Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-09-07
A TrathfuI Texas Tale.

| wards Tie following 10 OblcagO jour-
nal:
Col. Albert G.. Pelton, whose beauti-
ful 10000 acre ranch is out toward The
Rio Grande, lear Laredo, has been the
Peter the Hermit of the Texans fer
years. He has believed that he has
, held a Divine commission to kill APa-
che Indians. Col. Pelton came 10
Texas in 1874, common soldier. BY
talent and courage he gradually arose
to the rank of Colonel, and finally in
1856, commanded Fort Nacrae. That
year he fell in love with a beautiful
Spanish girl at Abequin. New Mexico.
Her parents were wealthy and would
not consent 10 their daughters going
away frem all her friends 10 live in a
garrison. The admiration OF the young
people was mutual, and parental OBJ
jsctlons only intensified the affection
OF the lovers. The nature of the Spanish
glrl is such that once in love she never
changes: Finally, after two years Of
entreaty and devotion, Col. Pelton wen
the consent OF the parents of the beautl-
ful Spanish girl and they were married.
Then commenced honeymoon such as
only loYers shut up in beautiful, flow
er-environed fort can have. The lovely
character OF the beautiful bride won the
hearts all the soldiers at the fort, and
she reigned a queen among these feugh
frontiersmen. One day when the love
of the soldier and his lovely wife was at
its seyerest, the two, accompanied by
the Young wife's mother and twenty
soldiers, rode cut TO the Hot Springs,
six miles from the fort to take bath.
While in the bath, which is near the
Rio Grande, an Indians arrow passed
over their heads. Then a shower OF
arrows fell around them, and band Of
wild Apache Indians rushed down upon
them, whooping and yelling like band
of demons. Several Of the soldiers fell
dead, pierced with poisoned arrows
This frightened the rest, who fed.
Another shower of arrows, and the
beautiful bride and her mother dropped
in the water pierced BY the cruel weap-
ons of the Apaches. With his wife
dying before his eyes, Col. Pelton leap
ed up the bank, grasped his rifle, and
killed the leader Of the savage Hends.
But the Apachds were TOO much Tor
the Col, Pierced with two poisoned
arrows, he swan into the river and
hid under an overhanging rock. AtLer
the savages had left, the Colonel swan
the river and made his way back to-
Macrae. Here his wouads were dress
ed, and he finally recovered, but only to
llYe a blasted life-without love, with
out hope-with vision Of bis beautiful
wife, pierced With poisoned arrows,
dying porpetually, before bis eyes.
After the death Of his wife change
came to Col. Pelton. He seemed to
think that he had sacred mission from
Heaven to avenge his yoaug witc's
death. He secured the most unerring
liaes, surrounded himself with brave
companions aud consecrated himself to
the work Of revenge. He was always |
anxious TO lead any and all expeditions
against the Apsches. Whenever any |
of the other Indians were at war with |
the Apaches, Col. Peltcn would soon
be at the head of the former. One day
he would be at the head Of his own |
soldiers and the next day he would be
at the head OF band of Mexlcans.-
Nothing gave him pleasure but the sight |
Of dead Apaches.
He deied Indian arrows and courted
death. Once, with band Of the widest
desperadoes, lie penetrated a hundred
miles into the Apache country. The
Apaches never dreamed that anything
but an entire regiment would dare to
follow them to their camp in the noun
tains. So when Col. Pelton sWoeped
down into their camp with ten trusty
followers, firing their Henry rifles at the
rate of twenty times minute, the
Apaches fled IN Consideration, leaving
their women and children behind, 1t
was then that there darted cut Of ledge
white woman.
Spare the women y she cried, end
then she tainted 20 the ground.
When the colonel jumped iron his
saddle to lift up the woman he found
tn at she was blind.
How came you here, woman, with
these damned Apaches! he asked
Il was wounded and captured, she
said, ten years ago. Take, oh, take
me back again p
Have you any relatives in Texas"
a. ked the Colonel.
NO. My father lives in Abequin. Ny
husband, Col. Pelton, and my mother
were killed by the Indians
'Grelt God Bella! is it you-my
wife =
'Oh, Albert, knew you would come!
exclaime d the poor wife, blindly t'reach-
ing her hands to clasp her husband.
Of course there was Joy in the old
ranch when Col. Pelton get back with
bis wife. The Apaehes had carried the
wounded woman away with them. The
poisoned arrow caused inflammation,
which aually destroyed her eye'ight.
Wien | saw the Colonel he was read
ing a newspaper 10 his blind wife, while
in her hand she held bouquet of frag-
mant cape jsssaminss, which he had
gsthered fer her. 1t MAS picture oI
Iohsnlnt,. "a nniuess