The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-08-02
A MEXICAN SWEETHEART

Sierras, about one days travel west OF
Guadalupe y Calvo, the trail leading
from Morales leaves the ridge along
which it climbs and plunges down into
the depths of the Canyon de Muerto,
there winding in and out of the pines
and powders until it reaches the ford
of a stream, the Rio Chico, which
rushes through the gorge and on its
wild fight for the sea.
Down this trail, late in the afternoon
of day some few years ago, rode a
young man, Jack Rawlston, the new
manager of the Alta Mining company,
then on his way to take charge OF
their mines near Morales He was
wrapped close in an oilskin slicker, for
the rain was falling as it falls only in
the mountains of Mexico Reaching
the ford he drew his mule in under the
shelter of an overhanging bluff and inn
patiently awaited the coming OF his
men, whose shouts and curses could be
heard in the canyonside above as they
urged to greater speed some half a
dozen pack animals, slowly picking
their way down the slippery trail.
As they drew near, one of the men,
Pancho, who acted as guide, hurried
to Rawlston's side and, pointing to the
stream, now a rushing torrent, cried:
"Valgame Dios, the little river is
very great this day! There is much
water, senior, and deep. We no can
cross; not until tomorrow, when it
will be well. 81, senior, en- 10 manana
sta ueno."
"Yes, but tonight, man! We can't
camp here; there is not enough level
ground to raise tent on. Get us out OF
this!' exclaimed Rawlston.
"Senor," replied the man, as he drew
his wet serape closer about him, "a lit
tie rancho lies down the river short
way, where lives Juan Montana. Will
the senior go there?"
''Will the senior go there!" shouted
Rawlston. Eyes, confound you, bonn
bre, the senior will Move on!'
With a cry of "Ad-elan-te! Vamon-
osr' and swearing great mouth-filling
Mexican oaths at his assis tants as we'll
as at the mules, Pancho started the
train down the canyon on its way to a
little valley of just few hundred
acres, nestled there where the gorge
widened out as either wall spread away
in great broken ridges, sweeping grand.
ly off to the south.
1t was hardly rancho, this place of
Juan Montano's, only a few patches of
growing maize and frijoles, amid which.
in grove of pines, rested a house of
logs with wide portico roughly |
matched with bundles of cornstalks, |
while jacal-a rooted palisade of
poles chinked and covered with adobe |
mud-adjoined the house on one side, |
serving as kitchen.
As Rawlston, leading the way, APP
preached from the valley, dog gave |
the alarm, and an elderly man, muf- I
fed in serape and slowly putting a
,igarrito, came out into the portico,
while at the low door of the jacal, |
amid the whiffs of smoke within, APP |
peared brown-faced woman, and be-
hind her three girls, shyly peeping |
forth at the stranger as he drew up and |
asked for accommodation for the night. |
Isl, senor," replied Juan, in response
TO his request. ,'Dismount and come
n from the rain. My house is at your
service; entrar, senior, entrar," and he |
.ook the Winchester that Rawlston |
handed him, giving it a lingering |
ylance as he placed it carefully against |
The wall.
And supper, senor," he continued,
will you have supper? 81? Sta 'ueno,"
Ind, reaching up, he seized one of a |
number of chickens perched beneath |
,he roof, wrung its neck, tossed flower
% the woman, saying: For the senior; |
md coffee and milk. pronto! And give
20 the mozos of tortillas and frijoles
,lenty!''
Turning, and with: Permit me,
'enor," to Rawlston, who was engaged
n removing his wet slicker, Juan drew
he Winchester from its scabbard and
examined it, exclaiming as
Nc cid so: "Muy bonito carbino, senior.
)nce possessed one; not like this,
tDor-a carbine-but caramba! an In
Ian stole it-may the devil take his
oul-and 1 am too poor to buy an
'ther. / miss it much, senior, for it
furnished me meat Why, only yes
erday morning two deer stood just
ver there eating the corn, but" He
aused for an instant. then called:
'Chonita, mia, come here"
A girl clad in a simple garment of
ough material passed from the jacal,
girl whose supple, rounded form pos
essed perfect grace. and as she came