Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-11-09
A STRANGE RELEASE.

A STRANGE RELEASE.
In 1880, Charlie Page was in Oh
Mexico, engaged in hcrding cattle.
Not from the love of wild life, but be-
cause he could earn hard dollars, and
later on because his heart had gone out
TO Xareta Hernandez, the daughter Of
old Hernandez on the McXOS
That he loved the girl was no Won
der, for she was II noted beauty even
among the many beautiful Spanish
women who lived in that section, but
that he, poor Charlie Page, tine Amer
lean, should have won Iarcta,s love in
return, when u score Of the richest
ranchcros. both Mexican and Spanish,
were literally at her feet, might have
been thought strange.
Such, however, was the condition Of
affairs, and despite the objections of
her family and the positive interference
of some of her other lovers, the girl
had become Solcmnly engaged to Char
lie and promised 10 marry him in the
fall.
And those who knew her best We're
satisfied that at this point opposition
must cease, for if Page lived, Xarcta
would be his bride nj the time agreed,
or in her grave.
The match was consequently con-
sidcrcd in the best light possible by
Xarcta'S family, and Charlie allowed
the freedom OF future sOn-iu-law
As the old man put il:
"Ic boy is no He'Spaniarl, an not rs
choose; but, Santa Maria! ~ girl is
" Spaniard, nm she choose
That told the whole story. Iarcla
was u Spanish maid, and would do us
she would do. Let those oppose who
might dare.
The Rubicon once passed, matters
moved on more smoothly, and nothing
seemed to fret the course Of true love
except there is always an cXrrpt--
llrmplacabiiiy and uglincSs Of one of
the girls discarded lovers, who would
not consent to be cast aside after the
manner of men, but ragged and threat
cncd. daily growing worse.
This man was Dion COnIbra, Il half
breed, but a man OF wealth. per-
son OF furious and mgoycrcned tenn
per, who sworc the match should rot
goOn.
Page occasionally met this Scowlcr,
but no words had passed between
them until one evening, late in August,
when he surprised his persistent rival
delivering Il passionate lecture 10 the
mother of Xarcta, Il quiet little woman,
who could only trcmble before the pro-
fame rage of the half-brccd.
Instantly conceiying the cause of the
scene, Charlie sprang forward, nd,
thrusting himself before the other, he
cried:
"Draw back, YOU hound! Why do
you frightcn II woman? am here to
answer for Iarcta Hernandez, and her
mother is my mother Another insult
ing word and I'll fling you into the riy-
cr yondcr!"
For an instant the half-crazed Com
bra stood spcechless; then shrioking
out an oath, he tore knife from LIS
bosom and flung himself upon the
American, only TO be met with sud-
den blow, that hurled him scnscless to
the ground, while Page took the little
mother of his sweetheart quickly from
the scene.
Imprcssing Madam Hernandez with
the necessity of secrecy with regard TO
this unpleasant transaction, the young
lover himself forgot it for the next
three hours, within the sweet shelter
of two warm arms, and gazing into
liquid eyes that were filled with yield
ing love; but the matter was suddenly
brought to mind again, as he rode
homeward through the misty moon
light, by the whiz of u knife hurled
from a chaparral by the roadside, and
the sight of dim figure l9aping down
the river bank toward n waiting boat,
With sudden touch of the spur the
yo> ng man followed, but too late. The
light skiif fled from the shore like u
shadow.
mat coward" muttcrcd Charlie,
rs he drew rein at the waters edge,
she would have killed me in good old
Spanish stylc-a knife in the dark. |
must look out for this bravo. That
cursed blade came clOsG!'
From that time on the American
found it necessary to guard himself
constantly, for the jealousy and hatred
of the half-breed, now thoroughly
aroused, was terrible; and his attempts
upon the life of the other were so fire.
quent that Page became at last con-
vinced that the world was not wide
enough for his enemy and himself, and
he determined to go armed at all mo-
ments, and to preserve his own safety
even at the expense of the life of Com
bra.
A bond to keep the peace would have
been rs waste paper to the infuriated
ranchero, and Page knew it. His only
safety lay in eternal vigilance.
. The days were drawing toward fall,
and the coming Of her wedding fcsti-
val now filed the heart of Zareta; but
in the midst of all, she saw and felt
some 1.-THE of the danger that threaten
ed her lover, and il made her warm
blood run cold
Once she spoke to the young Ameri-
can of it, but he scoiled, and much as
she loved him the girl could not endure
that, so she determined TO say nothing,
but to watch.
s7cn though Charlie denied the dan
GER, she felt assured of it. The fierce
rush of passion in her own heart taught
il better than it could her lover what
Combra must feel,
"He'll kill my darling if he canl"
Zareta whispered to herself, 81 must
guard himl"
Unknown TO Page, she planned and
contrived to protect him. At times
trusted servants of her own followed
him to and fro and frightened away