Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-07-28
A MEXICAN SWEETHEART

Far out in the wilds of the Mexican Sierras, about one days travel west of Guadalupe Calvo, the trail leading from Morales leaves the ridge along which it climbs and plunges down into the depths of the Can5 q de Muerto, there winding in and out of the pines apd powders until it reaches the ford of q stream, the Rio Chico, which rushes through the gorge and on it's wild flight for the sea.
 Down this trail, late in the afternoon of a day some few years ago, rode 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 oilsl1in 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 i'm 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, Rancho, 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, senor, and deep. We no can cross; not until tomorrow, when it will be well. Si, senor, en To manana. sta ueno"
 ''Yes, but tonight, man! We can't camp here; there is not enough level ground to raise a 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 senor go there?9
 Will the senor go theren shouted Rawlston. "Yes, confound you, bonn bre, the senor will. Move onr
 With a cry of "Ad-e-lan=tel Vamon- osr' and swearing great mouth-filling Mexican oaths at his assistants as well as at the mules Pancho started the train down the canyon on it's way to a little valley of just a 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.
 It was hardly rancho, this place of Juan Montano's, only few patches of growing maize and frijo1es, amid which, in grove of pines. rested house of logs with a wide portico roughly thatched with bundles of eornstalLs, while a jacal-a roofed palisade of poles chinked and covered with adobe mud-adjoined the house on one side, serving as kitchen.
 As Rawlston, leading the way, ap- proached from the valley, dog gave the alarm, and an elderly man, muf- fled in serape and slowly puffing cigarrito, came out into the portico, while at the low door of the iacal, amid the whiffs of smoke within, ap- 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.
 ''Si, senor,' replied Juan, in response to his request. ''Dismount and come in from the rain. My house is at your service; entrar, senor, entrar," and he took the Winchester that Rawlston handed him, giving it 8 lingering glance as he placed it carefully against the wall.
 And supper, senor,n he continued, twill you have supper? Si? Sta 'ueno, and, reaching up, he seized one of number of chickens perched beneath the roof, wrung it's neck, tossed 1t over to the woman, saying: For the senor; and coffee and milk, pronto. And give to the mozos of tortill.s and frijoles plenty!'
 Turning, and with: Permit me, senor, to Rawlston, who was engaged in removing his wet slicker, Juan drew the Winchester from it's sea bbard and critically examined it, exclaiming as he did so: 'Muy bonito earbino, senor. Once I possessed one; not like this, senor-a carbine-but caramba. an h. dian stole it-may the devil take his soul-and 1 am too poor to buy an other. I miss it much, senor, for it 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"
 4 girl clad in simple garment of rough material passed from the jacal, a girl whose supple, rounded form pos sessed perfect grace, and. as she came forward Rawlston started as he gazed on her Latin-Indian ,eauty.
 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: ''si, senor, even better-'
 A flock of chattering parrots passing overhead caught his eye. Glancing at them, then at Rawlston; "One shot, senor. permit her.
 Rawlston nodded. then watched the girl as she raised the gun, saying: ''saet the one in the. lead "a report,