Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-04-29


prrroIn7ad 81 Coxo, With dTl his SONS,
excepting Escamilla, who remained be-
hind to attend upon his affianced Ysabel,
started out into the great pastures for
the purpose of driving in the immense
black bulls required for the sport, while
other neighboring ranchros busted them
selves in building stout corrals in which
to secure them until the time arrived to
lead them into the arena.
Toward evening, while tho mesquite
grass Law cold and gray under the shad-
ows of the mountains, Escamilla and the
happy ISABEL left their halnmocks on
the wide gallery of the house, where they
had been resting during the sultry hours,
to take walk along the main trail lead
ing toward the rocky hills.
When they reached point half mile
from the gate OF the hacienda, where
thicket of ciapparal bounded each side
of the road, suddenly there arose cloud
of dust in front of them.
"Here conc the bull fighters" ex-
claimed isabel, as she withdrew her
waist from the encircling arm OF her
lover; .let us go back to the house.
"Oh, no." replied Escamilla, perhaps
they are my father and brothers. Yes,
there are eight; look"
But what tho poor girl really saw, with
her eyes almost starting from their SOCK
cts and motionlcss with fear, as she rec
ognized them now only a few hundred
yards away, was band of Comanches,
naked to the waist, painted horribly and
brandishing their lances. In moment.
needless Of the helpless maid at his side,
the coward Escamilla turned and lied
down the trail toward the rancho, shout
ing as he ran: "Los barbaros! Los bar
baroS!"
In n few rods horseman met him. 1t
was his brother Juan Maria. He had
caught young antelope with his lasso
and was riding ahead of his party to pre-
sent it to Ysabel. The exclamation OF
the frightened Escamilla and one glance
ND the road showed him the danger the
moor girl was in. He threw the animal
he was carrying to the ground, and
plunging his spurs into the TANKS of his
horse dashed furiously to the rescue.
Alas, the savages were already upon her
Ysabel, covering her face with her hands
as if to thwart tho impending blow and
recognizing Juan, shrieked out to her old
lover, SALIVA me, Juan Maria. por Dios.
saliva mer' AT that instant the lance Of
the nearest Indian pierced hs heart, and
in another her reeking scalp was swung
exultantly aloft by the incarnatc fiend.
Short was his triumph. Almost bound
ing through the air, with ever ready
lasso swinging above him, Juan Maria
threw the open coil from his expert
hand, and it fell over the Indians head.
AS the shllful thrower pulled up his
bride reins, heavily the savage tumbled
to the earth. Then Juan had fearful
odds to contend against. Received with
a flight of arrows and unarmed except q
short, rusty sword, regardless of every
thing but to avenge the murder of the
girl he deeply loved, he attacked the
nearest Indian, and bringing him within
reach of his arm cleft his skull by a
master stroke.
The others, terrified at the fierce look
of the brave Mexican, keeping at q re-
spectful distance from him, assailed
him with shower Of arrows, and in an
instant he was bleeding from score Of
terrible wounds. Still the gallant Juan
fought bravely, hoping against hope, and
was soon encouraged by the shouts of his
father and six brothers, whose horses
were on the dead run to the rescue The
old man and his sons rode up in time to
see Juan fall from his horse, pierced by
a feathered shaft just above his breast.
"El Coxo" and his boys fought with
desperate courage to avenge the murder
of Ysabel and Juan. Half dozen Of
the Comanches were soon made to "bite
the DUST" but two of the Mexicans also
lay dead upon the now Redeemed sod.
The rancheros came up in short time
from the hacienda in force, compelling
the Indians to retreat. but as night was
now upon them the Mexicans were
obliged to abandon pursuit.
On the ground lay the still quivering
body of the unfortunate Ysabel and near
her the two Indians killed by the gallant
Juan Maria. Juan was quite dead, 20
arrows having pierced him. Two of his
brave brothers were seriously wounded,
and six of the savages were killed, be-
sides those who fell by the avenging arm
Of Juan.
Sadly the bodies of Ysabel and Juan
Maria were borne in the darkness to the
hacienda by the rancheros, whence both
| were buried next day, side by side, at the
very hour when the marriage ceremony
was to have been performed.
Escalnilla, ashamed of his cowardice,
disappeared. It was supposed he went
to the City of Mexico, married there and
purposely kept the knowledge of his
whereabouts sccret.-New York Re
corder.
VIII Cultivate Bangs.
Teacher-Bow will you ever get along
in +he world If Ven never learn to spell: