River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-06-28

ranch on the Rio BOnitO, IN New
Mexico, and were seated ON the We
randa which ran in front of the low
adobe ranch house, enjoying a smoke
and a chat. At the table l had been
greatly impressed with the rare
beauty and modest demeanOr of Eber-
hard's yOuug Mexican wife. IL seemed
strange that she. vet but little more
than a child. and Of a race regarded by
western people as inferior in the
social scale To The whiter-skinned
Americanos. should be the mistress of
the greatest ranch and the wife of the
most wealthy cattle king in all that
region. She had not taken a promi-
uent part in our conversation at the
table. her knowledge of the English
language being somewhat limited, vet
when she did venture a remark or re-
spond u an inquiry ! could not but
note the soft music of her voice. and
when at some witty remark she joined
in our laughter the room seemed filed
with ripples of silverv sound
As Eberhard and myself sat on the
verauda enjoying our cigars a al the
delightful Dolness which always fol-
lows "a sort of an apology for the
heat of New Mexican summer day, l
said to him:
IL was not aware until this evening.
Frank. that YOU had married a MeXi-
can girl. Could Won not find one of
your own race Good enough for your
lie smiled good-naturedly. and,
knocking the ashes from his cigar, re-
piled;
Plenty of them. no doubt. but |
never felt in a marrying mood until |
fell captive u Marita's dark eyes.
Their is a bit Of romance connected
with our marriage, and dom mini
telling YOU the story II you care 10
listen
You are no doubt aware OF the fact
that by INV fathers aCata in Denver. n
few years ago. inherited a very COM
Portable fortune. tried to fill his place
in the business world for time. but
somehow ! always seemed out of my
element in busy city life and the de
sire grew upon me To secure 4 great
ranch and establish myself in u more
quiet life.
Nearly three wears ago | severed
the last business bond, and started ont
to seek for such ranch As day
dreams had pictured. | looked al
over Arizona and northern Texas, and
finally drifted up t. Las Cruces, ON the
Rio Grande- reached that town on
the third day of July. and found the
people in fiuttcr Of excitement over
the celebration of the following day.
There were to be races and other sports
81 dear to the western heart. and men
OF gambling disposition were backing
their favoriteS with a reckless liberal
ity characteristics of the far west
Il soon learned thai the greater in
terest conferred in foot race which was
to take place between three Young
girls. an american. "A Mexican and an
Indian who had won several such CON
tests in the towns further north ard
who had been brought down To enter
tie contest 10y sporting members OF
her tribe The American girl was the
daughter Of bullying fellow named
Matt Parker. who ran saloon and
whose reputation was not exactly that
OF saint was told by a merchant
friend. gentleman with whom my
house had long sustained the most
agreeable business relations. that dur
ing our civil war Parker was one OF
Quantrells baud OF cut-throat guerril-
las. took prominent part in the sack
ing OF Lawrence, Kan. and often boast
ed of his deeds OF murder while 2 mem
Der Of that organization. Utilise the
very large majority Of regularly enlist
ed confederate soldiers who accepted
defeat. and who are now ON terms of
brotherly friendship with their late
foes and are answering in their devO-
ton 70 the grand old flag 81 our IA
theirs. he was yet an uncoUproniising
rebel and would uss the stars aud
stripes as dishclOth rather than al