The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-04-07
MERCEDES.
The Story Of q Brave Little Next
can Girl.

~eSA4 - - l :
II is midwinter, yet the sun blAzes
down upon Santa Catalina with june
time warmth, and lush grasses stand
tall by every water course
The soft air scarce stirs the leaves OF
the stately eucalyptus; no sound breaks
the silence save the humming of bright
winged insects darting hither and thith-
er and the murmur of breakers along
the shore.
Across the restless expanse OF waters
the Californian coast line is dimly seen,
like gray cloud upon the horizon. and
nearer CLEANS the white sail of . ship
outward bound.
Down where the sand has formed IN
drifts. high heaped by the action OF the
tide. child, stretched prone in the sum
shine, is watching the course of fish,
ing smack that is making for the har-
Dor below At her feet lies basket
filled with treasures that the incoming |
tide has brought
This is one Of Mercedes daily tasks, |
TO roam the beach, gathering up
feathcry sea mosses and the curious
manipulated shells. to be carried with
Pacheco's catch of fish or load OF game
shared in the canyons TO the distant
mainland.
When she is so fortunate as to find
rare specimens the tourists at San
Pedro are often pleased TO give her
s.bit' for the pretty souvenirs.
Keep it, Carita, and buy bright
ribbon for yourself" the father says
when she would tender him her mite.
She is the only daughter among seven
lusty lads, bnt that alone Is not the
reason they are SO gentle with her.
lowered richly with beauty OF the
dark, Spanish type, eyes soft, velvety.
appealing, checks the vivid hue OF the
pomepranate blossom, a form slenderly
rraceful--thc hating step alone be-
trays her pitifui condition. for she is a
cripple.
During the summer months santa
Catalina is astir with merry campers
but at this season the island is seldom
visited. except now and then by stray
tourist, who, intent on viewing the
beauties of this picturesque retreat
braves the discomforts Of rough pas
sace in the unwicldv fishing boats.
It was in this manner that we-a
PARTY OF fivc, including myseif-mads
the voyage from San Pedro, landing a
Avalon. a hamlet on the eastern coast
of the island, the latter part OF DE
cembcr.
! had Just recovered from lingering
illness. and having received "marchini
orders from the good old doctor
Joined gang of surveyors bound 10
the islands. The crisp, salt air SCENE
70 put new life into me at once, an
when during our passage the WIN
died out of our sails, took my turn
the oar with the rest of them.
"That was toughish pull" sal
Bovce. the foreman, as our boat ke'
grated on the shingle. "'Twould mo-
give fellow an appetite for tomal
eh, boys?"
.Thcre may be hotel in the place
7 hazarded. Perhaps we can get bi
~ stav our stomachs before VIC beg
un,oadinr',-a proposition enthusia
t;callv received. At this moment L
lie Mexican girl who had been waite
snr our awkward management OF
1,oat with wondering eyes drew net
and shvIy proffered the desired inform
ton In pretty, broken English.
.erbe hotel. senior? You have on
TO walk very short way peyon'
pointing where, rising above an Ia.
yeninq bluff, the steep roof OF Tn
building was visible. "Shali ! SIT
the scnor the path?'
So. falling in her wake, we scramo
mn the sloping, pebblc-strewn oea'
our arms weighted with fishing tao
and sundry portions of camping out
for we were going to explore the lent
and breadth OF this rocky islet, form
1v the possession of a powerful IND
tr;be and the rendezvous OF smuRgi
in olden time.
1he latter fact learned in sui
,.r+ chats with our new-found frie
the Mexican girl Mercedes VINO
yersed in island lore, as her fatner
born and bred In the place, ana
cedes herself had never left 1t save
rAre visits to the mainland
As the days passed and we bec'
WORE familiar to her. the little maj
Lost much of her shyness and consu
~ accompanied her brothers. VINO
a. wen, with ms in our inland exp
tions. -
From the first she had shown
cided preference for my society ioi
inc me about like shadow.
I had found IT a simple matter 70
her childish regard-a handful OF sn
nicked up during my ramcies
added to her store; the gift OF 2 g
scarf. at which she had gazed lone
" as It hung in the window OF tn. tho
ole shop the place boasted-tnes
cured ready passport to her iavo
sfterward had cause to De tnan
thaf : did these trifing acts OF klne
that made her my friend.
One morning my wife and nine- !:
o,d daughter, Lillian. arrived
u uectedly via the small steamer "a
hat made occasional trips from
pedro to the island.
..,yhat foolish freak brought y
catalina, my dear?" ] asked a
watched from the hotel verano'
sntics Of Lily and Mercedes VINO
already fast friends
..Why foolish9' she queried
murcly. ..,lr, To