The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-07
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

A RIDE FOR LIFE.
Early one bright summers morning,
not many years ago, o young naval eff.
Ger named Stratford rode out OF Monte
yideo on his way 10 Colonia. He was
carrying dispatches to o ship.ef.war OF
thodatter place, and, being thoroughly
acquainted with the country, had been
singled out for the service.
he had not ridden for on his journey
before he met three gayly.dressed
.gduchoS, and, being well known all
over the pampas, he was speedily rec.
ognized by them, and was glad OF the
services Of one Of them, Sanchez, as O
companion on the journey. Tho inten-
tion was TO push on to Welshford's ca.
tatacid BY way of San Jose and Santa
Lucia, aud there pass the night, pursu.
ing the journey in the morning.
Nothing OF particular interest oc.
Cured during the long ride, and, at
about the expected time, Welshford's d
was reached, and the hospitalities OF the
7ampas afforded them. Dinner was
being eaten by Stratford and his host
when Sanchez, who had been wanler-
ing among the peoas, came into the
dining room to inform them that there
was to be tertulia, or dance, at a
rancho about three leagues away, and
that, II they would go, there were TO be
grand doings. Welshford excused him.
self on the ground Of fatigue, he having
been arduously employed for several
days in experimenting the shearing OF
his sheep but he said to Stratford,
ali you wish to go with your man,
will have fresh horses saddled for you
at once"
"The offer vas Immediately accept.
cd, aud soon the officer and !gatIcho
were ngair securing over the plains,
and IN n short time found themselves at
the Scene OF the festivities. The dane.
in1 was conducted outside, and the
gayly-dressed gaachos and the maidens
formed apiCturesque scenoas they went
into the intricacies OF the boiero.
stratiord was introduced by Sanchez
as Don Ricardo, and Immediately be.
came lionized by the ladies and, as he
was tho same as most naval officers,
having keen eye to beauty, he was
not long in picking out the best looking
maiden in the assemblage, and she
seemed to be Immediately fattered at
the attentions OF the cabaliero ingiesa.
She told him that she learned to waltz
while ut Buenos Ayres, and asked him
ifhe understood the accomplishment.
OF course he did and the two shaky
old guitars, which gave forth very
doleiul kind Of music, struck mp q
"tun,.t,inl " to wallz.time, and the Eng.
lish lieutenant and gaucho girl went
whirling in the mases, the rest Of the
assemblage forming circle round
them, aRd madly applauding the per.
formance, as the dance TO most OF them
was a novelty.
Sanchez seemed to think that the
performance OF the lieutenant whsm he
had introduced to the company, was
such o success that 1t reflected great
credit on him, and, Immediately after
they had finished, rushed over and en-
braced him, after the fashion Of his
country.
Shortly after this little episode, ,Strat.
ford was lighting q cigar, when he was
approached by handsome young
gdticho, in q gay i,oncho aud cheripu,
and showing himself TO be frst.class
dandy by the proiusion Of silver orna.
ments and heavy silver spurs that he
wore and, tapping him on the arm,
said: "0ne moment, Senior Inglesa ; l
have word to soy to you"
Stratford finished lighting his cigar,
and then followed him TO distance Of
about fifty yards from the party.
"May I Gsk you what you want with
meP" said he.
Yes, senior; that young lady that
you have been dancing so much with is
my novtan (sweetheart). "Are you
aware OF it2"
az did not have tho honor,p said
stratiord. "I am glad to hear it-she
is avery pretty girl"
az called you out, senor," said the
gnttcho, "to warn you that ] do not
allow any one To dance with Panchita.
Now do you understand p
al nm sorry," said the EngliBhman,
"that you will have to make an excep.
tion in my favor, for 1 have already
promised 10 dance the next dance with
her." ls
"Thep, II you do, remember, senior,
you do II at your peril-you under.
Btand2" .4.7, A..
"Enough Of this insolence, fellow, !"
said Stratford, haughtily. ~ shall
dance with her as often as please"
"Then beware !" growled he between
his teeth, as Stratford strobe toward the
dancers; and thenext instant he saw tho
lieutenant, with his arm around Pan.
cLita's waist, and whirling her in the
dance.
Sanchez had been q witness OF this
scene, aud had overheard everything
that had been said by the young gauoho,
who received his particular attention
during the rest OF the night, but he
never told Stratiord that he was ac.
quainted with the fact.
AtlenRth II became time for thom 10
take their departure, and stratford and
Sanchez went to tho corral To get their
horses, that were already hitched wait
ing for them. t..-. .
Sanchez had been, as we have said,