Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-07-14
THE BLACK PEARL.

Tho harbor Of Acapulco is an ideal one
for shelter, and after the steamer s. once
az anchor it Is q source OF inystery TO the
passengers who have not been on deck
how she ever entered tho quiet little bay.
The high, blue mountains in tho back
ground, tho tall palmsand tropical green
down to the waters edge, along the
shore tic tiled and thatched houses
among the Oldest on tho coast-ond on
the rising ground 60 the right the an
cient fort and military prison-all these
make a sight that-h fills q lover Of the pic
turesque with enthusiasm.
The waters about the steamer arc tbick
with the boats and dugouts Of the bum
boat women and dirty native boys ped
ding fruit. shells, pearls and o world Of
indescribables, all keopingu up q constant
din Of jabbering jargon, that, with the
hundreds Of half naked natives passing
from tho shl-4o tholighters ~discharging
cargo, makes an exciting scene, in sharp
contrast to tho peaceful outlook ON the
shore beyond.
From tho ship the city seems but a
collection of small adobes, scattered here
and there along the hillside, with an oc-
~casional long, low white building in
view. But no sooner has tho traveller
passed the gates of the custom house than
"a little city Of 10000 Inhabitants lies be
fore him under the shelter Of the hill,
with thriving stores thronged with dark
eyed ~stlsoritas and men in white linen or
~bespangled velvet, many Of the latter
with the flaming serapo hanging over the
shoulder.
Edmund Warren represented an Amer
lean house. Ho had taken the place Of
the traveller who for years had made the
annual visit to the Mexican seaports.
lie had never seen Acapulco before, nor
had Henry Sanford, who accompanied
him on this trip. They had only lust
landed and become settled in the miser-
able excuse for a hotel in time TO enjoy
a delicious comida, when they felt an
impulse to join the throngs which filed
the clean paved streets aa evening came
and night soon followed the footsteps OF
the sultry day.
Passing down the street leading by ne
stores, the market and the plaza, Just
back Of the custom house, a small space
under sheltoring palms opened to view,
where night after night the lower classes
assembled TO watch tho f~andango. The
crowd of dark skinned men and women,
all dressed in the garb Of the locality,
stood out in the dim light Of the long
torches planted here and there among
the throng, like ghosts of departed senior
itas and caballeros. All were watching
the couples dancing the m@onotonous clog
quadrillo on the low platform to the mu-
sic of drum, tambOurine and guitar.
With hands on hips and heads thrown
back, tho dancers faced each other on
the boards arms length apart, and tho
constant stamping Of little feet and the
changing from side to side was kept NJ
until all We're exhausted and others tool
their places.
The Americans had mingled with the
throng about the dancers. watching al
ternately tho platform and the groupsol
girls about. Soon soft eyes had discov.
cred the strangers, and coquettisl
chances went out from beneath Ions
lashes. Warren was never happy unlos.
in love and in love with every pretty
face that came across his path. HI.
heart beat faster as he caught the glance.
shot at himself and and Henry, and hc
nearly pinchod the latter's arm of as q
smile came from q dark eyed beauty o.
the edge Of the throng.
"Gad, Henry Such eyesl Did yor
ever see their likeY' he exclaimed. q
must see where she lives. Arc you witt
me?' and he rubbed his hands in antici
patton Of an adventure. Henry was
quite as ready for a lark Gs his compan.
ion.
Ten o'clock. The dancing was over
and the crowd scattered through tho daTl
streets.
"You had better look out for that nl
Mexican with your beauty, Ned. II,
may stick a knife into us" cautioned
Henry.
Nonsense. Come on" was the otherl
reioinder.
They did not notice the native police
not uniformed, bat armed, followiu,
some distance behind as tho American.
logged the footsteps Of the FIRST conqueg'
Of the amorous Warren, nor did thel
know their custom of running i'm thl
foreigner on any pretext whatever fol
the revenue oS tho paltry fine. Murielli
Narvaoz know full wei that her new al
mirer8 were close behind, and SO did he
tall lover. No Dado her good night a
Warren and Sanford passed, and wen
back toward the plaza. If the Amor
cans could have heard his consultation
with Old China, tho bumbogt womai
and character Of Acapulco, they Nigh
even now be back I'm their native city.
The young men retraced their step
and found the olive skinned beauty etil
Ia the door. They galuted. The bow
was returned.
"Adelanto, senors, q prettyv voice said
and they accepted with alacrity Tie b
s~itation 10 enter. c9nllca brrlcl Oimll
30 a come fllel VITA lattc-rcse-
nguardienio enN.alnilia. Several otle.
girls, onto Ds I~lty g tho caption o
arrala y efr