Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-02-15
MERCEDES.
The story OF a Brave Little Mexi-
can Girl.

/; : midwinter. yet the sun blazes
time warmth, and lush grasses stand
tall hy every water course
The soft air scarce stirs the leaves of
rie stately eucalyptus; no sound breaks
the silence save the humming Of bright
winged insects darting hithcr nd thith-
er ard the murmur Of breakers along
the shore.
Across the restless sxranSe of waters
the Californian coast line is diunly seeu
ike 4 gray cloud upon the horizon, aud
nearer CLEANS the vhitc sail Of ship
outward bouEd-
Down weerc the sand mas formed in
Drifts. high hezped b. the action Of the
tide. child. stretched prone in the sun
~hine. : watching the course 20 fish
iuz sIack that = making for the har-
aor h-lou- A. her feet lies basket
6 - Nth treasures that the incoming
tide has brouEht
This 5 one Of Mercedes daily tasks.
- ro4n the beach. gathering up
feathsry sea NOSES ard the curious,
EASY ti-s~5 shells. % ~ carried with
Fsch~,ss's catch % ssh o. lozs % game
sa~r~i IN the canyons - the distant
rnalnla-1
Wh<a So = ~ fortGrate a. to 6nd
rare Specimens the tourists at San
F~s.ra are often pleased 70 give her a
BIT tsr the pretty souvenirs
Keep r. Carisa. and buy a bright
Fishun - Yourself the father SAYS
n sen sc would tsasi~r him her mite
>ac Is the oniy daughter among seven
l-zssv lads. rat shat alone is not the
rras1s thev are - gentle with he
Tss-r~re-i riehiv with beauty Of the
dzrS. SPANISH type- ~ye> soft. vclvety.
aFSsziiuE. caersls the vivid hue Of the
p.sne<yzaate blossom form slenderiy
graceful the h<inz step alone be-
trays her pstiful condition for she Is a
grippe
During the summer months san "a
Catalina : asti- with merry campers,
bot a. this sea-on the island - seldom
visited excep; now and then by a stray
TOURIST who. intent on viewing the
t~autie> 81 shis picturesque retreat.
frave~ the di-comforts Of a rough pas.
sage 10 the anwieldy fishing boats
IL was in this manner that wc-z
party 81 Eve including myseif-mads
the voyage FROM San Pedro. landing al
Avalon. hamlet "a the eastern coast
Of The island. the latter part Of De
cen, hcr.
had Just recovered from a lingering
Illness. and having received marching
orders from the good old doctor
joined gang of surveyors bound for
the islands The crisp. salt air seemed
tn put new life into me at once. and
when during our passage the wind
died ont OF our sails, ! took nv turn a
the car with the rest of them
That was toughish pull said
Boyee- the foreman. as our boat keeI
grated on the single. "-Twould most
give fellow an appetite for a tomato
-h, boys
There may be hotel IN the place.
| hazarded- Perhaps We can get bite
to stay our stomachs before VIC begin
unloading "a proposition enthusizs.
| tic&lly received At this moment a lit,
tie Mexican girl who had been watch
ing our awkward management of the
boat with wondering eyes drew near
and shyiy proffered the desired informa
ton in pretty, broken EngIish-
THE hotel. senior? You have only
TO walk very short way beyond.
| pointing where. rising above an inter
vening blur, the steep roof of thai
building was visible shall / show
the senor the path
4 I'LL =. II
up the sloping. Pebble-strewn beach
our arms weighted with fishing taekl.
and sundry portions of a camping outfit
for We were going to explore the length
and breadth of this rocky islct- former
" the possession Of powerful Irdizr
tribe and The rendezvous of smuggier,
in oldeu time.
The latter fact I learned in subse
quent chats with our new-found friend
the Mexican girl Mercedes, who va,
versed Ir island lore, a. her father wa
born aud bred in the place. and Mer
esdes herself mad never left il save OF
rare visits to the mainland
As the days passed and We beam
more familiar 10 her, the little nader
lost much of her shyness and constant
IN accompanied her brothers. who o,
ten went with us in our inland expedi
tons
Prom the first she had shown a de
eided preference for my society, follow
ing me abou, like a shadow.
! had found it simple matter to vii
her childish regard-a handful OF shells
picked up during my ranbles an,
added 10 her store; the gift Of a c4u6,
scarf. At which she had gazrd longing
~ as il hung in the window Of the ia
gle shop the place boasted-these sc
cured ready passport TO her favor.
sfterward had cause 10 be Thankful
that did these trifing acts Of kindnes
that made her my friend
Ore morning nv wife and nine-vear
Old daughter. LiililE, arrived uuex
pectedly via the small steamer Falcon
that made occasional trips from Sal
Pedro to the island
What foolish freak brought you 1
Catalina. my dear2' / asked, As W
watched from the hotel verandz III
antics of Lily aud Mercedes. who wer
ALREADY fast friends.
way foolish she queried, de
@aEeiy.