Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-04-25
MY FAIR ROAD COMPANION.


"
MY FAIR ROAD COMPANION.
AZ Perote, where we halted for a re-
lay and Entertainments, all my fellow
passengers took leave Of me, very
solemnly assuring me that, II assai!ed
by the ladrODes or robbers, Il would be
much better for me "a take matters
quietly suffer myself to be genteelly
plundered than % run the risk of hay
ing my Oh oat cut for resistance. "A I
had somewhat boldly proclaimed il was
my IN cation Of doing. thanked them
TOT Sleir advi g. and replied that |
would take the matter into serious con-
sideratiOn.
At Perote, repeat, all who had been
my companions from Vera Cruz took
leave OF me. this be- ng the end Of their
journey In that Il 70, ton but there was
one new passenger here 10 90 forward.
whom, 10 my agreeable surprise. found
TO be n beautiful young lady, some
twenty years of are.
Senorita Paula. IA | subsequently as
ceriained her name TO be, was indeed
one OF those rare beauties seldom met
with except in works of ii ton tall,
graceful, with n prOfusion of long,
olack hair-soft. clear, melting dark
eyes-teatures rs perfect "a ever came
from tho hands of the sculptor, and
with an an nation the most fascinating
va ying in expression with every
changing mo ID of the intellectual pos
sess r. A glance mt her bewitch NO
dark eyes showed me that she was one
who was naturally of social DISPOSE.
uOn; and as we ratified away from the
gloomy town. lO)k the liberty of open
ing n conversation.
They tell me-" said /, that the
route between here and Mexico is very
dangerous one 10 travel"
There is little To- lear" she repl' ed.
with sweet smile and in n melodious
tone, except from the pro essioual
robbers. and they seldom harm any Que
who makes NO resistance.
1T seems strange to me. +" re coined.
that you Mexicans should take such
Things ~ matter If course, and deem
resistance n very impJlte way OF treat
ing the kni ghts of the road, instead of
boldly asserting your rights and abat-
ing the evil by manly spirit OF resist
Rnce. For myself. | must consider n
the most cowardly OF proceedings for
any respectable party to set out pre-.
pared To quietly = atty the cupid ty
OF the iaoroHes, and unpreparcd TO treal
them To their Just deserts.
Every triyelcr. senOr," she replied.
should, before setting out. count the
cost OF his journey; and, rs Of course. Il
Is natural he should value his life high.
", 10 seems To inc natural that ne
should pay n certain sum for positive
SAFETY, rather than put that life In
jeopardy. For instance, In travelling
from Vera Cruz TO Mexico. IL he will
first reckon that so much is the fare by
the diligcncia, and that so much will be
required for entertainment on the way.
aud so much for the contingency you
speak OF. he will then have the exact
cost between the two points; and II he
will look at the whole as the sum total
OF his journey he will not seem To bc
robted by any ono party more than
That | replied. ''may be, believe
Is, the Mexican mode Of doing business.
but does not tally with the preconceived
ideas Of fOrciL nCrs."
"bus every one" replied the fair
speaker, ''shOuld conform To the Gus.
toms OF The country he visits"
And dO yOu. then, 60 prepared for
this highway robbery, and have Won NO
fear IN thus iourneying by yourselfP'
well. senior. what can | do? am.
rs you perez We, an unprotected lady.
who. 4or certain reasons am required Ia
make the journey between Perotc and
the Capital some two or three times n
year, and you certainly could not ex-
poet mo To go prepared TO resist an
armed band. AS To fear, / will not
ueny have my share of that, but, so
TAR, L have never met with any rough
treatment, and Of course I trust II the
saints that my fortune will ever be As
propitious."
"And have you really been rol bed ON
your Quincy back and forthP' / in
Euircd.
~ think have paid my share TO the
tddroncs for my transit through their
country she laughed
land you expect TO continue n rene
t'tion of the same for the rest of YOUR
life?"
"Who knowsP'' she replied. al
least hope 10 be always prepared"
"And your fellow travellers" said I.
"have you never seen any disposed 10
resist these unlawful acts'"
cen. q. senior, an American and an
Englishman who were In the same dill
geucia with me fired upon the robbers,
killing one and wounding two"
"And did the robbers tire backPr
~ IS. but fed immodia ely, and fort.
unately in ured none of our partyP'
"Asl should have exp cted. A" returned
j. "Nou were not robbed on that coca
sion. | suppose?"
Eve were not. senior. but the two
foreigners subso uently paid dearly foI
their resistance. for in ourneying bah
and forth 10th were killed. separately
and ut different times. near the same
spot. You see these crosses by the side
OF the roa !, senorP'
II have observed them frequently,
but here they seem TO DO much more
numerous I replied. looking forth
irem the vch Gle.
81 Each stands on the spot where
some one has m & a violent DEATH" she
reioined; "and. rs we 20 along, / will
call your attention TO those which mark
the places where the foreigners met
theirs"
Do you know" said I. that I am
resolved 70 emulate their example. lot
tie oonse !uences DO what they mayr'
''doly saints defend usl'' she ex-
claimed; "you are not In earnest,
senorf"
Seriously so. I assure YOU"
You would only bring certain death
upon W. both.
"sAN rather ] should lighter tAs