The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-11-22
AN ADVENTURE IN A MEXICAN
Rim


RUIN.
Riding leisurely along a delightful
highway of Mexico, one warm after.
noon some few years ago, | saw in the
distance the crumbling walls of an old
ruin, a relic of the days of Montezuma.
As a rowing disposition had carried
me to Mexico, | was in no hurry to con.
tinue on my way, having plenty OF
leisure, and therefore turned my horse
across the hills to see the spot.
Wooed by the refreshing shade, the
luXuriant carpet OF velvety grass, and
the silent, hushed repose that seemed
to rest here, | dismounted, and giving
my horse his freedom to feed about the
ruin, threw myself in the shadow of
the wall and soon sunk to rest.
Fatigued and overcome with the heat,
l did not wake for hours, and then was
startled TO see that a storm was brewing
and night was almost upon me.
Well knowing that it was miles to the
nearest habitation, | determined to
make virtue Of necessity and seek
shelter in the ruin for the night, for |
was well prepared with blankets and
had substantial lunch in my saddle.
roll.
Near by, my horse was still feeding
upon the rich grass, so | went in search
of some portion Of the ruin where |
could find shelter for man and beast"
from the storm, which was rapidly
coming up.
Soon ! came upon low archway that
led into a vaulted chamber, which at
one time must have been used as
i,11f u hol n
and a rocky couch, that had evidently
served as the resting place after death,
of some priest, for the ruin had been
an old monastery or convent, judged.
Returning, | lassoed my horse out in
the Enclosure, and taking from him the
saddle and bride returned 10 my i'm.
promptu shelter, and at once spread |
my blankets upon the long rock, and |
sat down 10 eat my supper and watca |
the storm.
AT length it broke in fury, and
Withdrew my horse within the rock |
bound chamber, and fastening him Sc |
curely, laid down to sleep, for night had |
enyeloped the ruin in darkness.
The wild raging of the storm with.
out gave me an air of comfort within |
my vaulted room, and soon was dream.
ing the hours away.
A noise foreign to the raging Of the |
storm awakened me- and half rising, |
listened, and distinctly heard the sound |
Of human voices, and then loud, bois.
ferrous laugh.
l was ~ once upon my feet, for |
knew that | was in a dangerous neigh.
borhood. rs highway robbers were well
known 10 intest that portion OF the
country.
Standing erect upon my rocky couch,
a glmmer Of light shone through the
wall, and in an instant had placed my
eye there, and discovered through a
window, that had been two.thirds closed,
a sight that did not reassure me as to
my safety.
The ruin had been built in the shape
Of cross, the upper end resting upon
the hillside, and approaching, as | did,
from that side, had entered the in
closure or square formed by the two
upper ends.
The two corners Of the cross, forming
the wings Of the structure, had pre-
vented my seeing the longest and
largest part of the ruin, and the vault,
or chamber, where was domiciled for
the night, was the very center; the
square where the four wings met, hence
through the barricaded window, or
rather, small aperture. | could see into
a large room, and therein sat a dozen
rough looking men engaged in mid.
night carousal.
Arms lay upon the table, blankets
were spread about upon the stone floor,
and the chamber was dimly lighted by
half a dozen small tapers, aided by
sickly looking fire that burned in one
end of the large hall.
" walt no li1uor | say, ] have had
enough. and will have cup of coffee
Delta, Delita,' the wild looking scamp
who was speaking as | gazed through
the opening. raped loudly upon the
bottle before him with his dirk.
81 am coming answered a sweet
voice in Spanish, the same language the
man had spoken.
"Hasten, then wish you to make
coffee for me;' and as he spoke girl
of fourteen came forward and stood
where the light fell full upon her.
A sweet, childish face lit up by large.
sad, lustrous eyes, and crowned Dy
masses of rayen.black hair, which were
in strange contrast to the paleness OF
her countenance girlish figure, neat
ly but poorly clad, stood before me, and
astonished me as much as if beautiful
apparition had entered the ruin.
There is no water here, senior;
shall have to 90 to the spring for it"
course you, why do you not keep
water ready for use? Go, and the storm
without will punish you for your neg.
ligence; and see that you hasten,
brutality said the bandit.
" ii, signor - and the sad eyes glis-
tened for moment, and then sigh
escaped the lips, as the lovely girl
turned, and throwing around her a
thick mantle, seized a pitcher, and