The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-05

| The festivities of the DAY, during when
the kitchen of Donna Maria and the cellar
of Don Solomon and his stables furnished
the best in the land in eatables, drink
ables, and horseflesh, ended with dance,
or rather two dances, one being held at
Mr.. Warmers mansion by n select COM
pany and the other, more promiscuous-
| like, in the garden of Don Alfonso by
everybody and his sister. The Mexican
women dance pIettily and gracefully, even
| those from the illiterate part of the popu-
| lation; but on account of the ever-preSent
contingent of elderly females as chaperons
ami the super-modest training of the girls,
| these dances are of the tamest-
| Don Solomon. Mr.. Brown, the German
clerk, Henry, and your humble narrator
concluded the days festivities with mod
crate "Guantum suff." of Babocomari milk
in the garden of Mr.. Fernandez. who had
acquired by that time decided taste for
| that superior rcfreshment.
A RIVAL FOR THE HAND OF EULALIA.
On the Doth of June we celebrated the
Feast Day of San Pedro and San Pablo
(St. Peter and st. Paul. in about the same
manner as the preceding one, but some
what more mildly. There were stationed
at that time at Santa Cruz part COM
Dany of Mexican cavalry under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Reyes, n very gentlemanly
but far from sood-looking young man. He
and l became great friends, and during
the whole of that day put his splendid
horse Jaurez at my disposal. This ami
nal was high-sprited, but gentle, and
playful withal, with ease and grace in
every motion; it would readily dance of
its own accord as soon as it heard music,
were it only from a harp or guitar. His
master, the Lieutenant, also learned
to drink egg-nog, which he pronounced
"un refresco divine" "a heavenly refresh
ment); but / could readily see that there
was something, or rather somebody else,
about that he thought at least as 'heav
enly." l could not help but see that Mr..
Reyes felt entirely at home in the man
sion and with the womenfollS of all ages
of Don Solomon, and l might have become
jealous if his almost repulsive features
| had allowed such sentiment to grow
| within me.
| l will not attempt to describe my feel
ings of Impotence at not being able to
| have n single intimate interview with my
beloved, although we both tried every
means within our reach to have secret
meeting. w, spoke together with our
eyes, which implement has been known
| from time imiGamOrial to be capable of
great though unspoken eloquence. We
| wrote one another few small notes daily,
which reached their destination through
the hands of little Carmelita, our sweet
messenger of love, who was too young TO
be submitted to the ceaseless watch that
overshadowed her sister. In these mis-
sives we had agreed to marry as soon as
possible after my leaving the service.
Once, indeed, and once only, managed to
kiss the sweet lips of my beautiful treas
ure through the barred window of her
room, after nightfall, and that hasty kiss
has remained in my memory forever. l
could not obliterate the heavenly remem-
brance from Ely mind even when I heard
that the adOred of my soul had
But wait!
On the day following ST. Peters Feast
Mr.. Warner drove me out to the old Span
ish mission of San Lazaro in his ambu-
lance. He must have known that l was
wishing LOT G private conversation with
him. We were alone in the vehicle, and
l, being aware of the friendly disposition
he entertained towards me, frankly
preached the subject nearest to my heart.
Don Solomon heard me out patiently while
I tried to explain my devouring passion,
as well as my prospects for the future. l
had saved considerable sum of money,
the amount of which / mentioned to him,
with which l intended to start n mercan
tile establishment after my discharge and
to engage in col t:nct ng also for Govern |
ment supplies. ] divu'ged to him without
reserve how l Stood with Eulalia, begging
him to forgive little Carmelita the kind
help she had given us In our mutual cor
resrondence 70; Low, of her sister.
He nodded his head from time to time |
in what l thought f;therly way. When
had finished ne said: "My dear boy, that
is all very well as far as 1t goes. and /
wish you all manner of luck. AS far as l
am concerned, you are welcome to marry |
Eulalia on tue very day you have your
discharge in your pocket, and | shall be
glad to help sou to good solid start in
your commercial undertakings; but-and |
lere is great butt am not the father Of
Eulalia, as vol. know. You know by this
time enough Of the customs of this country |
to be aware that in a case of this kind the
matter rests almost entirely with the |
mother of the girl. l incline to the belief
that she will insist upon a marriage with |
a Mexican.
But what if Eulala herself wishes
Il began.
'The girl herself has no will of her own, |
and will submit to her mothers choice" |
he interrupted. "You may make sure of
that; provided, of course, they (meaninG
the whole female contingent at the house, |
will not try 10 force upon her husband
that would be distasteful to her. If we
were in the States you might run away |
with her, If sou cannot obtain her in the
legally acknowledged fashion, but under
from the people among whom we live you
can no more ahduct her than you can fetch
the moon down to earth. My advice to
you is to get around Donna Maria. Eu-
lalia's mother You have acquired the
Spanish gift If the CAB to surprising
degree"
During the few days more I remained
at Santa Cruz 1 tried to follow his precept, |
but with very indifferent success. Eula- |
las mother vas uniformly polite to me
at all times; so she was to all the guests
of the house; but l did not seem to catch
on to the requisite manuver of getting
around" her for the purpose intended, and
finally departed at the expiration of my
furlough with happy memories indeed and
my breast pocket full of lovely notes from
my adored one but with hopes of the real
ization of my happiness Indefinitely post
poned.
IN HOSPITAL AT TUCSON.
1 arrived at tucson safely, having trav-
eled the 100 miles without accident by
night upon a good horse.
In the beginning of August | became ill.
1 had to be taken to the hospital at Tue
son, in which ! remained under the treat |
ment of Dr. Smart. Surgeon, U. S. A, I'M
til the day of my discharge. My sickness |
was a very severe one; i lost 40 pounds |
in weight during that one and Il half
months and left the hospital in a very |
weak and emaciated state. In those days |
l think the only remedies employed in the
cure of dysentery were castor oil and laud-
anum. OF this latter ingredient / had
been administered very large doses at fire. |