St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-05-03

propitious.
'.And have you really been robbed on
your journey back and forthp'' | in
quired.
Il think / have paid my share to the
lodroaes for my transit through their
country" she laughed.
''And you expect to continue a repeti-
ton of the same for the rest of your life?"
s'Who knowsP" she replied. SAT
least hope to be always prepared. F"
''And your fellow Travellers said I,
shave you never seen any disposed to
resist these unlawful acts"
.'Once, senior, an American and an
Englishman who were in the same dill
gencia with me fired upon the robbers,
killing one and wornding two
stAnd did the robbers fire back?"
eyes, but fed Immediately, and fort
unately injured none of our party?'
"As Ishould have expected, f" returned
/. 'sYou were not robbed on that occa-
sion, supposed"
ave were not, senior, but the two
foreigners subsequently paid dearly for
their resistance, for in iourneying back
and forth both were killed. separately
and at different times, near the same
spot. You see these crosses by the side
Of the road, senora
II have observed them frequently,
but here they seem to be much more
numerous, [ replied, looking forth
from the vehicle.
Each stands on the spot where
some one has met violent DEATH" she
reioined: "and, as we go along, / will
call your attention to those which mark
the places where the foreigners met
theirs. "
al Do you know said I, " that am
resolved to emulate their example. let
tie consequences be what they mayg'
holy saints defend us!'' she ex-
claimed; "you are not in earnest,
senory"
Seriously so, l assure you"
You would only bring certain death
upon us both. y
g Say, rather, should Tighten the
expenses of the journey-for your
knights of the road understand retreat
as well as advance-and you yourself
have acknowledged that firm resistance
put them to flight for once"
g But there were numbers opposed
to them, senior, and you are only one. y
g But, fortunately, l have couple
of revolvers, which, in two good hands,
amount to some ten or a dozen shots,
and my friends have repeatedly told
ME am not bad marksman."
g All, Santa Maria! you will think
better of this, senior? the very idea of
resistance terrifies me!'
but not the idea of robbery?''
t'Because / have never met with
violence.
We continued to converse in SINH
lar strain for. some time longer--my
fair companion gradually changing the
subject, and seeming much interested
in myself. learned that her family
name was Valerde, that she was I'M
married, that her father and brother
were officers in the army, and so forth,
and so on; and in return gave her my
own name, stated something of my
history, business and prospects, and,
altogether, became more communica-
tive than would advise any friend to
be with any stranger of either sex in
strange country.
AS we continued our journey, the
conversation gradually changing from
one thing to another, Senorita Paula
brought it back to the point
where4it first opened.
1--WE are coming upon a dangerous
part of the road, 2 she said; fare you
still resolved to defend yourself if as
sailed?''
With your permission, senoritar'
do not Z rR,
piled; "but still, if such is your inten-
ton, think it no more than right that |
you should give me a chance to take a
part in my defense, since my risk of |
danger will be as great as yoursn'
And have You really the nerve, aft
er all, to defend YOURSELF" I inquired.
Ii had the means, senior. ?
Il have two pistols" said I; !" if you
will accept of one of them. it is at your
service. =
" You are very kind, senor-but can
fire itP"
s With ease, senorita;'' and producing
one of my revolvers, explained to her
the manner in which it was TO be used
:. And this, you say, will shoot some
half dozen times?'
CnlnK lb SAFE TO calculate that nVe
charges out of the six viii explode,
avery formidable weapon, indeed"
she replied; and with such can al
most fancy we are safe. You have an
other, you say, like this?n
produced it.
What a beautiful inYention!'' she
observed, reaching over and taking it
rom my hand. Then extending her
hands, one Of the revolvers in each, she
continued: Armed like this, one
night almost count himself safe against
! hostl You say this is fred in this
she proceeded, cooking one
II the weapons as she spoke, and point
( %SNsy IL Al .