The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-11-07
Canon of the White Horse,
BY II. l.. KETCHUM.

ms canon ought to have his
tory, Pablo" said to the guide, as,
supper finished, l leaned back on my
blankets and dreamily gazed at the
scene before us.
1t was n summer night--a night in
the Southwest where nights are per-
feet. The moon was at the full, and
not n cloud was in the sky to obscure
her radiance or the light of the myriad
stars which bore her company. The
air was cool and bracing, yet balmy,
and there was just enough breeze to
lull ones spirits and cause him to for
get the world and indulge in fanciful
reveries, such as only Southern
breezes inspire.
We had pitched our camp on one of
the sloping hills on the south side of
the canon, where little stream OF
clear, sweet water rippled from
spring in ravine down into the can
on below. Above us was the sighing,
odorous forest of juniper and pinon
below was little stretch of velvety
grass, extending clear to the floor of
the canon, on both sides of the little
stream. Right and left stretched the
canon itself, its walls, precipitous for
the most part, rising grandly, hund-
reds of feet high on each side.
''It is beautiful, Pablo" continu-
ed. at must have history of somc
kind; or a story-no?"
Isl, Senor, that it has-ay, that it
has, answered the Mexican, lighting
fresh cigarette and putting at it re-
fectively moment. "Would the
Senor hear it?"
-'By all means, Pablo go ahead"
And here is Pablo's story, as nearly
rs can translate it (for he spoke in
Spanish;
''Does the Senior see the cliff on the
other side, how high it is? That is
the Cliff of the White Horse it is
many hundred feet high, and straight
up and down. And at the top, when
the moon is little higher, the Senior
will see the White Horse. 1t is n
great white rock on the edge of the
cliff, and by clear moonlight it looks
like white horse. 1t has not always
been there, and then, they say. on the
anniversaries of certain days, the
ghost of old Don Fernando comes,and
rides it along the edge of the canon.
''Don Fernando? Oh, ay. May
the blessed saints have mercy upon
him" calculated Pablo, crossing him
self
"Many years ago, Don Fernando
Cortez-he was n grandson, or some
thing, of the great Cortez-lived over
above, Leyond the canon several
miles. Don Fernando was rich and
lived in grand house, and Lad many
servants and slaves. He was n great
entertainer, was Don Fernando, and
people used to come many miles-hun-
dreds, thousands, yes-to his grand
dinners and balls.
''He was not good man. No. He
was cruel master, and hard with all
his people, and made them all hate
him. He was kind to only two living
creatures; one of these was his beau
tiful daughter, the Lady Ysabel-the
other was his great white stallion, the
largest and heetest horse in all the
country. These two the old Don low
ed as his two eyes, and we'll he mi yht
yes. The Lady Ysabel was not only
beautiful, but she was kind and good,
and all the people loved her as much
as they hated the Don, which was q
great deal. She had golden hair, and
eyes like the sky, and it is said the
birds listened when she sang. AND
the horse -ay, he was wonderful. He
was as big as three ordinary horses
and his tread shook the ground. He
had a long, white name, and eyes thaI
flashed fire, and was almost as mucl
feared as the old Don, who alone dar
ed go near him.
"The Lady Ysabel had manv snit