Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-14


the crowded passages to handsome
gentleman sitting at Raymer' right and
delivered her prize into his hands. AS
he took it from her he roe, bowed gal
lantly, and placing a hand gently upon
her head, as she bent before him, said
in English: MY darling you fill my
heart with pride. God bless you'll
Thank you, papa. You have been
my best teacher, and / owe my success
to you," replied Teresa in the same
language, again receiving the gift and
returning with it to the stage.
With some appropriate service of the
church the exercises closed, and the au-
dience soon dispersed. All resemblance
to all eastern school ceased with the
benediction. The girls, wrapped III
cloaks, their heads obscured in rebozos,
were crowded into closed carriages and
whisked from sight without delay. Ray
mer accompanied Mrs Stockton to the
fort, thanked her for the pleasant enter
tainment she had afforded him and
started for long walk to the eastern
side of the city.
Leaving the plaza at the southeastern
corner and descending to the river
which divides the town, he crossed to
the opposite side. There was but rlll
of water in the bed, the bulk having
been drawn into the irrigating bitches
far above and conducted to the fertile
fields and gardens which extended for
many miles outside and below the city.
He walked along the narrow, dirty and
crooked streets. bordered by small,
shabby one storied houses Of adobe, be-
fore which played naked children and
in the doors of which stood dark COM
plexioned women, clad in red flannel
petticoats and white cotton camisas, the
common dress of the common people.
Huge, lank Mexican dogs rushed out
of alleys with furious barking, instinc-
lively recognizing the lieutenant to be
of a race alien to their masters and as
instinctively understanding that the
safest course for a dog was to attempt
nothing worse than bark.
The walk was continued to ranch
several miles beyond the outskirts Of the
city, where the lieutenant remained the
guest of the owner until evening, when
he started homeward.
The return route passed in front OF
the convent and entered the plaza at the
northeastern corner. When Raymer ap-
preached the river, he saw Oh the oppo-
site side long mule train entering the
city with freight brought across the
plains from the far distsnt Missouri.
Whips were popping and drivers shout
ing in exhilaration besot of prospective
rest from long and wearisome journey
and the thought of dissipation in a
round of fandangoes and monte.
Raymer's rapid stride soon brought
him alongside the straining mules and
creaking wagons, and he was nearly op-
pusite the convent entrance when he OBJ
served two women and man coming
down the street. One woman was un-
mistakably all ancient duena, and the
other appeared to be young lady, her
face and figure closely concealed in re-
bozo and capa. The man was young and
richly clad in a Mexican costume OF
black, bespangled with small buttons,
plates, buckles and lace Of silver. When
the party reached the middle of the
train, brawny, rough bearded wagon
MASTER dressed in a grimy suit of fringe
buckskin, sprang from his horse, and
throwing his reins to driver shouted,
"Here's for the first kiss of a senorita!"
at the same time attempting to pass his
arm about the waist of the young wom-
an.
Raymer, still at considerable distance,
looked to see the Mexican caballero in
terfere. The old woman grasped the
wagon masters arm to hold him back
and was screaming wildly for help,
while the girl appealed to her male es-
cort for protection. That individual
made feeble dash at the wagner, only
to meet q blow in the face that sent him
sprawling among the wagon wheels.
The officer saw it was time for him
to interfere. and with q bound he placed
himself beside the wagon master and
.wrenched him to right about, saying,
"Take yourself away from here, or I
shall hand you over to the provost!"
"Oh, you want to jine the greaser, do
you, my In''ingtary sunfower? Well,
I'm willin to accommodate you. Take
that"
A blow straight from the wagoner's
left was launched at Raymer's face, but
it was skillfully parried, while crush
ing return lit OH the jaw of the bully,
who measured his length upon the
ground. College gymnastics, stroke oar
practice with a winning crew and life
in the field had given the lieutenant a
power not to be tritied with.
At this moment al infantry sergeant
and two men of the provost guard, at
tracted by the screams of the duena, ap-
peared and took the demoralized wagon
master to the guardhouse. The Mexican
had unaccountably disappeared. The
lieutenant looked around for the two
women and saw that the convent gates
were open, while half dozen excited
nuns hurried through the entrance a
beautiful girl whose mantle had fallen
away, disclosing the face Of Teresa Va
lencia. Next morning Raymer stood on
the plaza near the sundial. Before the