Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-01
MERCEDES.
The Story of a Brave Little Moxi-
can Girl

can Girl
II is midwinter, yet the sun blazcs
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-
err and the murmur of breakers along
the shore
Across the restless expanse of waters
the Californian coast line Is dimly seen,
like q 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, a child, stretched prone in the sun
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
feathery sea MOSES and the curious,
many-tinted 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 ms to dnd
rare specimens the tourists at San
Pedro are often pleased 10 give her u
bit for the pretty souvenirs.
Keep 1t, Carita, and buy II bright
ribbon for yourself" the father says
when she would tender him her mite.
She is the only daughter among seven
lusty lads but 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, cheeks the vivid hue of the
pomegranate blossom, II form slendcrly
graceful-the hating step alone be-
trays her pitiful condition, for she is q
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
sage In the unwieldy fishing boats.
1t was In this manner that we-n
party Of five, including myself-madc
| the voyage from San Pedro. landing al
| Avalon, hamlet on the eastern coast
Of the island, the latter part OF De
cembcr.
had just recovered from n lingering
| illness, and having received marching
orders" from the good old doctor
joined gang Of surveyors bound for
to put new life into me ut once, and
when during our passage the win,
died ont Of our sails I took my turn al
the oar with the rest of them.
THAT was toughish pull" suit
Boyce, the foreman, as our boat ltcu
grated ON the shinglc. "Twould mos
give fellow an appetite for u tomato
ell, boys?"
"There may be hotel in the place,
hazarded. perhaps we can get a bit,
to stay our stomachs before we begir
unloading"-a proposition enthusiasts
tically received. At this moment lit
tie Mexican girl who had been watch
ing our awkward management of tn,
boat with wondering eyes drew near
and shyly proilcred the desired informa
ton ia pretty, broken English.
1.-THE hotel, senor2 You have only
TO walk n very short way beyond,
pointing where, rising above an inter
vening bluff, the steep roof OF that
building was visible. "Shall / show
the senior the path"'
So. falling In her wake, we scrambled
up tho sloping, pebble-strewn beach,
our arms weighted with fishing tackle
and sundry portions of camping outfit,
for we were going to explore the length
and breadth OF this rocky islet, former
ly the possession Of powerful Indian
tribe and the rendezvous OF smugglers
In olden time.
The latter fact / learned in subse.
| quent chats with our new-found friend,
the Mexican girl Mercedes, who was
versed in island lore, as her father was
porn ana pred In the place, and mer'
eeues herse'i nao never ieit IL save on
rare VISITS 70 the mainland
AS the days passed and we became
more familiar TO her the little maiden
lost much OF her shyness and constant
~ accompanied her brothers, who Of
Ten went with US In our inland expedi'
tons
from the hrst she had shown de-
ciueu preference ior my society follow
ing me about like shadow
had found 1t simple matter to win
her childish regard-a handful of shells,
picked up during nv rumDles and