The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-07-27
AMERICAN SWEETHEART

Ouaualupe ShlvO, the trail leaulnR
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 1t reaches the ford
of a stream, the Rio Chico, which
PUSHES 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 q
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 IN 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 q
dozen pack animals, slowly picking
their way down the slippery trail.
As they drew near, one of the men,
Pancho, who acted as q guide, hurried
to Rawlston's side and, pointing to the
stream, now q 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.
senior" replied the man, as he drew
his wet serape closer about him, "a lit
tie rancho lies down the river a 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-e-lan-te! Vamon-
os!' and swearing great mouth-filling
Mexican oaths at his assistants 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 Montanos, only few patches of
growing maize and frijoles, amid which.
in "a grove of pines, rested house of
logs with a wide portico roughly
matched with bundles of cornstalks,
while jacal-a rooted palisade Of
poles chinked and covered with adobe
inud-adjoined the house on one side,
serving as a kitchen.
AS Rawlston, leading the way, APP
preached from the valley, a dog gave
the alarm, and an elderly man, muf-
fled in serape and slowly putting q
cigarrito, 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 end
asked for accommodation for the night.
Isl, senor," replied Juan, in response
to his request. "Dismount and come
in from the rain. My house is at your
service; entrar, senior, entrar," and he
took the Winchester that Rawlston
handed him, giving it lingering
glance as he placed it carefully against
the wall.
And supper, senor," he continued,
will you have supper? 81? Sta 'ueno,"
and, reaching up, he seized one of a
number of chickens perched beneath
the roof, wrung its neck, tossed it over
to the woman, saying: For the senior;
and coffee and milk, pronto! And give
to the mozos of tortillas and frijoles q
plenty"
Turning, and with: Permit me,
senor." to Rawlston, who was engaged
in removing his wet slicker, Juan drew
the Winchester from its scabbard and
critically examined it, exclaiming as
he did so: "Muy bonito carbino, senior.
Once l possessed one; not like this,
sonora carbine-but caramba! an In
dian stole it--may the devil take his
soul-and / am too poor to buy an
other. l miss it much, senior, for 1t
furnished me meat. Why, only yes
terday morning two deer stood just
over there eating the corn, but" He
paused for an instant. then called:
'Chonita, mia, come here"
A girl clad in a simple garment OF
rough material passed from the jacal,
girl whose supple, rounded form pos
sessed perfect grace, and as she came
forward Rawlston started as he gazed
on her Latin-lndian beauty.
my daughter Chonita, senor," said
Juan. The girl raised her dark eyes
to meet his, and her clear, olive-brown
skin became suddenly tinged with her
southern blood. ''She can shoot" con-
tinued Juan, as he handed her the
rife: Isl, senior, even better"
A flock of chattering parrots passing
overhead caught his eye. CHANGING at
them, then at Rawlston: "one shot,
senior, permit her."
Rawlston nodded, then watched the
girl as she raised the gun, saying:
'.See! the one in the lead"-a report,
and the bird fell, mangled mass OF
flesh and feathers.
She handed the rife to Rawlston,
her lips parted, and her bosom slightly
heaving with the momentary excite
ment, Again their eyes met, then she
turned and hurried back to the jacal.
His gaze followed her, and half I'M.
consciously he was dreamipgly com