Year: 1877

The Heroine of MatagOrda.


There is no country in the world more
pleasant to the eye, in early spring, thar
Southern Texas, particularly that portion
bordering on Matagorda Bay. The leve
prairie, looking like beautiful lawn, witt
long spaces of many colored flowers dot
ting the emerald expanse like fragment!
of fallen rainbow. Clumps of trees. sug
gestive of distant islands, break tht
stretches of green away to the north, while
east and west the dense growth along the
river bottoms forms background to the
beautiful picture.


At this season of the year the cattle have
been feeding in the bottoms during the
winter, with its cold northers, come on
with their young, and in peaceful herds
revel in the short, fresh grass. Deers by
hundreds are constantly in sight, and the
bays swarm with fish beneath the wilt
fowl above.


There are many beautiful homes border.
ing Matagorda Bay to the north, but nont
that, in elegance and surroundings, equals
that of Judge Demar. He was once =
wealthy planter, and is now one of the
richest stock-growers of that wonderful
pasture-land. A wife and a son and q
daughter constituted the judges family al
the time speak of.


To write Bell Delmar was beautiful y
would be simply to pen what every one said
who knew her. And even the less favored
maidens, who might be inclined to envy
Belle the attentions her beauty brought
acknowledged, one and all, "she was as
good and accomplished as she was sweet
and beautiful" And this must be acknow-
lodged to be high compliment, coming
from such source.


In Texas where men hold land in pro.
portion 10 the immense size of the State,
farms, or, rather, houses, are very far
apart, and, to one accustomed to the dense
ly populated East, it would seem as if the
neighborly feeling could not be cultivated
with so sparse population. In reality, il
is just the reverse; ten or twenty miles
dwindles into wonderfully short distance
in such country, and as all the people
ride on horseback, and live in the open
air, there is a great deal of visiting, and
the social feelings are in state of constant
activity, People think rothing of riding
ten or twelve miles to spend an evening
with a friend, for it was only IN hour and
half's gallop back, which is nothing; il
would take longer to make the distance on
the usual accommodation trains run
ming into our cities.


While this living so far apart begets
friendship and sociability, it is II perfect
barrier to such n thing as gossip, which
can only flourish in crowded villages and
small towns, where there is a large per-
centage of very idle, and consequently
very vicious people.


The old Texans are n very gallant peo.
pie, and, ms may be supposed, Belle Del
mar did not want for admirers. Apart
from the numbers, of more experience and
personal confidence who came to see her,
there were many of the younger and more
timid callers at the judges house who
came to see Burnett Delmar, though that
handsome young fellow knew very well
that he was not the attraction.


Burnett Oelmar was n few years older
than his sister, and seemed to be rs popu-
lar with the ladies, and dcservodly so, as
his sister was with his own sex.


lie was very warm friend 10 Ralph
Austin, though Ralph but seldom put in
appearance with the avowed purpose Of
seeing Burnett Delmar. Belle was the at
traction, and there was none so welcome
to her among the many, for he had all the
qualities of form, head and heart which
sensible women most admire.


Spring comes to that portion of Texas
in February; by the end of that month all
the crops are in, and all the fruit trees in
blossom. Then there is period of rest
till the branding season in April or May.


1t was the latter part of February when
Ralph Austin, according to promise, came
down to Judge Delmar's, in order TO take
IL weeks fishing with Burnett, who had
the best yacht in the bay, and felt not "A
little proud of his ability to sail it in any
kind of weather. The Judge and Mrs.
Delmar had go to Galveston to pay a
short visit to some friends, so that Belle
was left in charge of the household, and a
young friend with her who she often
laughingly teased her brother about.


" Tomorrow morning, sister Belle,
Ralph and are going TO sail as far as
Pass Cavallo, therefore we will take din
her with us, and you must not be alarmed
il we are not at home before dark" said
Burnett to his sister, as they set on the
wide piazza facing the bay, the evening
before his contemplated departure.


:" | am afraid to let you 90, Burnett, I
feel responsible for you, and think it will
be best to keep you in sight till father re-
turns" said Belle with affected serious
ness.


q" promise, Miss Belle, to take ample
care of this part of your charge during to.
morrow, and if do not return him in MS
good condition us when borrowed, then
mine be the objectionable blame"


Ralph Austin assumed the attitude of n
pleader during this little speech though its
most eloquent part was in The bright black
eyes that beamed lovingly on her as she
spoke.


"With such promise cannot withhold
my consent,so Alice and will see that YOU
have basket full of all the good things
we can find for your dinner"


"Mr. Ralph Austin, as it is you who
have obtained permission of the command
ing officer for me 10 visit P.Iss Cayallo
with you, permit me TO tender you my sin
cere, need | say heartfelt thanks, fr your
kind intercesslon, and should | ever have
an opportunity to do you like favor, pray
always consider me yours TO command" :"


Burnett looked in such n way at his
beautiful sister, as he spoke, rs brought II
brighter glow to her rounded check.


Next morning Burnett Demar and
Ralph Austin were up by daylight anil. AS
an early breakfast had been ordered, Belle
and Alice Morton were up and shared
itwith the young men.


"Do not remain after sundown, or we