The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-04
CHAPTER II.

good fortune to form the acquaintance
Of Senior Valencia and was several
times invited to dine at his house. Gen.
tlemen only appeared at the table, thus
confirming all his friend Reed had said
of this feature of New Mexican domestic
life.
Raymer embraced every opportunity
to learn something of Dona Teresa, but
with small success On his second visit
he determined upon desperate meas
ure He called at the Valencia residence
and asked to see the ladies. He was
graciously received by la sonora and a
few elderly maiden relatives, but to his
request that he might pay his respects
to the daughter of the house the mother
politely replied that it would be impos-
sible, giving several excellent reasons
for la senorita's absence She told him
that she knew to whose brave assistance
Teresa owed her rescue from the ruffian
in Santa Fe and returned her grateful
thanks for the same She also expressed
much regret that Don Ignacio Ortega,
her daughters affianced husband, on
account of illness was unable to punish
the man as he deserved, and she added
that it would be an unceasing regret on
his part that he was unable to do what
every impulse of his brave and generous
nature impelled him to do.
The lieutenant returned to Santa Fe
feeling that an attempt to break through
the social barriers that inclosed Teresa
would be futile, and to make her ac-
quaintance according to society methods
was beyond hope. There seemed but one
resource -one repugnant to his honest
and manly characterize attempt clan
destine acquaintance. This thought he
dismissed at once, not only because it
was inconsistent with his own nature,
but because he believed from what he
had learned Of her that the Mexican girl
would not encourage him in such a
course.
He had learned one thing during his
last visit, which seemed to make any
further attempts to form her acquaint-
ance hopeless as well as useless Orte-
gas parents had made overtures looking
toward immediate marriage. and Te-
resa's mother was in favor of the propo-
sition. Her father, however, preferred
the union should not take place before
she was 21 years old.
Some months later Raymer received
orders to march his company to Los
Wales Grandes, something over 100
miles west of Santa Fe, to relieve d
company of volunteers that for year
past had been guarding trail leading
from the Rio Grande to the Navajo
country. The lieutenant was the only
officer on duty with his company, which,
reduced by various casualties, numbered
but As men. With these he performed
the five days march to his new station.
The valley in which he found the
volunteer encampment was ID miles
long by wide, surrounded on all
sides by rugged and forest clad noun
tains. A stream Of crystal water flowing
from group of springs near the north
ern end wound tortuously and without
break or ripple to the southern extrem-
ity, where it plunged through narrow
and PERCEPTIONS canyon, impossible to
man or beast, and found it's way to the
Jemez river. Westward a second can
yon, known as La Puerta, led for six
miles between nearly perpendicular
walls to another valley lying parallel
with the first.
The first valley, rising saucerlike
from the center to the fringe of pines at
the foot of the mountain slopes, was
covered with waving grass. Not a tree
nor shrub arose from the undulating
surface. A pine covered point extended
from the western range into the valley
near the center like bold headland into
the sea.
There was no wagon road into the
basin, except the one by which the sol
diers entered, but there were half a
dozen mountain trails from the direc-
tion of tine Rio Grande, all uniting with
the one which passed to the west
through La Puerta. There was also a
bride path leading southwark to the In.
dian pueblo of Jenlez, 20 miles distant.
Near the center Of the valley, a lutte
south of the wooded point, roll in the
surface swelled into horseshoe shaped
ridge Is feet high, .inclosing a level
space of nearly two acres The opening
of the horseshoe was to the east, and
before it, from heel to heel, flowed the
stream. Across the loop and well bach
against the ridge stood row of 16 cab
ins, with company kitchen and store
house at the north end and officers
quarters at the south end. Up the ridge,
behind the line of cabins, was the guard
house. before which walked the only
sentinel posted in the valley. A stable
stood little more retired to the north
The lieutenant's cabin contained ont
room. having two windows looking ou1
upon the parade and . door opening
upon the southern side. The huge pint
logs Of which it was constructed wer'
laid horizontally and hewed smooth on
: the inner side. The floor was of earth
raised above the surface Of the grount
several inches, made level and earpetet
with the skins OF the gray wolf. coyot'
and bear. A corner inclosed with hand
some Navajo blankets was used as |
bedroom. In the corner farthest from
door and windows was . large ston
fireplace, chimney and mautel. On I'll