Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-13

V" mother only brother. Jack
w Lane, who, early in het
ifties. had gone out a
handsome, hght-hearted lad to that golden land.
Well I remember how different he seemed from
the idea had formed Of him. how amazed and
saddened were my mother and all at the change
in him
His face deeply bronzed. with wrinkles on
cheek and brow. his low. sad voice, absent
mindedness and lack of interest in all things,
even his favorite books seemed almost impos-
sible in one who had been accustomed to oc-
cupy himself in the slightest matters, enjoying
everything TO the full. In financial affairs he
had been more than fairly successful. and
should have been in the prime of healthy. happy
manhood When questioned about the change
be gave no satisfactory answer only saving that
life in California was hard and men grew old
early.
shortly he married a neighboring country
girl. who made him busy. devoted wife. and
after a few years he died quite suddenly of heart
disease.
hoped that among his papers would be some
explanation Of the change. over which L had
brooded with all young girls romantic inter-
est. and as Aunt Jenny went methodically
through trunk. shelves and desk hung around.
rendering all assistance possible, watching
everything with anxious ewes. Not q word OF
the kind had she fould and the search was al
most over when one afternoon she drew out
bundle Of manuscript, yellow and worn, that
caught nv attention at once.
What is it!'' aunty. cried. "a | edged up to
her. eager TO examine it with her.
The parcel was Hat and wrapped with black
silk cord. All could make ont of the writing
was the title, in faded letters-'A Story Of Cal
ifornis Life
While quivered with anticipation nv aunt
read slowly down the page. turned it over,
glanced carelessly inside. then without trou-
bling to unite the cord flung it into the waste
basket
''0h. auntyr' cried reproaehfullv.
''Why. nv dear" she answered in surprise,
III is nothing of any yalue-only some western
tale"
Please, aunty, give it to me- pleaded
eagerly.
Certainly. my dear. il you like" she re-
Piled. with some astOnishment-
Selling the treasure. | flew to nv room aud
made fast the door. fearful lest some one might
interfere with nv reading the manuscript
With nervous fingers L undid the wrapping.
and, as / hattened ont the papers. there fell TO
the floor a small package wound in tissue paper.
Opening this gently found a curl of silky black
hair and small silver ornament in the shape of
a lyre. the latter ma~red by reddish stain that
furnished Its brightness. / laid them rever-
entiGlly aside ana turned to the tinle-worn
writing. The following is the story that dwelt
ures. cares and changes of lIfe drove it FROM
NV memory altogether:
II had been unusually lively day in Los
Angeles. that 18th of September. 1856, the day
sacred to the memory OF Mexican independence
The sons of Mexico had OutdOne all previous
celebrations in the fervOr OF their patriotism.
They had pronounced anatheu1is against SPAN,
and giorified her rebeiiious daughter with bonn
bast and rhodomontade, all in the most musical
Spanish.
fha nF
many Americans who adopted eagerly the Gus
toms OF the stranger race-wearing the gayest
n2ti-e costumes. toasting Mexico in unlimited
bumpers OF euardiente and meseal. even at
tempting to ride against the native Californian
In which they were apt TO fail lamentably.
In making love TO the beautiful seuoritds they
were far more successful The Americans to a
man were armed with pistols. or. in rare cases,
with the lately invented pepper-box revolver.
while the CalifOrnians added to these excellent
weapons Ell euchillo 1.-THE knife, for which they
had a fondness. not at all understood by the
men from the states. who could not conquer
their aversion to cold steel
The day had begun with hubbub: shouts, fir
ing of pistols and trampling of horses as gayly
dressed caballeros came in from the neighbour
ing ranches. riding their finely caparisoned lit
tie animals. with grace and agility une1ualed
There had been bull and bear fight the bear
a savage one. lassoed only tine day before on the
san Pasqusl rancho. Just north of the town. a
n
fight came feats of hOrsemanship. followed by
feasting and dancing in bru-h-rOOfe1 house
near the plaza. The gayetv WIS kept ALWAYS go
ing by new arrivals. the weary ones retired
TO rest for a short time-when they would re-
turn to the fiesta with undated vigor
The sheriff of Los Angeles county, bluff.
kind-hearted American from one Of the south
ern states. had that morning received infOrrna-
ton unfavOrable 10 a certain Young Californian
del Norte (of the north. who had been in town
some three months. spending money freely
making hrs way into the best society the place
afforded. sheriff Johns had liked this Martin
Flores. and was lOath to admit that there was
ANYTHING crooked about him: besides the rumor
did not come from particularly reliable
source. though il true IL was of grayest mo-
ment. being no less than a charge of murder
In the CAV crowd that dav Flores was promi-
nent A 1.-THE, handsome man. with thin
cameo features. soft dark ewes and waving
black hair. His hat was loaded with bullion
and gems. and his dress which was Of richest
quality. n:ted his tine figure to "a nicetv With
the Young Americans he was a prime fayorite
and shared with them the tenderest Chances of
the senOritas.
The scene was the gayer for the costumes OF
the times. the women with full embroidered
skirts and CAV bodice. the head and shoulders
wrapped in shawl or reboso scarf of brightest
hue-or. where the fair one boasted no raeaner
blood than the 'sangre azul Of old Spain the
graceful mantilla occasionally took the place OF
the gdudier wrap The dress Of the men Was
even more fanciful. IL consisted OF the tall
vecuna hat. its broad brim ornamented with
gold or silver cords and gems; the Handsomely
trimmed J1cket and waist coat. gay sash OF silk
or crepe. dark breeches. ciose-itting 10 the
knee. below which showed the snowy calzon-
clio tdrawers}. while boots of undressed kid
completed the attire
The day sped on in uproarious enjoyment
until the sun was slowly settling behind the
Cahuenga hills. Already the dull gray tints of
early twilight rested on the little town as il
nestled low among the surrounding heights
on the low. one-stury. fat-tOpped adobe houses
so alike in plan and color; on the unpayed
streets. devoid of all vehicles save an occasional
OF cart hlled with senoras and senoritas Of all
competitions, from the rich. smooth skin Of
the Spanish brunette To the duskier and vet
darker tints of the Indian serving rlaid Along
the crest. of Fort Hill there was still CLEAN OF
yellow light and the sun fingered lovingly
about the torlOrn crosses and head,tones in the
old graveyard, as though loath to withdraw its
CHEEKY rays from that dismal city of the dead.
As the last CLEAN faded there came a peal Of
bells from the chuych on the plaza, ringing the
Angelus. Instantly all the various sounds of
merrymaking ceased a. if by magic Every
caballero doffed his tall hat. every woman ben,
her head in silent alteration. at the call to
PRAYER.
In a dsrkened room Of house near the plaza