Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-02
~ LDYL or NEW MEXLcO.

]
Our picnic was in the month Of May and
we started from Santa FL in the carly morn.
ing On three sides the drowsy old town i,
| guarded by mountains royal with purple and
! glitterng with gold. Thirty miles away one
snowy peak seemed an airy tent let down out
of heaven, and across it the breeze blows as
! freshly as airs across Eden when 'the even
| ing and the morning were the first day
The road wound beside the little river San.
! ia Fe, whose waters go softly, after ripping
down in icy cascades from lake pure as Ia
hoe, formed by melting SHOWS from the
mountain top. Along its margin the red will
| low tOsses its branches lightly as u LADY,
| plume and back in the hill country the pine
| trees sigh to each other their never ceasiug
song. Over the rocks clamberiug goats look
| down aud shake their boards at the traveller,
and tinkle of bell falls pleasantly on the
ear as Mexican boys drive their tiocks to the
river; and where the sheep are drinking All
Indian woman carrying black jar on her
head, erect and stately, comes to wash her
| poor rags in the stream.
1t is all like the old Bible pictures The
somber landscape though sadly lacking color
| is serene and pastoral, 40 filed with the
beauty Of peace and restful silence We thought
of the ancient pilgrims journeyiug in the
shining light of the Deltctable Mountains,
aud their talk with loving shepherds by the
wayside. No fear OF rain to spoil our pleas
ure; there will not be one drop, nor is there
! even dew. Yesterday We brtathed balm and
incense tomorrow We know will be Just
like to-day. The south wind has "quieted
the earth, " aud the blue overhead is without
| spot Of cloud, vapory mist or fog.
Our party was quite large. In advance a
well mounted Lieutenant, in the glory Of his
first shoulder straps, rode close to the bride
! rein of a young girl whose flying veil gave
short glimpses Of q beautiful face lighted
with eyes Of radiant hazel and the brightest
smiles. They were a pair of lovers, loved by
us at first sight In an ambulance came a
stout lady with color rather high than deli
cate whose unhappy bonnet would not stick
to her head but kept slipping down her back.
Beside her sat weak woman from Illinois,
born tired and unable to find time to rest
since that w,arisome date, having barely life
enough to be proud Of her ten year old Rosa
| as though children were the rarest things in
the world. On q little bHrrO or donkey. was
a school teacher without special escort, but
looked after by dry old bachelor who had
one romance in his life and still wore the
miniature of a face, dearly loved and early
lost which has been only dust for thirty
years For the old loves sake he treated all
women with delicate reserve seeing in them
represent A dream unbroken, for where
death sets his seal the imprint is eternal and
endureth forever. Then there rode alone a
blonde and pensive artist, the author Of many
rejected manuscripts, who carried sketching
paper and neat box Of pencils. He wore
his hair long and boots small smoked cigar
cites necessarily, and eyed the gay lieutenant
in bitterness of soul. Several light carriages
whirled past us and Brown, the photogra-
pher, dashed by on his own blackboard drawn
by gallant gray mules. | had only time to
notice the stranger beside him had the black
est eyes and wore diamond ring of unusual
size and brilliauce which blazed in the sun
shine as he courteously lifted his hat Among
the last to appear was an alumnus from Col
orado college, who had electrified the whole
board Of trustees with his graduating speech
entitled, The Centennial State-a Nations
Benediction." This callow youth in pin
feathery mustacho had made the eastern
tour, had a nodding acquaintance with the
crowned heads of Boston, and in conscious
superiority overshadowed his companion, the
Baptist minister one Of the meekest spirits
that ever starved It's way to heaven.
The army ambulance moved slowly through
the sandy red soil, but we did not care the
mountains-how grand they are were
perpetual delight. Thr lrnness of the at
mosphere gave exquisite tiuts to the near
foothills and the vast horizon. Clusters of
wild verbenas purpled the plan-a deeper
shade of the far away hill purpes-- and
strange flowers, yellow and pink, nestled in
the short, moss like grass. They never felt
dew or rain. yet they did not appear stuntcd
or starved, but looked up brightly in the
sterile soil as from a garden bed.
Now and theI Peublo Indian strobe ST
lently across our way, and n Mexican in pic
turesque striped blanket saluted MS in Span
ish fashion with "BcuHOs iify seHOrdS" as
he drove his cruelty loaded donkey toward
the city. Lazy MeXicaBs sluatted in rows
summed themselves against the low wall of
their houses; and on chimney a flock of
pigeons tamely perched and watched the
movements of "A mower cutting the grass
which grew scantily on the fiat mud roof of
his miserable hut.
When We reached the chosen ground a fire
was already kindled from the resinous boughs
Of the piH0H and lovers were streying off in
shady places to find out what words the dai-
sizes are saying to youth and beauty.
Brown, the photographer, introduced his
guest, fine old Spanard named Oreto. He
wore the easy air Of a man familiar with good
society and the lofty courtesy which marks
the true Castilan | may say the true
gentleman, anywhere. He claimed to be hi
dalgo-lterally son Of Goth-by which is
meant pure Catholic Spanish blood, without
"A taint Of jew or Moor: was educated at Sal
amanca, and by training conservative was
quick to dcnounce CASTELAR, and his politics
as highly pernicious. In quiet way he was
a great talker the flashing eyes alone be-
trayed the intensity of his feeling. and as no
one entered into the debate with him. he fell
to extolling the glory of old CASTLE. Gradu-
ally the whole party was attracted to him,
nstl ba h.a 81, ,f,., 8
ested listeners.
The fair rider with fluffy curls blown by
the mountain breeze against the arm she
leaned on, bent forward and asked, "Why
leave your own country for this wild New
World 2"
1T is long to tell the state troubles which
drove me from home and made me wander
er, for out of Spain every land is exile too
long for even a summer day"
"But not too long for our interest" she
answered with charming animation ''you
are alone in life" she added with a glance
at the band of mourning Grape on his SOM
6r6rO.
Catalina and my nihita are with the
saints, he crossed his breast Ieverently.
"When laid them in the vault at Valladolid
my heart felt heavy and cold. l thought the
long voyage and sight of new places might
warm it, and might find some diversion, or
as our neighbors over the Pyrenees say, dis
traction, by initiating my ancient country
men in chase after the fountain of youth"
THAT is in our own hearts, said Romeo,
with an arch glance at Juliet.
Eyes, so experience teaches l am last of
my name and house, and"-his voice sunk
mounfully-"I had buried the wife of my
youth, whom loved with great love, after
we had lived together twenty years.
He qi0had and turnad his ewes toward the
mountain-top shining like silver in the keen,