The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-09-07

BY ORION.

TINE FATAL n6lA1.
By ORION.
fRrom ~ San Francisco Call.
What docs that pile Of rocks mean ~
"A little distance from that white oak :!
"Ycs, just 1t the break Of the hill"
well, there II romantic story connect
cd with thst pile Of rock, which was tol.
me by tho Old Padre who somstimes passe
swcek at The 1lIssion."
We were riding side BY side through tn
pleasant valley In the San Antonio District
where the Oldest xissioa II 1ootsrey coun
" IL established. Ny companion WAS on 4
flying tour through the sheep districts, to
rec what stock he could pick up for new
ranch of his, farther north.
II will let you have all the facts the
Padre gave me ~ soon o. We arrive at the
Mission. We shall rest there for . couple
Of hours, and there may be small tap of
wine left to wash down the dust Of this
southern road"
Heaven grant it," sad /, as the long
adobe church 10y but half mile before us.
In ten minutes We drew rein before the
archcd portal Of the Mission, dismounted,
and. giving our horses In charge to sleepy
Indian who was putting cigarito in the
sun, We entered the Mission garden. It
was . neglected spot, luxurisnt in roses
and hollyhocks. between which grew the
tall mustard. and the vines were Wild aud
unirimrhed. In the centre stood \ ruined
fabric that had once served % sort of
Summer. house, or lounging place tor the
Padres b sip their wine In Of southern eve.
nings. Here We sat down, and before . hot.
tic Of white wine which my friend had 70.
ragged from the old Mexican in charge Of
the Mission, and II chicken gizado fresh
from the Goals. he told the story Of Spanish
love and revenge.
Twenty years ago." he began. "a
wealthy and influential Spaniur.l lived unj
prosrcrcd on the Ohitos ranch, about ten
miles 10 the southwark Of the Mission. DON
Philipo dc Aguilar L,aslcd Of the pure Cas-.
lillian blood. and his wife was the proudest
Indy In the southern country. They were
hospitsble people. aud ut the Rodeo Or Csx.
CarOnc time, the large adobe house was fill.
ed with guests His daughter, Carlotts,
was beautiful girl, and as proud of her
unmixcl blood a. her old father. Well, -
matter Of course, she YVES prize worth
the getting, and every young, good looking
Spaniard In the neighborl'ood displayed his
riding powers in the field, Or tinklcd the
guitar In tho house, to captivatc the young
Carloita She laughed and was kind to oil,
but never showed . preference.
''Thc Don, when HE daughter Vas In her
nineteenth year, looked himself with
matrimonial eye for the most likely sutton
for Carlotta. Don Juan dc Ia Guerra, .
widower some forty years Of age, aud with
many broad leagues 1t his back, appeared
the most likely. So he received IN invita-.
ton 10 spend week at the Ohitos He
came, and saw. but did not conquer; for
Carlotta laughed 1t bis antique Castilisn
manners, ridiculed his pretensions to her
hand, and mimicked bis singing. Aguilar
therefore gave up the idea of choosing him.
self . son-in.law, and waited patient y
until the favored man should sppear.
DANGEROUS CHARACTER.
''Anastasia Gomez bore an uncnviable
reputation IN the southern country His
principal business was dealing monte; and
though, now and then, when dead broke
he took hand 1t the rodco, yet honest ID.
Dor was something to which he entertain.
ed constitutional aversion. He was hand.
some, and quite mild looking youth, such
ss none would suspect of being deadly
pistol shot, and man In some way or other
connected with every bad scrape In the dis.
trict. II was whispered that he was asso.
ciated with gang Of. dcspcradoes
sional horse thieves, whose lives In settle.
ment would not be worth dogs. Still,
Notwithstanding these rumon, Gomez car.
ried bold front, and none dared 10 charge
him to his face with any Of his misdeeds.
lone August evening, Is the hon and
his daughter were sitting under the cool
piazza Of the ranch, . stranger rode up and,
hitching bis horse to the fence, dismounted. |
Aguilar invited him to glass of wine,
even before the ceremony of On intro.luc.
ton; for, where houses ore fer apart, 0 |
strange face IL always welcome.
my name 10 Gomez said the stranger,
after partaking Of the DonI hospitality.
"a good name, 6enor,' said Aguilar,
courteously, though In this part Of the
country We have one who docs It no honor
~ have heard of him, hard case, I be.
l,cvc.'
"'N0ne worse. I lost . fine stallion
some months ago, and ON inclind to cred.
Il that scamp with it,
land my fsvorite mare. father said
CarIotta, went week ago, suppose we'll
give Gomez credit Of that, too
The guest, who stated that he he'd just
ridden from Monterey, united with his host
In lamcnting the existence of those bands
OF wandering despersdoes who interfere 10
materially with the prosperity of the coun.
try. Of himself, he stated that he was .
store'keccer from San Diego, and had been
making some purchases In Monterey, and
was on his way home.
THE evening passed pleasantly. The
Ion found good listener and IN sgreea.
O'e ta'ker In bis guest. lie was willing to
hear oil the family traditions, aud told
some thrilling stories Of bis adventures In
South America and Mexico. Carlotta. too.
was pleased with the stranger. He had IN
excellent voice, and paid the compliments
the Spanish women love 20 much, In 90
cay, oh.hand way that cnn.rasted strong
" With the clumsy admiration of the late
sutton, Don Juan.
"Could you not remain week or 10 {
with Us" said Aguilar, ~ bcl showed. HE ,
guest 70 bis chamber.
Willingly replied Gomez 4 have no ,
arranged my business that I'M In no hur.
~ 70 return TO San Diego, and I hope 4
some day 70 be able to return your hospi. +,
tality.' 4
AvAv0RED sUIroR. 4
Gomez seemed N admirable CricL,on 4