Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-29
DON JACK.

hancnO. Ion miguel ArguellO, the
owner OF one of the finest haciendaS
in Southern California, had made ex-
tensive preparations to receive his
two sons back upon the rancho after
an absence of five years spent in an
Eastern college, where they had been
sent to be educated regardless OF ex-
pense, for old Don Miguel, ever since
California had been surrendered to
Jos Americanos had become an ardent
admirer of all things American. In
the early struggles of the pioneers of
old, in the da, Of 40, his influence
had been most powerfully exerted
towards convincing his countrymen
that the wisest thing possible was to
become good and loyal American
citizens. Many and many time
had Commodore Stockton and
General Kearney, and in later
years Gen. raj Hancock been guests
of Don Miguel's and honored guests,
too, and never were men more hos
pitably entertained than when they
found a seat at the freside of the
Don's rancho. His estates once ex-
tended from the foot of the Sierra
Madre Mountains clear to the ocean,
a distance of thirty miles. Standing
on the eminence upon which the resi-
dence OF the family was situated the
eye took in a bewildering vista OF
vineyards and orange groves, grain
fields and long grassy plains stretching
away to the sea shore, where the
waters of the Pacific on clear day
were plainly visible. Back from the
house the eye took in another view no
less pleasing. 1t was the entrance to
a grand old caf1on that ran back many
miles through the mountains. Two
huge hills reared their heights on
either side and, standing at it's en-
trance, one caught glimpse OF cool,
leafy sycamore trees, closely-woven
underbrush, creeping vines and state
dy old oak trees stretching away
in endless variety. Don Miguel had,
with the invasion Of the Americans, lost
a great portion of his possessions, but
he was still a very wealthy man, and
one OF the richest OF the old settlers
that yet retained any OF the vast es-
tates granted them by the Mexican
Government years before the hardy
pioneers of California invaded their
domains. Many of the ranches of his
countrymen had passed into the
hands of other owners through their
own spend hrf5 exrAvi ance and utter
lack Of prudence. The old-time Cali
fornia Mexican rancherO.of the early
days was peculiar being. He cared
nothing for the past, less for the fu-
ture-living only for the present. He
knew that to-day so many horses
grazing on his grassy plains were his,
so many cattle bore his brand, his
boregeros (sheep sheerers) told him
that he owned so many head OF sheep.
Orange groves and vineyards were
also classed among his possessions
but not as a source of wealth. If he
needed money he sold so many head
of stock and realized on them. If it
was good year he lived in clover, but
sometimes dry year swept Oft many
cattle, sheep and horses, the grass failed
to grow and the rain fell not. In his
extremity he was wont to go to some
American friend and borrow a few
thousands at ruinous rate of COM
pound interest, giving a mortgage on
his rancho as security. When the in
tefest fell due his obliging friend
would carelessly say: Don, old fellow,
We'll just add this to the principal; !;
no hurry you know. And the lordly
land owner would carelessly answer
all right my friend just as you say,
and promptly forget all about it. But
in time his obliglng friend would sud-
denly fo'eclose his mortgage and the
Don lost home and rancho. His OBJ
liging friend steppedin in and he stepped
out through some mysterious process
of American law that he never could
understand. He always accepted the
inevitable calmly. An adobe house
served him as dwelling place, and
he drifted along still contented and
happy; no useless longing after the
lost wealth and estates. 1t was gone
and a characteristic shrug OF the
shoulder settled the matter.
Fortunately old Don Miguel
was shrewd enough to hold
the best portions of his estate and
in the year of grace 1887, was still an
immensely wealthy man--so much so
that he had long ago resolved that his
two sons should be sent away to learn
the customs of the new era, and to
become good, loyal citizens, able to
carefully manage the old homestead.
Eduardo and Rafael were his only
sors-both handsome, manly young
men-and Carmelita, his only girl,
she was a beautiful young creature
as light and active as fawn; beauti.
fully formed, with a complexion oi
deep olive, but clear as crystal; and
great big black eyes Of midnight dark
ness, fringed with long lashes that