The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-10-18
CHAPTER x

|
dro and Sanchez, galloping in hard
after the report Of the two shots.
Sanchez" said Bowie in Span
ish, ride fast back to the house
and fetch me my gun. Pedro" he
added, "loosen this fellow and set
him up. Then pick up his pistol
it's over by that hill somewhere.
And bring in his horse-it's proba-
bly, grazing back Of the hill"
A moment or more passed before
the doughty captain sat up, stag
gered to his feet and shook himself
to see whether he was all apart or
all together. Hatless, hair awry,
breathless and covered with dust
and dry grass, he was sight. Bow
lie, remounting, eyed him with little
sympathy. $50 your names Blood?"
he snapped.
"Ben Blood" answered the man.
you'll pay for this. I'm scout
from General Fremont's expedi-
i ton" ula
''What are you scouting down this
way?"
'Horses-three hundred head"
you've come to the wrong place
for horses"
"Give me my horse and pistol,
and I'll be going"
you'll be going, Blood-with an
escort. This vaquero will take you
to the preside for trial. You're un-
der arrest"
you'd better not arrest me! Give
me my horse"
you're headed for the preside,
Blood. Climb into your saddle
Bowie then spoke in Spanish to
his vaquero. "Ride this wretch well
away from the rancho-far north:
and lose him somewhere along the
Melena de Leon. Let him think he's
escaping. We don't want to bother
with him. When he gets away,
chase him and give him a good
scare"
| When Carmen and Bowie reached
the rancho Don Ramon and Dona
Maria were on the porch with a
group OF house servants huddled
close at hand, and DR.. Doane. After
the story Of the morning was told,
the surgeon engaged Bowie and with
some effort extracted from him a
story of the fight at the cave.
The event of the morning was
passed over briefly by Bowie. "But,
Don Ramon" he added, "do not de-
ceive yourself. Half-drunken ras-
Gals like this one we encountered
this morning will be back. We must
| always be prepared for them. Their
leaders are unscrupulous-the rank
and file are worse"
Bowie tried all next day to catch
Dona Maria alone in order to lay
momentous request before her.
But an itinerant painter had ap-
peared at the rancho and for that
day and next few, the family was
busy having their portraits painted.
Even Bowie was included in the
paintings. One day the artist took
his leave and Bowie appealed to
Dona Maria, asking that he might
have word with her.
The lovely mistress of the rancho
was, as always, gracious. "You
certainly may, Senior Bowie" she
said in her gentle Spanish, "and
as many words as you like. Come
with me-"
She led him to her sitting room.
Speak freely" she said.
81 am stranger to you, Dona
| Maria" he began.
mot wholly" smiled Dona Ma
ria, "but let that pass" f
"Thank you; yet am-and to
| your people. My stay under the
roof Of Don Ramon has been very
happy one"
Surely" exclaimed Dona Maria,
alarmed, "you are not leaving us?"
"That is the last thing I'd like to
think of, Dona Maria. I have come
to love Californianos and Califor-
MIA, can honestly say, as If it and
they were my own.
| II am Tejano. My own people
are from Maryland and France.
When Don Ramon asked me to take
charge of Guadalupe I hesitated, as
| yOQ hllOWs Lie pACoCAlSC Va yOuk
daughter, Senorita Carmen, made
me fear, from the first time ever
/ saw her, that my feelings might
carry me beyond my depth.
'They have done so, Dona Maria,
I am obliged to confess. And I am
painfully conscious that have moth
ing to offer her. She is an heiress
of large possessions. Yet-here I
am, asking you for her hand. I am
not worthy of it. What will you do
with me?"
Dona Maria listened with varied
feelings, nor did she seem shocked
at the confidence, though her ex-
preston was grave, as seemed to
her to befit the situation.
"Your words do you honor, Senior
Bowie" she responded evenly.
"There are, indeed, as you say, I'M
usual circumstances to be consid-
cred. Yet after discussing it with
Don Ramon, shall not hesitate to
lay your avowal before Carmen.
From him I do not anticipate any