Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-09-26
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 a 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 Gt tine
people he tI,c'~ganU even less.
He used to go over to the telegraph
office where Carpenter was, and there,
on a 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-
Ell 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 hom-
bre grande, he tumbled fiat, 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 for
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
a mans nature which makes him want
what is just out of his reach. So Ysabel,
or Carmelita, Or Dolores, as the case
may be- is sedulously guarded by the
mother, who makes certain that her
daughter is 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 goinc to take Julia Es-
tudillo to the Thar giving ball.
"Have you as' her mother?" in
quired the cautious Carpenter.
81 don't intend to, replied Mr.. Long
ley. II haven't asked the girl yet but
she'll jump at the chance to go with
white man. Say, she isn't bad looking
girl for Il g."
Look out!" interrupted Carpenter,
''you are little too handy with that
epithet. And you intend taking the
girl alone?''
"Alone!" said Longley firmly. "No
old duenna tags me around"
you'll get yourself in trouble sure"
Carpenter warned. eff you re not sand
bagged at the bale or assassinated be-
fore the baile-mark my words-thoy'll
rope you into marrying the girl"
Aui' AACiSApJ S1dppC't OA LID
chest and gave his friend to understand
that he had ot joarneyed all the way
from Ohio to have his life cut off in its
flower and prime by the hand Of an as
sassin. nor did he leave the prettiest
girl in "the states' to come out here to
marry one of these Spanish beauties"
and for the rest of fevered existence
strive to keep enough frijoles and tortil-
las in the larder to feed her and her
1900 relatives. "Don't you worry over
Longley. He can take care of himself"
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 trocks, with roses in their
black braids. 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 out. "You see
brought her," he said.
''And her mother?" asked Carpenter.
Mother nothingl You want to hear
how did it?'' and Longley unfolded
tale that made Carpenter gasp.
well, my son, if you really did this
persuaded that foolish girl to climb
ont of the window and go with you un-
known to her mother-I don't know but
what yCu deserve your fate. You know
too much ever to take advice, but I'll
give you this piece, SO won't have you
OH my conscience as not having done
all | could. Don't go home the same
way you came, and, if it was me, I'd
walk backward every step of the way"
Longley waved the advice lightly