Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-04-16

i /" 'Senor Delgado,' he said, will
you choose peace or war !''
1 |" We would have peace an,
swered my grandfather. .Wh,
should we fight? The Comsnche.
and the New Mexicans are friends.
/ /" Then give up to me the girl
Manuelita. Her father promised
her to me when she was o child.
Give her to me and there shall b
peace and gifts between u.s.
\ '.Don Porfirio looked toward
Manuelita. She had sunk TO the
ground, hsr face aahy pale, her look
fall q horrof
asked the DON Of her. what does
he mean BY saying that your father
promised you to him ? Is it true?'
She lifted her head. 1T is false,
she cried, my father never meant
it. He had no right to give me, a
Christian girl, to an Indian
"Don Por6rio looked very grave.
He saw that some sort of promise
had been made, and knew that
whether or not the father had spok-
en- in jest, or had the right to give
it, it would make no difference with
the chief, who was there with his
men behind him, and meant to
have the girl. No one knew better
than my grandfather the dangers
and evil consequences of q fight
with the Comanches at that time
ont on the lonely plain, cucumber
ed with his loaded wagons, and far
away from water.
ga third of his party were wo-
men, and the Indians outnumbered
the men two to one. The Conan
ches had no firearms, but they were
brave fighters, aud could do dead
ly work at close quarters with their
bows and arrows. And then the
women Ii the Indians were VIC
torious there was a certain and ter
rible fate for the men, but that of
the women was as certain and worse.
Manuelita was only an orphan girl
whose father had been of no very
good repute. and she had no rela-
| - -. A. A-i-- L.
:" Let the Comanchero's daugh-
ter be given up to the chief whis-
pered some of the Mexicans, whose
wives and daughters were with
them. She's but one, and it will
save the lives Of many. Her father
liked the Comanches well enough,
and she may get along as we'll among
them. And did he not promise her
to Santarito p
"Manuelita heard, or felt, these
whispers, and shnddered beneath
the reboso she had drawn over her
face. But there Was one who came
to her, and took her hand in his,
and stood by her. saying that he
would protect her while his life
should last. 1t was Francisco Sc
gura, the vaquero, and his example
gave courage to otLers. Don Por-
firio was not o man of q coward 8
way Of thinking. He would pro-
tect his own whatever might be-
fall and Manuelita was of his own
household. He knew the risk he
was taking for himself and bis peo-
pie when he said f.:
'Santarito, the girl is not will
ing to 60. Her father had no right
to say who should have her when
she was o little child. She is un-
der my protection, and shall re-
main with her own people, since
she 80 chooses. See, here is colt,
fit for breaking next year, which I
have reared to be my own horse. I
will give him to you in acquittance
of her fathers promises
"The chief laughed scornfully
and made q gesture of contempt.
eel will give my own saddle be-
Sides the don continued, so that
you may be equipped in a manner
befitting q great chief when you
mount the colt next year.
Santarito's look was black, and
he plainly was impatient to end the
talking.
"I care nothing for your colt
and saddle he said. The girl /
will have, with no more words or
waiting. For the last time I ask
you. shall / take her in peace or in
WARP
"'Let it be war, since you will
have it so.' said Don Porfirio, grow
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