Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-09
MY FAIR ROAD COMPANION.

MY FAIR ROAD COMPANION
At Perote. where we halted for a re
Law and refreshments, all my fellow
i passengers took leave of me, very SOL
4 EMMY assuring me that, if assailed by
the iddrORcS or robbers, 1t would be
much better for me TO take matters
quietly. and suffer myself to be gen
teelly pluudered, than 10 run the risk OF
having NY throat cut for resistance, as
Ihad somewhat boldly proclaimed it wa:
nv intention of doing. L thanked them
for their advice, and renlied that
would take the matter into serious con-
siieTation.
At PeV0te, l repeat, all who had beer
MY companions from Vera Cruz took
leave OF me, this being the end of thelI
journey in that direction; but there was
one new passenger here TO 60 forward.
whom, to my agreeable surprise, | found
10 be a beautiful young lady, some q
years Of age.
Sen0Tita Paula, as l subsequently as.
certaiued her name to be, was indeed
one Of those rare beauties seldom met
with except in works of fiction-tall,
graceful, with prOfusiOn of long black
haiT-SOft, clear, melting dark eyes
features as perfect as ever came from
the hands Of the sculptor, and with an
animation the most faScinating-vary-
ing In expression with every changing
MOOD Of the intellectual poSSessor. a
glance at her bewildering dark eyes
showed NE that she was one who was
naturally of a social disposition; and as
We ratified away from the gloomy town,
l took the liberty of opening a con-
yeIsatiOn.
THEY tell me-" said /, THAT the
route between here and Mexico Is very
dangerous Ose to travel"
There Is little to fear" she replied.
with a sweet smile and in melodious
tone, except from the professional
robbers, and they seldom harm any one
who makes no resistance"
1T seems strange to me,' | rejolned,
that you MeXicanS should take such
things as a matter of course, and deem
rSls-ance a very impolite way of treat
ing the knights of the road, instead of
boldly asserting your rights and abating
the evil by a manly spirit Of resistance.
For myself, l must consider it the most
coWaTdly Of proceedings for any respec-
table party to start out prepared to
quietly crafty the cupldity of the Ia
droRes, and unprepared totreat them TO
their deSerts.n
Every traveller, Senor," she replied,
should, before setting out, count the
cost OF his Journey; and as of course it
Is natural he should value his life highly
Il seems TO nle natural that he should
pay certain sum for positive safety,
rather than put that life in jeopardy.
For Instance, in travelling from Vera
OIuZ 10 Mexico, if he will first reckon
mat 50 much is the fare by the diligen-
Ga, and that so much will be required
lor entertainment on the way, and so
much Tor the contingency you speak of,
lie Wlll then have the exact cost between
tie two points, and if he will look at
Tie Whole as the sum total of his jour
hey. lie viii not seem to be robbed by
any one PARTY more than another"
That, - replied, may be, / believe
Is, the Mexican mode of doing business,
but does hot tally with the preconceived
Ideas OF foreigners.''
But every one," replied the fair
speaker, should conform to the GUS
IONS Of the country he visits.'
And do you then go prepared for
this highway robbery? and have you no
Iear IN thus journeying by yourself?"
We'll, SenOr, what can do? am,
ds You perceive, an unprotected lady,
VINO, iOr certain reasons, am required
10 make the journey between Perote
ana lie Capital some two or three times
Year, and you certainly could not ex-
Pect me TO go prepared to resist an
"llLed band. AS TO fear, L will not
leny have my share of that. but, SO
tdf, 1 have never met with any rough
Treatment, and of course l trust to the
saints that my fortune will ever be as
proptious."
And have you really been robbed on
your journey back and forthl" L in
quired.
think have paid my share to the
-oA Iul lldlioll lulOuSu lutA
country" she laughed.
-. And you expect to continue repe-
~ slllon OF the same for the rest of your
W 10 knOws?'' she replied. "At
ieaSI hope to always be prepared"
And Your fellow Travellers" said /,
nave You never seen any disposed to
resist these unlawful acts?''
= Ohce, Senior, an American and an
Ln5lishman who were in the same dill
sehcia with me, fired upon the robbers
nS one and woUnding two."
And did the robbers fire back?''
les, but fed Immediately, and
oItuhately injured none of our party"
AS | should have expected" re-
.uIhed l. you were not robbed on
'hat occasion. L suppose?"
We were not, senor, but the two
foreigners subsequently paid dearly for
eheir resistance, for in journeying back
SnG forth both were killed separately
% aliu at different times, near the same
opoI. You see these crosses by the side
Vi The road, senor?n
H. l nave observed them frequently,
Out here they seem to be mnch more