The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-09-26
THE FATAL WAGER.

There was Gastilian blood in the vein
of the dark>faced man who gslloped int
Taos, in New Mexico, at the close of
beautiful day in mid autumn. Hi
physique was faultless, bis restless eye:
dark and piercing, and the uplittec
brim of his sombrero disclosed lofty
forehead. 4 great moustache. whose
long hairs were blown behind his ears
by the wind, added to his persona
adornment.
This man was Benito Marmajo,
wild, reckless fellow, famous, among
things, for the summary manner II
which he swept rivals from his path
Almost incredible stories Of his love-ma'
king arc still told in the towns of New
Mexico, and the meanest poems has his
deeds at his tongues eud.
Let US record his lust act.
Straight to the most prominent drink
ing house of the town rode Benito Mar
majo on the evening aforementioned
He found the usual loungers about the
bar young bloods Of rank in the ter
ritory, and his friends and admirers.
His first act was the treating of the
crowd. and when the liquor had disap'
peared, one of the louugers said, ban
teringly:
Tomorrow night the beautiful Sc
nora Inez becomes the Northerner's
bride. Who among us has she invited
to her nuptialse' p
The young man looked at Marmalo
as he spoke, as if his words we're ad'
dressed to that individual alone.
TIE Mexicen's face flushed.
Not Benito Marmajo! was the
grating response. The sonora is free
to choose whomsoever she may; bu'
those who are asked to the marriage
feast, do not always attend
The words conveyed subtle mean
ing, as the speakers look ard the man
uer in which they were spoken indica
ted to his auditors.
Thirty ounces of gold that the bride
groom does not kiss the bride tomorrow
night"
As the last words fell from his lips
Marmajo, the Mexican, drew well-tillee
purse from his bosom, and tossed it upor
the counter. His companions exchanged
startled and significant looks.
who takes my wager?' the dark
skinned adon;s cried, Gefantly, his eye
sweeping the Gordon of faces that sur
rounded him. Thirty ounces of gold
Come. senior, cover them, and Jose
the barkeeper. shall hold the yellow
stakes
A moments silence succeeded, wheI
a Young man who had entered the plac'
in time to hear the offering, exclaimed
as he elbowed his way toward the Mex
lean; =,
.Tll cover it, senior Marmajo. | vii
put thirty onnces of gold on your purse
and wager thirty more that they vii
hold it down.
a slight cheer went up from tn
crowd, and the handsome reprobat
turned smiling upon the youth.
sAh. is that you, Signor lglean
be exclaimed, extending his hand
You must be one Of the disappointe'
ones.
The young man blusbed deeply, TO
it was generally known that he ono
sought the hand Of Senorita, who stoo
SO near the alter.
Whether I am Or not, 1t doesn't al
feet The wager he replied, nettle
somewhat by the MeSican's words
Il cover your purse thus, Marmajt
These senors are our witnesses
And Jose, here, the stakeholder
Isl, scnor''
Good. Now, Jose, let US have tb
best liquor that your house supplies
The wager was sealed in draughts
tolerable liquor, and Benito Marmaj
withdrew from the convivial compan
and rcmountcd his lithe-limbed steed
DAY after tomorrow. senors, h
said. With smile to the few who were ab
to wish him adieu from the porch of ii
house, and touching his horse gent
with the spurs, he was soon beyond tt
boundaries Of the town.
One by one the drunken revelers le
the drinking place with brains too b
fuddled to think of the covert thre
ilIy cancelled by Marmajo's wage
, They did not dream of the blow tn
was lowering over the head ofthc your
Northerner, who had entered tho teri
tory and won, over the alteration
many native beaux, the hand OF Seno
, Iuez. -,
= Beautiful. wealthy and good made