Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-21
AN ADVENTURE IN SPAIN.

"By Jove what beautiful girl
Look quick, Sidney, before che vanishes,
like beatinc vision, from our mortal
gaze"
These were the words, uttered half in
Jest and half In earnest, which broke from
my friend and feliow-traTeler, Charlie
Aston, as wuywoTn and weary. we reined
up our horses, In the rich glow of an
autumn sunset, at the door of low hostel,
Mhlsh In spain docs for a posada, or inn.
we mad left, Malaga, en- route for Ora
nAda, at eleven O'clOck.ion the previous
night, and after forest ride by moon.
light, the memory of whose enchanting
loneliness no after dreams of beauty can
blot out, we had taken what refreshment,
In the way of grapes and light wine, the
peasants could supply, and started afresh
on what proved to be the hardest days
ride that even |. accustomed as ! have
been TO the saddle from my nursery, ever
remember 10 have taken.
All day We rode under the scorching
sun OF sinin, sometimes over highways
white with dust, sometimes through leafy
dells, where the fierce sunlight was
broken by the shade of lofty trees, some
times winding along the base of the
lovely Sierra Nevada, and at every turn
gazing upon some new landscape more
surprisingly beautiful than the last.
During the latter half of the day, how
sver, we had both been far ZOO weary to
make enjoyment possible, and my friend
Charlie, who was at all times fonder of
animated nature, especially when mani
Tested in the female form divine, than Of
tue loyellest landscape that ever en-.
chanted my less material sight, was be
coming very impatient at what he called
The "dullness" Of our journey, and espe-
elally exasperated that none of the far
famed beauties of Andalusia had thus far
crossed our path.
We had been riding for more than an
nouri with not sound to break the still
meas OF the air save the occasional tinkling
OF goaiherd's bell, when Charlie's ex-
elamaliun reused INC from the state of
eiuPor Into which | had fallen, and
glanced out from under the shadow of my
sombrero in the direction Indicated by his
eye Before us stood the ''posada"
long wooden building, the roof rising
somewhat IN the middle and slopng grad
ually of to either side. AT the door
iounged group of vlllainous looking
peasants, with our greasy, swarthy host
" lhe head and escaping by what
seemed 70 De a back entrance, and passing
rapluly down sidewalk, was as splendid
Aspeclmen OF womanhOod as my ewes had
ever Hghled upon. She was tall and
elght, aId her form less fully developed
than Is common among Spanish girls at
her age, but II had the litheness, and her
tslep the elastic spring of the antelope.
enc wore the picturesque costume of the
Ahualutlan peasant, aud as we rode mp she
turned her head to lock- at us, thus en-.
sollng me to see the delicate oval of the
isee, the large dark eyes, the scarlet
ulmpled mouth, and, rarest of all comb.
nations Ia a southern cline, the wealth
oi golden hair which iloated like a halo
glory round her small well-set head.
nnllogetler, II was, as, Charlie said almost
Hte heavenly vision bursting upon our
sght' ard for moment l shared his ap.
Iehenslon that she might vanish as sud
ueniJ and mysteriously as she had ap-
pesIeu, Being, however, an old traveller,
lu OF an eminently practical turn OF
nl9u, l checked my own curiosity and
ana CHARLES burst of enthusiasm, and
,quest,d d him in a few sharp words Ia
keep lis eyes and ears wide open ia
nnAl was passing around us, and TO think
cOuld.n
By this time we had dismounted and
entered the inn, where, in our rough
IaVellng garb, with pistols and csggert
~ our belts, we might easily have been
mistaken for the robbers that we were
ARMED against. The building hore the
usual appearance of q Spanish posada
oonsis'lng of long, dark apartment, one
shI s OF which served as a kitchen and
uing-roOm for family and guests, and
tne other being partitioned into stalls fol
ea1ue go that we had literally entertain
uent Tor man and beast under the SAINT
fooi' 1t was a dismally rough and com
l9I1less looking place, and smelled 81
UNANIMOUSLY of mingled compound o
garlic, stable and unwashed humanity
slat my friend Charlie started and turne(
oaek as we entered the door.
NO help for ii, old fellow" l said II
sympathetic tones "sleeping outsid
Nuna De dangerous at this season, aud
Vveslaes, our horses must be cared for
Ion Il get used to the perfume In a littl
Perhaps So" replied Charlie, with
ssnIug OF his handsome shoulders, "but
ever travel through Spain again II
etart"
And have your head made bullet proc
AZ the same time" | reioined, (which
,asner more important of the two. Kee
Nlae awake, Charlie, and listen TO ever
soId you hear spoken, without appearin
understand, ] have been in Spain b,
,rvVte, aud ! don't at all like the look {
'nis place or Its occupants.
Asl spoke we seated ourselves close
ne IRE, which was throwing out an
fuantity Of smoke and gas, but, as far 6
LIQUID sould see, was capable of warmin
nothing but itself.
me night was, however, closing
s,,ap ,p and chilly, as is common in thol
~N'uues, and both Charlie and myse