The Placer herald., 1873-03-15
Written expressly for the HERALD.
UISA'S Low Il IS -.
OR
TRAGEDY or REAL LIFE.
BY A. SOCLE JOUR.

1t was in the year 1867, that our story
opens. The civil war which had so long
distracted our once happy country having
closed, and our boys, the 1st California vol
unteers, being thoroughly disgusted with
the hard fare and strict discipline of even vol
nnteer service, were glad to accept their dis
charges anywhere they could get them, and
consequently "A great majority of us were
mustered out of the service in New Mexico
1t is of the sad fate of two of those now
propose to write. They were both young
men of a high order of talent, educated and
refined, but rendered rough and reckless by
their long association with the very dregs OF
existence that are The principal inhabitants
of New Mexico and Arizona, and their total
isolation from refined female society, that
sole barrier that pr vents the human race
rom retrograding to the level of the brute
She scene is locate2 in small town that
we will call Parda, which is situated some
four IN les from one of the largest government
posts in the territory, upon which it is maialy
| dependent for its support. The fort 81 Oxen
tt is located at the terminus of the long
dreary, dangerous road from Kansas ely to
New Mexico Here the ieamsiers, ,rappers, ;,
hunters, soldiers, etc, swarm to indulge in
that almost sole pastime of that wild land
viz: fandango, and to imbibc copious
draughts of the wors sortof lightning whisky
At the fort were employed, at the time of
which | write, some 400 or 500 men, the
most of whose earnings were depo tied III
this sink of iniquty; but men must have
| n,,d ,f tI,a,, E,,1 -
reputable places they will seek it in disrepu
table ones
The time is about four o'clock in the after
noon, when we transport the reader to this
abode of W ckedness. Let us enter one OF
the best houses in the town. Upon IA olded
mattress, that sole substitute for chairs, So
fas or benches in a Mexican donicie is seat
ed a young gill of about Is years of age
Her slender form, which is grace personified, ,
is draped in the usual naguas and rebosa OF
the Mexican women of the times Her large
dark, lustrous eyes are filled with soft Ii sht. .
as though her thoughts are pleasant as she
occupies herself in dressing her luxuriant
black hair, which reaches to her knees, IN
preparation for the grand fandango OF the
season, which comes off tonight. Such il
Lnisa Montoya, The heroine of my tale, which
| will here state is veracious account OF
actual occurrences.
About the same time a man was walking
up and down on the porch in front of the
large saloon where the ball is to be given.
1t is evident that, from his flushed counte
nance and unsteady gait, he has been drink
ing, and that he is very much excited, as
ever and anon he shoots malignant glance
ut the house where we have seen the young
girl, and his hand moves toward the large
dragoon revolver at his belt. He is a square
built, broad shoudered man, with gray eyes,
ii sensual, bl,ated face, which always has h
determined look, and we would infer that he
would not be a pleasant person to cross when
out of hnmor. He has been well raised but
the flowing bowl has been his bane through
life. go" he muttered between his sci
teeth, 81 am thrown aside for that puppy
of IA Belton because he can talk Spanish flu
emily, sport fine horse and better rig than
can. But they both shall rue the day that
they made Henry Merlin their enemy. All.
here he comes, nov, with his fancy horse
You might bet your life he would be in time,
since she is waiting for him.
AS he spoke handsome young man with
bold, black eyes, curly hair, and slender
well knit form, came dashng down the hill,
mounted on coal black horse, which, though
small, showed h gh blood, and was splen-
didly proportoned. 1t was Tom Bolton and
his matcIless Camanche Tom, after sta
bling his horse entered the saloon and nvi-
ted all hands to drink. including Merlin who,