Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-01
A MEXICAN SWEETHEART

Far out In the wilds of the Mexican
6ierras, 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
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 1t 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
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 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 we'll. 81, senior, en- 10 manana
sta 'ueno." .,...
"Yes, but tonight, mani We can't
imp here; there Is not enough level
ground to raise tent on. Get us out OF
Ihis!" 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?"
Twill the senior go there" shouted
Rawlston. Eyes, confound you, bonn
bre, the senior will Move onl'
With 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
" off to the south. .
1t was hardly rancho, this place OF
Yuan Montano's, only few patches OF
growing maize and frijoles, amid which,
In grove of pines, rested a house OF
logs with a wide portico roughly
thatched with bundles of cornstalks,
while a 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, ap.
preached from the valley, dog gave
the alarm, and an elderly man, muf'
fed in serape and slowly putting a
cigarrito, came. out into the portico,
while at the low door of the jacal
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
Isl, senor," replied Juan, in Response
10 his request. "Dismount and come
In from the rain. My house is at YOU
service; entrar, senior, entrar," and ht
took the Winchester that RawlstoI
handed him, giving it lingering
glance as he placed it carefully agains
the wall.
''And supper, senor," he continued
Twill you have supper? 81? Sta 'ueno,
and, reaching up, he seized one of
number of chickens perched beneat
the roof, wrung its neck, tossed it owe
TO the woman, saying: For the senol
and coffee and milk, pronto! And Civ
10 the mozos of tortillas and frijoles
plenty" ...
Turning, and with: Permit m,
SENIOR" to Rawlston, who was engage
In removing his wet slicker, Juan dre'
the Winchester from its scabbard an
critically examined 1t, exclaiming 9
he did so: "Muy bonito carbino, senol
Once possessed one; not like TIL
senor-a carbine-but caramba! an Il
dian stole it-may the devil take h
soul-and 1 am too poor to buy al
other. miss it much, senior, for
furnished me meat. Why, only We
terday morning two deer stood ju
over there eating the corn, but" T
paused for an instant, then Gale
''Chonita, mia, come here"
A girl clad in simple garment
rough material passed from the jac'
girl whose supple, rounded form pc
sessed perfect grace, and as she car
forward Rawlston started as he gaz
on her Latin-lndian beauty.
my daughter, Chonita, senior" ga
Juan. The girl raised her dark ey
20 meet his, and her clear, olive-broy
skin became suddenly tinged with b
southern blood. "She can shoot" &C
tinued Juan, as he handed her t
rifle; Isl, senior, even better"
A flock of chattering parrots passi
overhead caught his eye. CHANGING
them, then at Rawlston: zone sh
senior, permit her"
Rawlston nodded, then watched
girl as she raised the gun, sayil
@'See! the one in the lead"-a repo
and the bird fell, mangled mass
flesh and feathers. sl fEy.
She handed the rifle to Rawlst
her lips parted, and her bosom Sigh
heaviug with the momentary excl
uent Again their ewes met, then