The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-27
A MEXICAN ROMANCE.
EN ToRI.oRN HOPE.

had been riding hard all day. and d. ready the dry. dusty plains of the state of Tamauiipas were fast merging into the hllly country around santa Rosa. My little Mexican pony began to show signs of fatigue. and myself iel; that a night ; rest was absolutely necessary. The heat had been intense, and water scarce, as 1t always Is through country where rain IS almost unknown. My horses head at tested the extent of h,s thirst. my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. and II was with longing sufferers from thirst can alone appreciate, that l strained my eyes to discover some signs et habltatlon through the last gathering gloom. At last, much to my delight, l could dis tinguish the outlines of Il hut. where was sure of rest, fl not of absolute well come. Hospitality to the stranger IS not one of the striking features oi the Mexi- can character, especially to lone travel CTS ; but carrying htilc to tempt the cu- pidity of my host or hostess. cared very little for the reception l wts likely to get. My poor. Jaticd beast must have snuticd water and coming supper. for all at once he accelerated hls place. and. before long. WAS dismoLn,ing ln front of q large. well-bullt hariAl, and. m the best Spanish could muster. was asking for food and shelter
 "lt is Il G,rlnso" hcArd a voice. the softest and sweetest l ever heard. say. The accents were so sweet that. ii spite of the opptobious cpithei apphed to Ill foreigners. listened eagerly to hear them asain.
 They were not repeated. and q man tall and brawny. could see in the gloamlng, came out of the house and bade me welcome, taking my horse and bidding me enter at the same time. needed Ao second bidding. and entering found myself in the interior of a Mexican hat. such as are strewed along all the highways of Mexico, built ct mud or adobe, with palmetto ar grass roots; hu, this one show cd a degree of care and comfort entirely foreign To the many had seen.
 Supper was already spread. but no, on the floor. as IS the usual style. bat on a side table. and consisted of goats milk dried beet and torllllaS. the national sub sti,ute for bread. to winch w.,s added a pone oi genuine American corn-bread. Gas bcwlldcred. Corn bread and McNi- cans were irreconcilable. yet my hostess. as well as ,he old crone who st, by the fire, were undoubtedly natives.
 Pendenns the strange anomaly. be- gan to watch my hostess. She, with ;. light. ell,t. tread. moved about. pltc- lng another plate on the table, and prc- parlnS a hammock for my aeeemmeda- ton. My in,eres, had already been awakened by the voice of which l was sure she was the possessor, but even had would have been riveted by her great physical beauty.
 That she was of the pure Indian blood. with no foreign mixture. my experience among MeNieans assured me. She was tall-,aller than the majority of her race, even among the men 1.-the and wcll-pro- portioned. The low. tight bodice. common to her class. displayed neck and arm exquisi,ely molded. whose color alone, to my eye. detracted from their perfect beauty. Her eyes were large, dark and full of sweetness. while her lips cannot better be described than as fitting DOT tais from which should issue those sounds. sweet and musical, that still fingered on my ear. The strait. long, black hair was plaited and wound around her head. forming natural coronet
 was still admiring her when the mas ter of the house entered. As the light fell upon him, no longer wondered al the civilization evidenced around me for though the once fair skin was bronzcd 10 almost as tawny a hue as natives. and the ardent Mexican sun had tanned the ligh, hair to red, ye, knew Mexican soil had never conferred such tints on one of her children. and. even before he spoke, felt sure one of my countrymen stood before me.
 Stranger" he said. abruptly. using the Mexican ldiom, are you French or En- glish .'
 Neither. am an American
 linen thrice welcome to the poor com forts Silas Wright can afford you" drop ping the Spanish for his native tongue that seemed fai less familiar than the language he had hitherto used. Its a long time since I've had the chance of having one of my countrymen under the same roof with me, and you're none the .Sss ~ciSoHc TUT uidt, SudHSct, anu nc held out his large, brawny hand for the national salutation. was not slow to grasp it.
 At the word American" Anita-so my host called the young beauty-tumed a look beaming with pleasurable surprise on me. and murmured words of welcome.
 You're all right on that side of the house. said Silas, laughingly, "for all Americans rank next to me in their ideas of perfection, though you mightn't think much of such fellow as am," stroking his tawny whiskers as he spoke. ~lt'sno use talking tonight, for you need rest, and unless it's mighty urgent business calls you, don't intend you shall leave tomorrow. So, to supper, then to bed::"