Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-08
A MAN FROM OHIO.

A MAN FROM OHIO.
Mr.. Longley's mistake, the mistake
Of his life, grew out Of his first mistake,
which was in ever coming to California.
He was agent for the Pacific Steamship
company prior to his occupying SINH
lar position in great lakes company.
He had never seen the ocean until he
came to Monterey. But he didn't think
much Of it-not after the lakes. Of the
people he thought even less.
He used to go over to the telegraph
Office where Carpenter was, and there,
on pile Of blue butter boxes, air his
mind pretty freely concerning "these
internal greasers. Longley wasn't a
bad fellow back in Ohio, but out here
he could not or would not shake into
place. He was going back, when he had
a stipulated sum saved, to marry the
prettiest girl in Ohio. Meantime he
chafed and fretted at his chain.
One Of the first things he did had
gained him the i'll will Of all the loung-
ers in the crooked little street. Benito,
4 years old, came running to him. Ev-
cry one adored Benito. for the Spanish
are baby lovers and not in the least
ashamed to show it-Benito, with lovely
crimson cheeks and great, velvety black
eyes. Dirty? Oh, so dirty, but also SO
charming. just as he reached the hon.
bre grande, he tumbled fat, and the
"great man" calmly put out his foot
and lifted Benito out Of the way on the
toe Of his boot. They all saw that
Manuel, Francisco, the Moreno boys,
Jose Enron, all-for they were sitting in
front Of Charley Rodriguez's saloon,
keeping wary eye out for possible
whales in the bay. Benito ran bowling
to them, and the wound his vanity had
received was healed with candy and soft
words. But it would have been we'll fol
Mr.. Longley if that had never happened.
The Spanish mamma is an excellent
matchmaker, and very seldom has any
old maids on her hands. She takes ad-
vantage Of that contrary little twist in
q mans nature which makes him want
what is just out Of his reach. So ISABEL,
or Carmelita, or Dolores, as the case
may be, is sedulously guarded by the
mother, who makes certain that he1
daughter il never alone with any young
man moment. Mr.. Longley said often
he did not care pin for their customs.
He was from Ohio and brought his own
code Of ethics and etiquette, which these
greasers were obliged to trim to-not he
to fit to theirs. No, sir! So, in line with
these sentiments, he told Carpenter one
day that he was going to take Julia Es-
tudillo to the Thanksgiving ball.
"Have you asked her mother:" in
quired the cautious Carpenter.
~ don't intend to, replied Mr.. Long
ley. II haven't asked the girl yet, but
she'll jump at the chance to 60 with q
white man. Say, she isn't bad looking
girl for G."
'sLook outr' interrupted Carpenter,
''you are little too handy with that
epithet. And you intend taking the
girl alone?''
"Alone!" said Longley firmly. enc
old duenna tags me around. +"
you'll get yourself in trouble sure, 2
Carpenter warned. "If you're not sand.
bagged at the bale or assassinated be.
fore the baile-mark my words they'll
rope you into marrying the girl"
Mr.. Longley slapped himself on his
chest and gave his friend to understand
that he had not journeyed all the way
from Ohio to have his life cut off in ita
flower and prime by the hand Of an as.
sassin. nor did he leave the prettiest
girl in "the states' to come out here tc
marry one Of these "Spanish beauties
and for the rest Of a fevered existence
strive to keep enough frijoles and tortil.
las in the larder to feed her and hel
1000 relatives. 'Don't you worry over
Longley. He can take care Of himself, y
was his parting adjuration.
\
Lured by the sound Of viol flute and
bassoon, or, to be exact, accordion, two
guitars and fiddle, Carpenter stole
away from the Office to peep in at the
Thanksgiving ball. The long hall was
brilliant with kerosene lamps and gay
with palms and flowers. Longley was
there with his Julia. A quadrille had
just ended, and the men were rushing
about for new partners. When not
dancing, the girls all sat at one end Of
the room. looking demure and pretty in
their white frocks, with roses in their
black hraida Facing them on long
bench sat the duennas gossiping and
smoking, but each keeping an un-
wearied eye upon her particular charge.
Longley caught sight Of Carpenter
and came hurrying ont "You see
brought her," he said.
"And her motherl' asked Carpenter.
''Mother nothingl You want to hear
how did itss' and Longley unfolded .
tale that made Carpenter gasp.
swell, my son, II you really did this
-persuaded that foolish girl to climb
out Of the window and 60 with you nm
known to her mother II don't know but
what you deserve your fate. You know
too much ever to take advice, but TIL
give you this piece, 70 / won't have you
on my conscience a. not having done
all could. Don't 60 home the same
way you came, and, II IL was me. I'd
walk backward every step Of the way. !"
Longley waved the advice lightly
from him and hurried back to Julia.
The next time the friends met was at
Longley's wedding, four weeks after
the Thanksgiving ball. Longley looked
weak and pale. Carpenter judged be
had hardly recovered from the garrot.ao
that had laid him low - he was boost
: