Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-13

ieys OF the Toluca and the Zerma, and Gel
ebrated even by the troubadours of Morelia
and distant Pascuaro. 1t so happened that
on the previous year ISABEL had made her
first appearance at public funcion-her
debut, so to speak-and Immediately at
this gallo" was woed and in measure
won by the presentation of the torn-up re-
mains of the rooster from the hands of the
gallant Juan Maria. who, his offering being
well received, from that moment looked
upon the pretty Isabel, according to the
custom of the rancheros as his cortejd, or
sweetheart, and She nothing loath to have
the handsomest lad in the village at her
feet, permitted his attentions, and appa-
rently returned his love.
To make long story short, the dandy
Escamiila, who was too fine for work, and,
therefore, had more time on his hands for
counting than Juan Maria, dishonorably
supplanted his brother in the affections of
Ysabel, and as Juan was too frank and
noble-hearted to force his suit against his
more favored brother, the affair was soon
concluded between the girl and Escamilla
and day named for the marriage cere-
mony, which was to take place at the ha-
cinda OF the bride, where in honor of the
occasion
GRAND BULL FIGHT
Was to be given. to which all the neighbors
for forty miles around were invited. Three
days before that appointed for the mar
rage, Ell Coxo with his eight sons made
their appearance at the brides hacienda
their gallant figures mounted on stout Cali
fornia horses, creating buzz of admiration
from the assembled rancheros. The next
day III Coxo, with all his sons, ex-
cepting Escamilla, attended the mas
ter OF the hacienda into the
plains for the purpose of driving in
the bulls that would be required in the
morrow's sport, while the other rancheros
set to work to build large corral in which
to secure the animals when they should
arrive; Ell Coxo and his sons being selected
for the more arduous work of driving in
the bulls, being the most expert and best
mounted horsemen in all the valley.
1t was toward the close of the day and
the sun was fast sinking behind the rugged
hills, tinging with gold the serrated ridge
of that isolated mountain chain, while the
mesquite-covered plain beneath lay cold
and gray under the deep shadow of the
Sierra. The shrill pipe of the quail was
heard, calling the bevy together for the
night hares limped out of the thick cover
and sought their feeding over
head the melancholy cry of the gruyas
sounded feebly in the aerial distance the
of the arroyo, where the herdsmen
were driving them to water; the
farm laborers had already quilted
their milpas and sought their homes.
where women with naked arms were pound
ing the tortillas on stone metates for the
evening meal ; and the universal quiet pro-
claimed that the day was done and man
and beast were seeking well-earned rest
after their allotted toll. AT this hour the
two lovers, who were to be welded on the
morrow sauntered forth-probably careless
of the beauty of the scene and building
AERIAL CASTLES OF FUTURE BLISS
AS lovers have since the world began. As
they strolled onward, little cloud of dust
arose from the chaparral in front of them
and in the distance. but seemingly in an
other direction, they heard the shouts of
the returning cow-herderS and the thun-
dering tread of the bulls they were driving
to the corral. In advance of these was
seen one horseman, galloping with all
speed to the hacienda. Nevertheless the
cloud OF dust before them rolled rapidly
EDWARDS, and presently several figures
emerged from it, riding towards them in
the road.
Here come the bull-fighters, y said Ysa-
bel, Withdrawing herself from the en-
n.
Perhaps they are my brothers," an
swered he; yes, they are eight; look"
But what saw the poor girl, as, with ewes
almost starting from her head and mo-
tionless with sudden fear, she directs her
gaze at the approaching horsemen, who
now, turning bend in the chaparral, are
within few hundred yards of them
Escamilla follows the direction of her
gaze, and one look congeals the trembling
coward. a band of Indians are upon them.
the bloody Comanches. Naked to the waist,
painted horribly for war, with brandished
spears they rush on. Needless of the
helpless maid, and leaving her to her fate,
thecoward turned and fled, shouting the
dreaded signal Los barbaros Los bar
bar ~
A horseman met hint was Juan
Maria, who, having lassooed a little living
antelope on the plains, had ridden in adj
vance of his brothers to present it to the
false but unfortunate sabel. The yells of the
fleeing Escamilla and one glance down the
road showed him the peril of the poor girl.
Throwing down the animal he was care
fully carrying in his arms, he dashed his
spurs furiously into the sides of his horse
and rushed like the wind to the rescue.
But already the savages were upon her with
wHooPs OF BLooDTHIRsry JOY
Covering her face with her hands, she
shrieked to her old lover. 'Salve me, Juan
Maria; salve me, per Diosr' Some say
that be shot her himself, to save her from
a worse fate: others that the lance of an
Indian pierced her heart, and in mo-
ment her reeking scalp was held exultingly
aloft by long tress of shining hair. Short
lived was the savage's triumph; for bound
ing through the air. in cloud of dust
comes Juan Maria, with ready lasso swing
around his head-too late, alas! to res
cue the maiden, but not TO avenge her
death. Straight upon the murderer he
flies, regardless of the flight of arrows with
which heis received. The coil of the lasso,
whirled from the expert hand of the Mex
lean, falls over the head of the Indian who
holds the bloody scalp, and drags him to
the ground, while with his seechdte or rusty
sword-used chiefly for cutting chaparral-
he contends against the fearful odds, en-
couraged by the shouts of his father and
brothers, who with loud cries are now gal
looping to his rescue. They appeared in
time to see the gallant fellow, still fighting
though
BLEEDING FROM HUNDRED WOUNDS,
Till an arrow buried itself to the feathers
in his faithful breast. He fell from his
horse, instantly his scalp was snatched by
a naked savage and at that moment the
main body of Indians, thirty or forty in
came up. Coxoan his sons fought
with desperate courage to avenge the
murder of Juan and Ysabel. Half dozen
Comanches bit the dust, and two
Mexicans lay bleeding upon the ground,
before the rancheros from the ha-
cienda reached the spot in time
to save the remainder of the Mexicans.
The Indians retreated under cover of the
darkness. On the ground lay the
still quivering body of the girl, and the two
Indians near her killed by Juan Maria.
One of them. who still held in his hand the
raven tress had his neck broken and his
brains dashed out by being dragged over
the sharp stones, the lasso being still fast to
the high pommel of Juan's saddle. Juan
Maria was quite dead, pierced with scores
of bleeding wounds two of his brothers
were dangerously wounded, and six Indi-
ans, besides those killed by Juan. had
fallen by the avenging arms of FL Coxo
and bis sons.