Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-06
Marguerite.

l
of New York city. through the influence o
important political friends got an appoint
ment as assistant surgeon in the UNITED
States Navy.
My vessel was the North Star connected
with the North Pacific squadron, and was
stationed then at Acapulco. the most promi
nent seaport on the west coast OF Mexico.
Hard study had somewhat impaired my
health, but as the fdIsorder was not consti
tutional it was quite likely that some trave
and SEA voyaging would entirely restore m!
health
No matter if person is poor in purse, i
he has good education and knows vel
what he does know, and can use the knowl
edge, with good morals and sound health
he need not fear his abilities will not be re-
cognized sooner or later, generally later
and patience will have o sure reward.
| 1got leave to spend a month in reachi ne
my vessel. Therefore, leisurely journeyed
from Washington through the Southern
States TO New Orleans.
took steamer for Havana and Vera Cruz
From there l had to 60 across the country &c
the city of Mexico and thence to Acapulco.
wished to see as much of the country as pos
sible, and took passage in carriage known
as diligence. We soon found 1t was not as
diligent as could be wished.
Our road led across the mountains and
plains, following near the same track as was
| pursued by the American army IN our
war with that country just thirty years
ago.
Our party was composed of Senior Juan
Aka, rich merchant Of the capital, and
Sonora and Senorita Aka, all of whom had
been to Havana on trip of pleasure and
profit; II. julius Perchawni, portrait paint
| er going to execute a commissioner from
Il l, ~ rhp cbaI
to have his wife painted for once by some
other hand than her maids; myself. besides
| one, and how shall | describe her?-she, the
most beautiful woman l have ever seen, and
| I've been round the world twice, and I've
known its seven capital cities, beginning
with Paris, and ending with Chicago. She
was creole and gave her name as Margue-
| rite.
Our poor artist fell deadly in love with her
at first sight, and she slightly encouraged
him, too, and that with woman's tact. Even
Don Alka's surliness Of manner was softened
| by her presence. The ladies i'll her train re-
| garded her with that covert suspicion ever
shown by one lovely woman of another.
As for myself L stole furtiye glances at her
| but really felt no other sentiment than l
would i'll seeing perfect statue. peerless
| painting, an Illinois sunset, or Seneca lake
| some moonlight summer night.
l aiterward learned that this zone fair wo-
man" was born in Louisiana and educated in
Paris.
She seemed to be well informed on any
interesting subject. and in her low, sweet
tones discoursed volubly in either French,
| Spanish or English.
We were already very merry party as our
dirty ''greaser driver cracked his long, cruel
whip over his half-fed mules, and We rolled
away from our inn. La Guava, opposite the
| plaza or public square.
Our unescoIted young lady seemed well
acquainted with the road. She pointed out
many places rs having some peculiar interest.
But the most frequent spots of interest were
the little stone crosses stuck up by the road
side, which told where unlucky travellers had
been robbed and murdered by brigands.
These memorials presented themselves with
too startling frequency.
l don't doubt that each of us had grave
fears of these gentry, but every one seemed
to be too brave, or. rather, too courteous to
mention them.
However, our lovely entertainer first men,
toned the subject.
Her treating it in very hIppant manner
soon placed the whole of US in the very best
of spirits, and We laughed lightly about what
might be bloody scene for us also Our
rare, pale Marguerite" turned her large
and lustrous black eyes full upon each of us,
and We we,e separately questioned as to what
We should do ii attacked by the bloodthirsty
robbers. All OF us proposed some plan.
Our painter gallantly said he would defend
heri he had a brace of pistols and could use
them with deadly effect. The merchant said
he was unarmed; he thought non-resistance
was best. He had but little money with him
anyway; and he never travelled with more
than was necessary for expenses very good
plan, indeed. The ladies, of course, were
non-combative.
believe that said something about that
we three men ought to jump out of our car
riage, catch the VILLAINS by the napes of their
necks. drag them TO some horse pond and
half drown them, and keep on ducking them
till they severally ;solemnly promised to be-
have themselves afteward; neither to cut off
moro noses or ears, and sending these pleas
ant reminders to the victims friends, thereby
stating that a ransom would be very accepta-
acceptable. l cooly speculated about wheth-
er the normal size of the organs themselves
were fixed as indications of the amount of
hush money demanded.
In answer as to whether / was provided
with weapons, said was not, unless it was
SO considered in regard to small pocket
case of medicine with me my chief reliance
would be on two or three piltnIbum pills in
capsules of oleine Il knew they would not IN
derstand the terms), but presumed that
if they would only tstand still till l could
bleed them, or give an active emetic, q favor
able prognosis might be made of their cases.
My little audience laughed long and loud
at this sally, which was just what wanted.
for We were just ascending q long, steep
hill.
The sun was almost down in the west.
The dense forest all around us made the spot
very dark, gloomy and forbidding.
Our beautiful creole had been passing
around a package of bonbons. had the
last one of the confection. Just after had
taken it she raised her lovely hand to the
open window and let the empty white paper
slip from her taper fingers. She then took
her fiimsy lace handkerchief, which have
no doubt was worth ten times its weight in
gold, and passed it over her sweet mouth,
whose red lips were always smiling and re-
vealing her white teeth. She then wiped
her fingers, after that she entwined it around
her left hand. with which she carelessly
tapped upon the window sill. Unluckily,
while thus thoughtlessly twirling her hand
kerchief, it fell outside, rude gust of wind
caught il and away it futtered to the way
side.
NJ. Julius, who, of course, could not have
taken his eyes away from her, frsntically
sprang to his feet, thereby humping his
head on the low roof, which made US all
laugh heartily. The devoted painter bawled
loudly for the coachman to stop.
But his command and entreaty was need
less. The driver, having thrown down his
mules guiding lines, held up his hands, but
did not seem TO be scared, being used to II.
The mules were already unhitched.
A firce-looking bandit was at either win
dow OF the coach. They opened the door.
and the palaver, politely requesting US to
get out, to yield up all our valuables and
make no fuss, enforcing their civil demands
by the gentle persuasion of cooked re-
volvers.
One merchant and his family had ''been
there" before and. knowing the ropes,
they were good -naturedly complying. NJ.
Julna was terribly frightened and seemed
| to be awaking from some horrible dream,
| He sat there, staring ut his adored one, and
she was laughing hard as she could ut
| his plight, and coolly drew jeweled pistol,
and smiling the old sweet smile, she softly
ordered him TO give up his purse and not to
use his weapons.
In two short hours he had made her an
| idol, and now this revelation was sarcastic.
Some pagans worship the crocodile their
gods delight to devour them. which is liter
ally self-immolation for them.
The beautiful serpent turned for mo-
ment to me and suid in her most winning
| tones
why, Doctor. hoy dilutory you are when
called to see your patients -
| replied, "Be patient, please Well, here's
u prescription, n full dose. too
An now. by sleight of hand which had
often practiced. | jerked little morocco
case from an inside coat pocket, sprang
it open, grabbed the two loaded reyolvers.
A..
and again. 1t was all done so quickly that
our assailants were stretched out upon the
earth.
Marguerite turned me like a hgress
bereft of her cubs. | would not harm wo-
man, but deity struck her weapon from her
hand In her grief she forgot everything :;
she sprang from the coach, bounded to the
body of the best dressed of the brigands, and
threw herself upon the loved cay, tenderly
ia ,auginuata SpauIgl caro-