The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-01-11

nette hue of her face, was clear an
bright with the rich tint of health. H,
wealth of black hair fell in ripplin
waves far below her waist and ht
large, dark eyes were fringed with sill
en- lashes that matched the exquisite pei
cling of the arched brows above then
Her parents, though belonging to til
better class of Spanish, had beeom
poor, through extravaganza and mil
management, and had formed the pre-
lect of bettering their fortunes by wed
ding their daughter to some wealth
Don
The lovely Marcellina did not lac
for admirers nor ardent lovers. an,
among them all Senior Carlos de Dom
ingues was the favorite and accepte,
! suitOr. He was handsome. tall, an,
/ manly, but alasi without fortune. anC
socially not the equal of Marcellina
As may be supposed, his suit met Will
no encouragement from the Don anC
9ara n EeIz I z.,.T--7t and thex dna2s IL n
corded with their plans for their daugh-
ter, resolved to remove to Santa Bar
bara, mission some hundred miles
north, where resided many wealty fam
lies, among whom they doubted not an
alliance would be formed suitable in
fortune and position.
The announcement of their contern-
plated removal struck dismay to the
hearts of Marcellina and Carlos. but
the latter, receiving courage from the
separation, presented his suit to the
parents. As was anticipated. it was
scornfully rejected, and furahcr inter
course sternly forbidden The lovers
were, however, too ardent to be separa-
ted thus, and, through the medium of
an old Indian nurse, who was devotedly
attached to the girl, they obtained one
interview before parting.
In the early twilight Marcellina stole
by an Adobe wall which lay back of the
paternal mansion. Here she stood,
waiting with throbbing heart the arrival
of her lover, while her nurse kept
watch on the other side of the wall.
ready to give the alarm, by "A signal
agreed upon, should any one approach
from the house. Already the shadows
lay dark beneath the thick, Tow branches
of the olive trees, and at every rustic
and sound the fair transgressor started
and trembled. Suddenly a tall figure
sprang over the wall, and crept stealth
lily along in its shadow, till he came
close to where thewaiting maiden stood.
q Carlos, she cried, holding out her
trembling hands. rs it you, Marcel
lima All, poor little one, how she
tremblesl They are cruel, darling, but
we viii not be separated. They shall
not take you from me, my precious
one"
And then he spoke long, low, and
rapidly in the beautiful Spanish Ian
guage, so exquisitely fitted for express
siOns of tenderness and endearment.
telling her that, as her parents objected
p their - 93 the s--9uII " his pow
SEsys lass @F.eternfHeo 20 wife4 -.
that an old Indian, bound to him by
ties of gratitude, possessed knowledge
of a rich mine far away among the
and to which he had prom
ised to guide him and his company;
and, by courage and skill, he would
soon return TO claim her hand from her
avaricious parents.
. Remain true to me, Lima, and resist
their scheming. Wait for me but two
years, my darling, and if, at the end
Of that time, you do not hear of me
know that 1 have persisted in the at
tempt to win You"
He then gave her a cutting from
telling her to carry it TO her
new home and plant it, keeping it as
of him, and that while it lived
and hourished she might know he loved
her and was true to her The cutting
was in the form of a riding whip, and
as such she was to carry it, for her jour
ney was to be performed on horseback.
Vowing eternal fidelity, the lovers
parted, and the next morning, Don and
DOna Feliz, with their daughter and at
-endants, started on their journey;
while Carlos and Company, with their
Indian guide, wended their way, full of
nope and confidence, over the noun
tain trail
Marcellina, as may be supposed, made
little use of her grapevine switch to
urge her mustang along the weary way
between Los Angeles and Santa Bar
bara. Arriving at their destination,
four miles from the Mission of Santa
Barbara, her first act was to plant the
cutting upon the hillside, with many
tears and prayers to the Virgin for the
success and safety of her lover.
The vine grew and foUrished with
wonderful luxuriance, and gladdened
the heart of the waiting maiden, who
could hardly have borne the burden of
anxiety and suspense without its silent
for Don and DCna had
found, as they thought, suitable com
panion for their daughter, in Spaniard
Of reputed great wealth, who promised
them liberal compensation for her hand.
He was short, of good circumference,
and grizzled with years, but, to counter
balance these defects in lover, his fin
gers and shirt front shone with gems.
violent opposition, however,
while it did not move them to renounce
their purpose, induced them to post
pone the marriage, in the hope that she
would forget her former love, and be-
come more reconciled to their will.
In the interval thus granted the time
for the return of Carlos would expire,
and Marcillina prayed daily for the ar
rival of her betrothed, with the fortune
that was to find him favor in the eyes
Of her parents. The two years were
rapidly drawing to close, and yet no
sign or token had come, save what she
found in the vigorous growth of her
cherished vine. At length her parents
pressed with poverty, and weary of the
indulgence to what they con-
sidered an idle fancy, fixed the day for
the wedding, with the suitor of their
choice, whose only recommendation was
his wealth
The eve of Marcellina's wedding day
was the second anniversary of the part