The Placer herald., 1873-03-15

Merlin all the time he held him, now released
him, after exacting promise that he would
not interfere with Belton any more that
night. The constable, after considerable
coax ng, finally induced Merlin to accompany
him home, thinking he could get him to 60
to sleep. Bolton had walked into the house,
and when Wilson came in he said, with his
usual careless laugh:
81 believe that cursed jealous fool would
have shot me but for your interference Ac-
cept my thanks. Take drink, boys. Well,
| must 90 and get my girl. guess, and
the light hearted fellow walked off, whistling
rs merrily as though he had not, few mo-
meets before, f,ced the grim King of Terrors.
He found Lusa all ready, looking, he
thought, more be,utitul than ever before
After gently Gliding him for his delay, she
signihed her readiness to proceed to tie hall.
In the meantime the expected guests had
been arriving, and not only the dance hall
but the whole town presented lively ap-
pearance. 1t may be opportune here to ex
plain a point which may have appeared
strange to the reader, and that is, that Lu-
isa, who vas as pure and spotless as a snow
flake ere it reaches the earth, should consent
to attend a ball where the male portion of the
guests included the worst characters of tha;
wild land, and some of tha women were the
lowest of the low; but Mexican lady does
not consider it any more disgrace to have a
horselhef and woman of the town for her
vis-a-vis in quadrille, or to allow the arm
of known highwayman or her lowest peon
to encircle her waist in the waltz, than an
American lady would to be seen in railroad
car with one of the above characters. The
fandango is a great eveer, and everyone is
considered to be on an equal footing while
there, it not even being necessary to have an
introduction to invite lady to dance.
The hall was crowded with a motley as
semblge when Tom and Luisa entered, and
they were at once the cynosurc of all eyes ;
and when they took their places on the floor,
waiting for the music to strike up, many
were the enlogisms of Lusa's beauty, and
Toms good luck in having such pretty
partner, that few around the room. Every
thing went merry as a marriage bell; every
body was enjoying themselves to the utmost,
and none more than Belton when about II
o'clock Merlin, who had convinced the con-
stable thai he intended no harm, entered.
1t was evident that he had again been drink
ing freely, for his eyes, which were naturally
fine, looked bloodshot and had maniacal
glare in them, AID he reeled as he walked
Wilson, anticipating trouble, and knowing
that Bolton was unarmed, walked up to him
and slipping a Derringcr into his hand, said
"Keep your eye skinned, Tom"
Tom thanked him with glance, and went
ON dancing. Merlin. however, seemed to
take no notice of Bcl'on but walked over to
where Lu;sa, tired out with dancing, was
sitting, and opened conversation with her
"Good evening, senoria,' he sid, ap-
proachmg his face so close to hers that the
offensive fumes of the bad whisky lie had
been drinking nearly suffocated her
Good evening, senor, she replied, invol-
unfairly turning her face away to avoid the
sickenng breath.
ooh, yesP' he exclaimed, bitterly; "you
turn your back upon your old friends now,
and don't deign to notice them since you
have rich and handsome casero"
"Senor!' Indignantly exclaimed the young
girl, flushing to the roots of her hair, and
turning on him look of wilhering contempt.
The term he had applied to Tom contained
the grossest possible insult to her, meaning
that he was her paramour
She immedintely y arose and changed her
seat, and Bolton, who had lost none of this,
having watched their motions from the mo-
ment of Merlins entrance, immediately ap-
reached Luisa and asked what that r,.fliin
had said to her.
"Oh take me home, Tomas" pleaded
the maiden, bar lily able to restrain her tears,
for the brutal insult had cut her to the quick
"Did the coward dare to insult you,
carissima ?" asked Tom, his eyes blazing
with fury. "Now, by the eternal God, he
shall pny dearly for this. "
Beton had endured personal insults that
night with a calmness he had thought impos-
sible, but now, that the same bastard had
dared to reflect on his Luisa, his hearts idol
it was unbearable. Without needing Luisas
enreaties to take her away from the ball he
walked up to where Merlin was standing,
and, in a voice almost inariculate with pas
sion, asked:
"Did you think it was fear, YOU cowardly
scoundrel, that caused me to put up with all
your abuse this evening, that you should
dare to insult a lady under my charge" ?"
81 think it would be hard matter to in
suit -"
A tremendous blow from Toms clenched
hand drove the foul epithet down the speak
ers throat ere it could be uttered, and teled
Merlin to the floor, where he lay stunned
md bleeding. Bolton wished to follow up
the advantage gained, and would doobtless
have finished the vile traducer on the spot
had not bystanders interfered. Merlin re-
gained his feet and rushing to the door he
shouted:
"Come out here, you coward, and meet
me on equal terms"
eyes, answered Tom, as he sprang to
the door, "l will meet you anywhere on any
terms"
Merlin had stationed himself behind a
small wagon which stood in front of the
ii 4 Al. Al l. l.