The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-01-04

- -~.! bI'.'h On the SrUuhu u uis poverty, 10
= determined TO via wealth; that An old In.
: Al. 'ou-d to him by ties OF gratitude, pos
e>-ed knowledge Of n rich mine far away amor
q" mountains aud TO which be had promised 10
Se Tim ari his company; and. BY courage
All skili, lie would soen return to Claim her
hard from her ambitious, avaricious p,rents.
- K, lai" true To mt. Lima. and Resist their
s>h' mtg. Wit for NE but two years, my dsr.
~, ann il. rhs end Of that time, you do not
ne,I ~ mr, know that have perishsd in tho NJ.
,.mtt "a win you.
lie then gave her ting from grapevine,
telling her 10 carry it 10 her rev homo sud plant
y, kSepiug ii as a reminder OF him. and that
~tile At lived aud flourished, she might know
=, loved her -nd was ,rse to her. The cutting
il the form Of y riding .whip, and M such
Il" was to carry it, for her journey WAS to be
performed on horseback
' wig et.raal fidelity. the lovers parted,
nd, the mex, mofniug, Don and Dons Felix
vita their daughter and ettendants, started on
taeir Journey; while Carlos q Co., With their
Indian guide, wendell their way. full of hope
md confidence, over tie mountain.trail.
M,rceIiMa. AS may bs supposed. made little
us, = "rape.vine switch to urge her mus
ting along the weary way between Los Angeles
and Santa B ,rbara. Arriving at their destina.
'On--four miles from the Mission Of Santa Bar.
b-ra-her fir-, act Was to plant the cutting up.
Oh the hill side, with many tears and prayers to
thu Virgin for the success and safety of her lover
The vine grew and furnished with wonderful
!uxuri,nce, aud gaddened the heart Of the wit.
ing maiden, whe could hs,dy have borne tho
burden of anxiety aud suspenss without ito
silent encouragement; for the Don and Dsna
lad found, as they thought, Il suitable compsn.
ion for their daue liter. in Sp, niard OF rsputed
great wealth, who promised them \ liberal com.
pen.aton for her hand. He Was short, Of good
circumference, and grizzlea with years, but to
counterhal nee these defects in lover, his 6n.
gers aid shirt.front shone with gens Marcel
Iin,s violent opposition, however, while 1t did
not move them 10 renouncs their purpose, in.
ducsd them to postpone the marriage, in the
hope tina, she would tor. ct her former love, and
become more reconeed to their will
In the interval thu. granted, the time for the
return OF Carlos would expire; and Ma,cillina
prayed daily for the arrival Of her besyothed,
with the fortune that Was to find him Avor in
tho eyes of her parents. The two yeays were
rapidly drawing to close, and yet NO Mgn or
token had come, slye what she found in The Wig.
orous growth Of her cherished vine. A. length
her p rents, pressed with povssty and weary OF
the prolonged indulgence TO what they coasider.
I'd an idle fancy, fxed the day for tho Wedding
with the sutton Of their choice, whose saly re.
commentator was bis wealth.
The eve OF M.rcellira's Wedding day was tho
secoud anniversary Of the parting in tie olive
erove, when Carlos told her that II hs did not
return or send her word within two years, che
might know that he was dead. She bad creps
away from the scene Of busy preparation within
her home, and, hiding herself beue .th the shad-
dow other beloved vine, which was now large
enough TO shelter her FROM casual observation in
= k.a, ,lNar b. lI.1
Ceiling upon the Virgin, in hopeless anguish, to
take her away to the spirit world, where she BE-.
ieved Carlos to be.
Approaching foot.tep. arrested her attention.
She started guilty and attempted to hide her
tears, FOR she dared no, let her parents know she
still mourn ed her absent lover.
Liaa-L,n-!' greeted her eyre in a familiar
voice, and stayed her flight. Tremblingly .be
awaited the near approach of the intruder, when,
with one wild, joy Gus cry of Carlo. !" she drop.
ped into his arms, her beautiful head pressed
close to his throbbing heart.
1t WAS, indeed, Carlos. returned at l.st. faith.
ful to his promise, bringing with him fortune
al least equal 10 that of her aged and de:es,ed
sutton.
c rios, with faith in his love and cor fdence
in hi, ultimate success, followed the Indian
across the Coast R~nce into the heart of the
Sierras, where be proved the honesty of his
1 uide and the truth of bis pro mise, by the mar.
velous deposits Of gold to which be led them
Two years sutticed to gain the fortunes for which
they ~ earnestly sought and strovs.
All other thags being equal, the Dou and
DOna consented that their daughter should
choose between the suitors. and the next d ",
instead of being led TO the altar . wretched
sacrifice to their ambition and avarioe, she went
as the willing and happy bride Of her adoriug
Carlos.
Year, passed away; Don and Don Felix died,
aud roverses deprived Carlos of hi. wealth. But
strange to say, the faithful vine, once token OF
fidelity between the lovers, now became their
means Of support; for 40 prolific had it become,
and Sc little did the iadolspt Spanish turn their
attention to tho culture Of the grape, that it,
fruit brought them an income sufficient for their
maintenance.
About twelve years ago second vine sprang
up near the original one, and grew rapidly, until
now it nearly equals 1t in size. A large dancing.
floor was erected beneath the shadow OF the vine,
and here the Spanish youths and maidens united
in the merry dance on Sabbath evenings, accord.
ing 70 their rational custom.
Carlos and Ma-cellina died at a good old age,
leaving behind them three hundred lineal do.
seendants, and the big grape vine. which will
keep green their memory and the story Of their
love and f4ithfulness long after children and
grandchildren cease to tell the story,
Hundreds OF tourists annual visit the place
and wonder while they gaze upon its vast pro-
portions, and listen to the accounts OF its mar
velous productiveness.
Yet, to me, the heart-history of which it is 4
living memento is its greatest charm md low,
to dream, while standing beneath Its spre adm.
branches. and gazing far out upon the bro ID
blue Pacific, whose waters sparkle in the dis
lance, of the true hearted Spanish maiden VIII,
planted it IN the faith which springs from o,
immortal love, ana who watered it with he