Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-02

aVarIcIous parents.
! " Remain true to me, Lima, and resist
their scheming. Wait for me but two
years, my darling, aud if, at the end of
that time. you do not hear of me, know
that [ have perished in the attempt to
win you"
He then gave her a cutting from a
grapevine, telling her to carry it to her
new home and plant it, keeping it as a
reminder Of him, and that while it -four
ished she might know he loved her and
was true to her. The cutting was in the
form of riding-whip, and as such she
was to carry it, for her journey was to be
! performed on horseback.
Vowing eternal fidelity, the lovers
parted, and the next morning Don and
Donna Felix, with their daughter and
attendants, started on their journey, while
Carlos & Co., with their Indian guide,
wended their way, tul of hope and conf
dence over the mountain trail.
Marcelllna, as may be supposed, made
little use Of her grape vine switch to urge
her mustang along the weary way between
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Arriving
at their destination-four miles from the
mission of Santa Barbara-her first act
was to plant the cutting upon the hill
SIDE, with many tears and prayers to the
Virgin for the success and safety of her
lover
The vine grew and fourished with won
derful luxuriancc, and gladdened the heart
! OF the waiting maiden, who could have
hardly borne the burden of anxiety and
suspense without its silent encouragement ;
for Don and Donna had found, as they
thought, suitable companion for their
daughter, in Spaniard of reputed great
wealth, who promised them liberal COM
pensation for her hand. He was short, of
good circumference, and grizzled with
years, but to counterbalance these defects
IN lover, his fingers and shirt front
shone with gems. Marcelina's violent
opposition, however. while it did not move
them to renounce their purpose, induced
them to postpone their marriage, in hope
that she would forget her former love and
become more reconciled to their will.
In the interval thus granted, the time
for the return Of Carlos would expire );
and Marcelina prayed daily for the ar
rival of her betrothal, with the fortune
that was to find him favor in the eyes of
her parents. The two years were rapidly
drawing to the 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 poy-
Of ho l,,t
gence to what they considered an idle
fancy, fixed the day for the wedding with
the suitor of their choice, whose recon-
mendatlon was his wealth.
The eve Of Marcelinas wedding day
was the second anniversary Of the parting
in the olive grove, when Carlos told her
that if he did not return or send her word
within two years, she might know he was
dead. She had crept away from the busy
preparation within her home, and, hiding
herself beneath the shadow of her beloved
vlne-which was now large enough to
shelter her from casual observation in the
uncertain cleaning sobbed aud wept,
calling upon the Virgin, in hopeless an
guish, to take her away to the spirit
world, where she believed Carlos to be-
Approaching footsteps arrested her at
tentlon. She started guiltily and attempted
to hide her tears. for she dared not let her
parents know she still mourned her absent
lover.
Lina-Lina !" greeted her ears in
familiar voice, and stopped her flight.
Tremblingly she awaited the near ap-
proach OF the intruded when, with one
wild, joyous cry of " Carlos :" she dropped
into his arms, her beautiful head pressed
close to his throbbing breast
1t was, indeed, Clrlos, returned at last,
faithful to his promise, bringing with him
fortune at least equal to that of her aged
and detested sutor.
Carlos, with faith in his love and conf
dence in his ultimate success, followed the
Indian, across the Coast range into the
Slerras, where be proved the honesty OF
his guide, and the truth of his promises
by the marvellous deposits of gold to
which they led them. Two years suficed
to gain the fortunes for which they so
! earnestly fought and strove.
All other things being equal, the Don
and Dona consented that their daughter
should choose between the suitors, and the
next day, instead of being led to the altar
an unwilling sacrifice to their ambition and
avarlce, she went as the willing bride of
her adoring Carlos.
Years passed away. Don and Oonna
Felix died, and reverses deprived Carlos
of his wealth. But strange to say, the
faithful vine, once token of fidelity be-
tween the lovers, now became their means
OF support; for so prolific had it become
and SO little did the indolent Spanish
about them turn their attention to the cul.
ture of the grape, that its fruit brought an
income sufficient for their maintenance
About twelve years ago a second vine
sprang up near the original one, and grew
rapidly, until now it nearly equals it in
size. A large dancing floor was erected
beneath the shadow of the vine, and here
the Spanish youths and maidens unite in
the merry dance on the Sabbath evenings,
according to their national custom.
Carlos and Marcellina died at a coed
old age, leaving behind them three hun
dred lineal descendants, and the big grape
vine which will keep green their memory,
and the story of their love and faithfulness
long after children and grandchildren cease
to tell the story.
Hundreds of tourists annually visit the
place and wonder while they gaze upon
It's vast proportions, and listen to the ac-
counts ofits marvellous proIuctiveness
! Yet to me the heart-history of which
it is living memento is its greatest charm;
and [ love to dream, while standing be-
meath its spreading branches, and gazing
far out upon the broad blue Pacific, whose
waters snarkle in the distance of the