The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-15

IL
men and women lounged about, smok
ing cigarettes and blowing the high
clouds of vapor above their heads in fan
tastie shapes and spiral columns
A short distance to the right of thi
group, on square stone that projected
from the mission. forming the center o
a cross, stood young girl looking alb
stractedly toward Goliad, the white ston,
houses of which peered through th'
trees, and the quaint towers reflected
tho soft light as it came from the ives.
She was apparently Is years of age
tdressed in black, and about her should
ers was the usual Mexican mantel
which dropped down and lay in care
less rolls, resembling drapery, around {
statue. A foot, small and delicate
arched exquisitely and covered witt
Mexican gaiters, protruded from under
the folds of her dress, as it was distrib
uted by the winds of the evening tha
crept in gusts up the valley. Her hail
fell over her shoulders in auburn ring
lets, and as the wind softly lifted them
the waning sunlight shone through siieiI
golden folds with an inefiableshio.
| Who could she be9 L had not seen
ther face. Walking slowly to where she
stood, looked for her to turn and con.
front me. but she did not. The profile
contour ofthe face wore aperfect shape
but there wassseemingly cold beauty
about 1t.
"Senorita,H / yentured to say, this is
a charming evening"
| She turned her face full upon me. l
was almost startled at the expression of
the eyes looking from a face that was
beautiful to perfection. They were gray
but unfeelingly cold.
Yes" she answered, and her voice
rang with metallic sound.
"Do you reside in this strange place."
1 again ventured.
"Yes."
No more; that was all the answer /
received. Now, l am not inquisitive
The blood of New England is not in my
veins, but that which coursed the arter-
les of the Huguenots; yet 1 was determ-
ined 10 learn more abouther.
%Do you reside near the mission,
Miss l asked persuasively, bending
my head until my face almost touched
her golden ringlets.
She turned her body,with her back to
me, holding her position firmly on the
square rock, and her figure took pose
that a sculptor would have admired, the
folds of her dress and gown forming
drapery that no art could equal, and
her arm shot straight out, and the fin
ger of her brown tapering hand pointed
up the western slope to the top of a
stone house that just diplayed itself
from among the deep growth of mes
quite branches intervening. No word
in reply escaped her. She only relapsed
into her old attitude and looked toward
the village. .--...
":Senor?"
Turning a youthful Mexican was
standing near me. He beckoned me to
follow him. / obeyed reluctantly. as the
youthful being who stood on the broad
stone cross was really Leginning to
become of great interest to me. ....
"Senor, and the Mexican gracefully
took from his mouth cigarette, she
will not converse with you"
Why" | replied, in apparent sur
prise
"She will converse with no stranger;
nor will she tell her history" and a care
less smile fitted across his brown face.
"One year ago to-day, just at day break,
the people in the plaza of Goliad we're
startled by pistol shots, and body of
men rode through the town, evidently
in pursuit of some one On running
from their house this girl was found
wounded in the shoulder, tut she would
reveal no.hing, Tor wonld she permit
any one else 10 touch her excepI III
surgeon who dressed her wound. Ii
was pronounced trivial. The surgeon. L
good man, took her to his house, but she
remained sullen and reticent all that
day, and in the afternoon fled and in the
evening was discovered standing where
she is now. But nature could not bear
the strain, and at about this very hour"
and he looked at the declining sun, she
fell with a moan, her wound broke out
afresh, and she was soon covered with
blood. The people In yonder house,
Americanos," and he pointed to the
stone house, took her, and she has been
with them ever since Her mind is not
impaired, and the people with whom
she resides say that she is gentle unless
aroused, and then she is like a tigress.
But her f;erceness never displays itself
only to strangers, or those whom she
thinks are doing a wrong" ls-ra
"Strange, strange said. and unused
over what l had heard. "Is there no,
link BY which she can be traced?' - !
None; 1t has been tried. The men
who rode through town never returned,
and shortly after that occurrence, three
men were found murdered on the banks
of the Nueces river They were buried
That is the only clew, and was never
followed. as no one cared
As he ceased speaking, six armed men
rode up to the mission. Five dismounted,
the sixth, a tall, muscular, brown haired
blue eyed man, who was left upon his
horse, bound, his arms being tied behind
him. --.r. E--
@HeIp him to dismount, Rucker,"
spoke the leader of the party. HE must
be thirsty" .4.
From the bound captive l casually
glanced at the girl. She had changed
her position, and was looking at the
prisoner, and her grey eyes apparently
dilated as she caughta gleam from those
of the tall bound man; and thought a
tear glistened in them. Their eyes fully
met, and something like flash of recog-
milton, as an eccentric spark, passed be-
tween them, and again her face wore a
look of cold unconcern.
Grey" spoke the leader, low set,
dark featured man, will you have some
water27 as the captive dismounted.
"Yes, Haskell. You know I have
drank but once to-day.
when we reach San Patrico, where
t.tlJ ,c,,r y;ctir1asa ono ,ao- or,,