The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-08-24

I lIIE dIOlIlu lllC 1OOIll Aslo iOh Va
benches, which were occupied by Mex
lean girls, in dresses conspicuous for
color, and certainly becoming, if they
were not fashionable. A score ofcouples
we're on the floor, whirling away in the
m&zes ofa Mexican waltz, a peculiar and
graceful dance, where at certain stages
the partners disentangle themselves, and
stand facing each other, while they sway
their arms and bodies, in the very poe
try Of motion.
The moment / entered | saw / was
an object of attention to all, particularly
to the dark-eyed men, who watched me
like hawks, and discussed me from a
distance in groupes.
Telling me to make myself at home
the captain, who could no more resist
the opportunity to dance than a child
could sugar plumb, disappeared, with
his arm encircling dark-browed seno
rita.
The better to observe the dance and
avoid the crowd, took position in a
corner near the door, and from this van
tage ground began my favorite study of
human nature Ny seclusion did not
lessen the attention | at first attracted,
for the men still stared at me, and /
found myself the target for whole bat
teries of black eyes, as the senOritas
swept by me in the dance.
/ could not complain to the captain of
the rudeness, and not wishing to inter
fere with his pleasure, | determined to
60 back to the hotel This resolve made,
| buttoned up my coat and walked out,
undetected, hoped, but Twas mistaken.
| had just got out of the light, when l
felt hand on my shoulder, and turning
| saw tall man beside me.
why do you detain me?" | asked, not
a little surprised at the mans manner,
for, though still keeping his hand on my
shoulder, he did not speak.
"Ah, the voice-the same voice, Doc
tor Pleasanton, you are not good at dis
| p" Z IldNC SOus
As he said this 1 saw he was right in
using the plural pronoun, for there we're
four Mexicans around me, and dark as it
was my eyes caught the gleam of their
knives. protested that was not DIR.
Pleascnton-that | had never seen the
gentleman, and l demanded to be per-
mitteG to go in peace to the hotel.
They laughed at what they considered
my falsehood, and in concert sprang on
me and bore me TO the ground. | was
unarmed, but fiatter myself four such
men could not have overpowered me
had | suspected their purpose. did not
lose my presence of mind, but tried to
call for assistance. My cries were smoth
cred by gag, my legs were bound, and
four men picked me up like a hand
barrow and carried me off
They must have walked an hour when
they stopped before a house that in the
darkness looked not unlike big packing
box. The door was opened and 1 was
thrown on the floor, while one of them
struck a light and then removed the gag.
again protested against this treat
ment, and asked them to seni for Cap
tain Hammond, or any one of the Amer
leans in San Diego, and l pledged my
self to remain their prisoner ifmy state
ment was not corroborated.
"All the Americans lie for each other
We know you and will keep you here
till Senior Carlos Costello returns from
Tucson. He will pay you back, and wash
out in your blood the disgrace you have
brought on him."
"And when do you expect this Senior
Carlos Costello to return?" / asked.
HE will be here tonight. We have
sent swift rider TO tell him you are
caught"
Their information was not consoling
The perspiration stood out in beads on
my forehead, and my tongue grew thick,
and my throat hot. asked for drink
of water, and as Que of the men put the
gourd to my lips, he piously expressed
the regret that it was not poison.
complained about the tightness of
the ropesand the same amiable abductor
threatened, if | said another word, to
transfer the cord to my neck. From
these gentle replies, l saw he was getting
mad, and so wisely became reticent
Leaving me bound the four men went
out, and soon after the door opened, and
one of the most beautiful beings ever
saw entered bearing light.
''Oh, my brother-my dear brother,
why did you act so rashly?" she asked,
as kneeling down she kissed me again
and again, keeping up a cross fire OF
questions about her sister Isabel"
This was not tdisagreeable, but in honor
| could not except those kisses as the
brother-in law of my pretty visitor. 1
was about to enlighten her when found
her cutting my cords, and so [ deemed
il wisest not to undeceive her for
while.
~Senor Costello will soon be here. You
must fly, as you value your life" she
said leading me to the door and extin-
guished the light
l was not slow to avail myself of her
advice, and, in spirit of heartfelt graft
tude, | let her kiss me again; and am
not quite sure that 1 did, not return it,
as something that did not belong to me.
Being confused am not go certain about
this.
/ hurried back to the hotel, and there
found the captain, who, alarmed at my
absence, was going out to search for me.
L told him my story, which at first inn
pressed him as something serious; but
when 1 concluded he burst into laugh,
long and loud, but not at all agreeable
to me.
@Why, Senorita Maria Diaz is twin
sister of the doctors wife, and looks as
much like her as possible. Indeed, the
doctor is not quite sure he got the right
one, for they were both in love with him.
you amaze me,'
1T is true, nevertheless. But this
Costello is engaged to the remaining
one"
1 sE straightforward man, and don t
like plots but this affair was decidedly
mixed; so wentt to bed without trying
to unravel it.
MY sleep was troubled. for every few