The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-02-07
MUSTANG GREY.

tour of observation through the western
portion of Texas. looking for an eligible
location on which to commence my ca
reer as stock raiser. The summer sea-
son had passed away, and October with
it's hazy beauties fingered upon the
prairies, the dow trees and tender mes
quite foliage, with a softness and grace
that gave Il charm 20 all that the eye
Glanced to rest upon.
One afternoon, when the sun was low
ering itself in the west, leaving i'll the
valleys shadows that the art of the paint
er could hardly equal for softness and va
riety af sl.ades, I passed through his
toric Goliatl, small village on the Inn
pil San Antonio. anI spurred my horse
on toward the Old Spanish mission,
which reared itself as some antique
structure, a link between the living
present and the dcudpast. As | rode up
TIE hill leading from the RIVER. at that
time of the year fordabie, the mission at
tracted my full attention. 1t was al
most square, built of rough stone, and
commanded view Of the whole coun-
try. The walls we're thick, windows
few, narrow and barred with rods of
iron: and from the sides and ends, in
tiers, were portfolios, from which, in
former days, the muzZles OF guns peered
forth at hostile men.
It WIS MT this spct-arolmd this mis-.
sion-where Fannin and his gallant SOL
diers were slaughtered by the treacher-
Gus Mex;cans. The river, the waters OF
which look milky i'll their purity, that
day were tingcd with cl,lyiuG pools,
leaving the incarnation which distin-
guishes the corolla from the rose. Dis
mounting from my horse, my mind took
in at a glance all that occurred on the
day of the massacre, anla multitude of
emotions thron%eI my breast. What a
change had taken place since that event
full period. Instead OF armed men,
bearing lance, sword ana carbinc, chill
, dren played around the low, broad door,
and up from the river was vending its
way in the shadows of the hill and strag-
Cling sunlight, train of empty Mexican
OK carts-tifty or more-two wheeled
vehicles, and the small animals vOked
with wooden bars from one to the other,
on the fore part of their sturdy heads.
The drivers, vaqueros, were costumed III
leather breeches and jackets, and wore
upon their heads the inevitable SOM
brero. As thes Mexjcans goadel their
animals with long poles, in which rested
long, sharp pieces of iron, up the &C.
clivity, and on across the prairics, my
eyes commenced to take III objects that
surrounded me.
The mission had been transformed into
q caravans2ry, and aroundits door playe
innumerable Mexican children, and dogs
of the half wolf species sIuattel in lazy
attitudes in patches of sunshine that lay
around. Groups of Mexican men anl
women lounged about, talking in their
low, musical Spanish patois, smoking
scigarettes and blowing the light clouds
of vapor above their heads in fantastic
shapes and spiral columns.
A short distance to the right of this
group, on square stone that projected
from the mission, forming the center of
a cross, stood young girl looking alb
stractediy toward Goliad, the white stone
houses OF which peeped through the
trees, and tho quaint towers reflected the
soft light as it came from the west. She
was apparently thirteen years of age,
dressed in black, and about her shoulders
was the usual Mexican mantle, which
dropped down, and lay in careless rolls,
resembling drapery around statue. A
foot, small and delicate, arched exquisite
", and covered with the Mexican gaiter,
protruded from under the folds of her
dress, as it was disturbed by the winds
of the evening that crept in gusts np the
valley. Her hair fell over her shoulders
in auburn rinslets, and as the wind softly
lifted them the waning sunlight shone
through their golden folds with an in
effable halo.
Who could she be ? I had not vet seen
her face. Walking slowly to where she
stood, | looked for her to turn and con-
front me but she di'l not The profile
contour of the face Wore perfect shape,
but there was seemingly cold beauty
about it.
"Senorita," vcntured to say, " this
is charming evening
She turned her face full upon me. I
was almost startled at the expression Of
the eyes looking from a face that was
beautiful to perfection. They were gray,
but unfeelinglv cold.
EYES," she answered, and her voice
rang with metallic sound.
"Do you reside in this strange place?'
again ventured.
"Yes.'
b." No more that was all the answer T
received. Now, I am not inquisitive,
sAht was determined to learn more about
her.
"Do you reside near the mission,
miss?" I asked, persuasively, bending
my head until my face almost touched
her golden ringlets.
She turned her body, with back to me,
holding her position firmly on the square
rock, and her figure tool a pose that a
sculptor would have admired, the folds
of her dress and gown orming dapery
Il ,l,>4 10