Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-26
BONOS.

In Jn6 year DO. Sdiu Dill DSpIey,
as we sat in the office of the old Ship
Inn, New Bedford, waiting for a tide,
81 ran into Matamoras in a coaster
from Galveston. Them greasers are
pizen, now mind, | tell We, but the
wimmin, lord bless 'em, are just the
neatest little sparklers that ever wore
a rebosa.
Il was stopping at a tavern close to
the wharves, and Ben Goddard was
with me. You know Ben, the big
Texan, who lived with me last winter
on my farm, but had to dig out be-
cause it was so cold.
See here, Bill he says, did you
ever 90 to a fandangoP'
Il lowed | never had, and he said
I'd got to 90 to just the liveliest kind
of a shin-dig, and have some fun. So we
put on our best Tugs, and started out
about s o'clock, with a young greaser,
a mighty good sort of chap, who stop
ped at the hotel. He took US to a sort
of hall in the outskirts of the town,
and we could hear the guitars tinkling
like mad, and knew they were at it.
So we just paid for tickets, and walked
in as if we owned the rancho. We
stood back awhile, and watched the
crowd, and / must say | never saw a
neater lot of gals together in my life.
Bill didn't stand back long, for there
are heaps of Mexicans in Texas, and
the fandango is a regular institution
there. He picked out a little black
eyed Lenora, in a scarlet rebOsa, and
the way those big alligator boots of
Bills shook the floor was just a sin.
The senior does not danceP' said
Valdez, the young chap that came with
us. Then | will introduce you to a
lady who has been put to penance by
the padre. And what do you think that
penance is? To come to this fandango
she, who loves dancing as she loves
her life-and look on all the while and
not dancer
Rather rough on her, l should
say
HE pointed out the prettiest girl in
the room, a neal little article as ever |
see, dressed out to kill, with the neat
est little foot and ankle and the pretti-
est hand in the world, big black eyes,
a sweet mouth, and the whitest teeth
possible, but looking mournful enough
for a funeral.
"'Go ahead | says. i can't pass
my time any better
so he introduced her as the Sonora
lisa Valdez, his cousin, and | planted
myself and began to patter like a padre.
Toward the end of the dance there
was a stir near the door and a man
came toward us-a tall, handsome fell
low with a wicked-looking eve. The
sonora started and turned pale as she
saw him.
flake me away she gasped. 4
can not meet that man.
"But he vas too quick for us and
got between us and the door.
"'Ha, Isa, cara mia,' he said, show
ing his teeth like a tiger. Il have come
TO dance with you, unless some ofyour
friends object
II am put to penance,' she said in
a low voice. Il can not dance, and
you must go away, II you will be
known
"'You know that am not partial
TO the padres,' replied Bonos, smiling
as he saw those nearest to him draw
back in terror at the mention of his
terrible name. Il insist upon one dance
with you
i thought it was about time to 'bile
in
See here, Mister Bonos the Guer-
rilla,' | says, you just git
"He looked at me half minute with
n half-amused smile.
81 don't want to kill you here. nv
friend he said. 1t would spoil the
effect of my recent pardon, and you
Tejanos are hard fighters and brave
men. Go away while | permit it.
- will Dance she cried. oh.
senior, do not quarrel with him.
Nary Dance | said. If he knows
what is good for his health he'll clear
out
HE made a jump at me, throwing
his arms wildly about. for a greaser
doesn't know any more how to fight
than a cat, and all / had TO do was to
put in one-two-and he was on his
back. He leaped up like a panther,
but | had the drop on him when he got
out his knife, and Ben Goddard was
coming up, so he caved.
""FU see you again, cursed Tejano,'
he Kissed. Remember that. and when
the time comes you may repent this
hour.
From hat time l was with lisa
whenever | got a chance, and one day,
with Ben and the little girl in the scar
let rebosa, we rode out to a rancho
five or six miles from Matamoras,
where young Valdez lived. The way
led through a patch of chaparral,
through which a road had been cut,
and as we entered it Isa, who was rid
ing by my side. suddenly uttered a cry
and urged her horse before me. A
pistol cracked. and | saw the poor
girl reel and fall from the saddle, while
a second shot grazed my ear.
""Take care of her, Ben,' / cried.
Tl hunt this dog to death
"As | pushed my horse into the
thick %chaparral | saw a black horse
clear a growth of mesquit bushes on
the right, and on his back sat Bonos
the Guerrilla, the pistol still smoking
In his hand. | vas well mounted and
knew how to ride. and l dashed after
him. Four times l fired at him, but
the motion of the horse made INV aim
bad. and | missed. There was only
one more charge in my revolver.
81 rode hard, desperately, holding
that last charge, for | bad not time to
slip out the chamber and load it. The
black horse broke through the chap
arral, and made the way easier for me;
hut xybap xua aan,a ont upop rbo OMAN