WATCH AND CHAIN.
1t was III the year 1Si7 when a small
force was left to hold Puebla, thai for
tune cast my lot to remain there for
garrison duty, while the army marched
away to deeds of yalor and glory. |
we'll remember how sadly we watched
the long blue lines disappear on the
road that led to the capital, and how
we deprecated the necessity that com
PEELED us to stay behind to keep the
rear open for our advancing comrades.
We had no idea then that we should
have plenty of fighting on our hands,
and be forced to stand q siege that at
one time looked as if it would be ter
! minated by the heavy body of Mexican
troops Chat surrounded us) swarming
over our hastily erected breastworks.
For some time after the departure OF
General Scott we had matters pretty
much our own way, and were appar-
emily on good terms with the poprlace.
Many little COurteSleS were cOnstan tly
passing between us, and we began to
congratulate ourselves on our comforta-
| Die situation, when rumor ran through
the garrison that a very large cavalry
force OF the enemy had appeared in the
town to the southwark, some fourteen
miles distant. No one could tell from
whence the report emanted, and the
fact that our spies (and we had an
efficient corps in our pay: had given
the colonel commanding no such in
formation, caused us, after few DAYS
had elapsed, to doubt the rumor, and
ultimately TO Danish 1t from our minds.
So We resigned ourselves to security.
and went on with F'kene and monte -
smoking cigarettes and drinking pull
que, with as little concern as if we
had been at home IN one of our own
cities
had been sick with a low type of
fever at Vera Cruz, and when | arrived
in Puebla, [ had permission to live for
a while at a private house, instead OF
Joining mess and taking quarters in
! barracks
| The woman at whose house | made
my home was named Garcia, and had
a husband, at the time serving in the
! Mexican ranks; but [ was not aware OF
the fact. Sonora Garcia had two
/ daughters. Antonio. the eldest, was
about sixteen years, and Carmen, the
! Youngest, was six. She also had q
nephew, on her fathers side, named
Angel, who lived In her family. This
! young boy was apparently II years old
/ and quite an intelligent boy.
/ It didn't take me long to make my
/ self at home, and [ think ] had the
/ good will of the family to the very last
Indeed, as far as related to Antonio,
/ she gave me the most ample proof Oh
her disinterested friendship.
! She was q frank, free girl, without q
| particle Of prudery in her nature. She
one day laughingly warned me not tc
fall IN love with her, as she was des-
tined for convent life.
6 | should have taken the veil ere
this" she remarked; "but this unhap-
Ply war Of yours determined me to stay
with my mother until peace comes;
then | must leave them all "
| A few days afterward, Angel Garcia
came in the house with his face very
! pale
What's the matter, Angel 2" we all
cried out at once.
The poor boy was so agitated that he
could not reply Immediately, but after
u few moments stated that he had seen
some American soldiers shot down 10y
Mexicans outside the city limits, where
! they had been straying.
Putting on my hat, ! went out on the
plaza, butn one seemed to have heard
Of the affair. | therefore returned to
the house and requested Angel to show
me the spot To tell the truth, did
not believe word of the story, but
thought the boy had magnitied the oc-
currence he protested to have seen
. Don't go, scnor,' he exclaimed
YOU had better stay here"
< If You are afraid, I'll 80 myself
/ | answered looking at him reproach-
/ fully.
I'm not afraid, " he replied, Though
don't wish to be shot or see you killed
/ either"
" Perhaps You had better not go out,
senior, said Antonia be content aud
remain where Won are.
$40 show you how little l credit
what Angel has SEEM" ! replied, ."
/ here bestow tins upon Won if [ do not
return, y and l took the gold watch from
my pocket and threw the chain over hel
neck.
q" will pray for you" she said, as
turned away from the house CANCEL,
/ don't leave the senior, she cried
/ Alter some twenty minutes walk we
came to the open country, and Angel
pointed a little way ahead, remarking,
That's the place, though l don't see
any one now"
| Scarcely had he uttered these words,
ere | felt my arms pinioned from be-
hind, and | was prisoner La an in
slant there were a dozen lancers by my
side. They had been secreted in some
bushes, while their horses were con-
cealed in a hollow near by.
Angel, poor boy, fed, weeping pite-
ously, while my captors proceeded to
bind my hands and placing me upon a
horse, bore me away.