Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1061 — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- searching in the cit Then, from the vast assembly went up oue cry, and upon every lip were two words: ‘6 nm Sam pr . But, how was Sam, brave as he was known to save the dying man and the heroic to be eid trom instant death, when the trained ma- * | Lorenzo to avenge himself upon his rival in tadores feared to meet the maddened beast? But, cool as an icicle, Sam stood, while the | love. bull now turned his flaming eyes upon him as | who was christened Lena Castro, Don Jose was who quickly drew hisrevolver and held | called away from his home on public matters, /and in his absence the rancho was again at- | tacked by the bandits, and Marietta ca his foe it in a band as firm as iron. The audience held their breath in horror and cautionary cries came from the Texans as the report of the revolver burst sharp and quick, upon the air, mingled with a oe shriek. At the instant the yee belche deadly messenger, the bull gave one bound into the air and fell dead at thefeet of Buckskin _in driving the bandits from the ' forth its | Sam, who quickly placed his foot upon the > head of the brute, and then cast hiseyes toward the point from whence had proceeded the shr.ek at the moment of his seeming peril. He saw in that glance a beautiful Castilian girl being borne away in a dead faint. caught but a glimpse of her features; but in eer glance he photographed them upon his n Wild, hearty, prolonged cheers rent the air, and Sam doffed his sombrero to the admirin crowd, as he assisted Mariana to her feet anc delivered her to her friends, for the matadore had breathed his last, The bull-fight was over and the most exacting could not but admit that He | they had had four bits’ worth of tragedy, From_| what could be gathered from the weeping Mariana sbe had seen the matadore but twice | since his arrival from Monterey, but that limit- ed acquaintance had been sufficient to cause her to risk her life for him. Fair daughters of Mexico! what will you not do for him who isin danger, or distress? Your charity and affection are truly boundless. And homeward went the motley crowd, while Buckskin Sam, accompanied by his Texan friends, repaired to the Plaza House, their place of rendezvous in San Antonio, CHAPTER IL. THE FALSE FRIEND. NEARLY ascore of years previous to the open- ing of my romance, there lived in great pomp ard luxury, a league from the main Plaza of Monterey, an old Spaniard by the name of Rafael Castro, with his family, which consisted of his wife, and a son, their only child. This son, Jose Castro, after having completed his studies under private tutors at home, had been sent to Cuba to receive a polish to his education in the gay city of Havana. Upon his return home an elegant gentleman, he was accompanied by a fellow-student who een claimed bigh rank and vast riches in Old ain. Tiwana’ Brogado, for such was the name of Jose Castro’s friend, was received with warm welcome by Don Rafael and his wife, who re- Fs that their son had a camarada worthy of is own blue blood. With the stables well stocked with fleet steeds, the cellars filled hem choice wines, the two young men had evé@ty prospect of enjoy- ment, and, recently slaves to their books, they now galloped over the extensive rancho, and often into the city ot Monterey, where they had the entree into the most aristocratic cir- cles of society. A constant round of pleasure, of some weeks’ duration followed, during which Lorenzo Brogado was forced, by the non-ar- rival of funds from bis parents in Spain, te borrow somewhat heavily from bis friend Jose, The latter rejoiced to have it in bis power to befriend one who had seemingly relinquished other projects and plans to accompany him to his home in Mexico. The manner in which so many doubloons were disposed of by Lorenzo at last became a perplexing subject of thought to Jose, until for him during one of his many unaccountable absences, he found his friend deeply engaged in betting at monte at one of the many gambling houses. Pained though he was, he made no remark though it caused him many a thoughtful hour. A short time after the discovery both he and Lorenzo attended a ball or danza, given by the Alealde of Monterey, where both young men were introduced toa beautiful girl who had tee entered society, and who also belonged to a ily who prided themselves on their wealth The name of this lovely creature was Ma rietta Penaloza, andit was no wonder that both _ Jose and Lorenzo became smitten by her many a charms of education, beauty and character. Suffice it to say that Jose Castro eventually became the accepted lover of Marietta, and that upon the rejection of Lorenzo his villsinous nature became unvailed. He league? himself with bandits, and at their heac, upon the nicht of the nuptials of Jose and Maurietts. ettacked | the hacienda, and attempted to abduct the e. Although this devilish project was not suc- eessful the fiendish rovers of the chaparrals shot both Don Rafael and his wife [nez; they dyi before the defenders of the hacienda cucdended | | -months a number of men, well armed and Buckskin Sam. o ——> oe a ee eo and without being permitted to give their blessing to Jose, their dearly loved son. Jose and Marietta, filled with grief, took up their abode in the old hacienda; but were kept in constant alarm by the frequent attempts of Shortly atter the birth of a daughter, } ptured and taken to the mountain retreat of the band, the infant child escaping only through the efforts of its nurse who secreted herself with the little one in the shrubbery of the garden,— and she was the only servant left on the hacienda upon the return of the master. In a frenzy of grief Don Jose employed for mounted, and at their head scoured the coun- try, high and low, far and near, for his lost wife, but in vain. Fearing, from the past, the ower of his enemy in the future, he sold out is entire estate, and well disguised, with his daughter end the faithful nurse, he secretly fled to San Avtonio, Texas, hoping that there his vin- dictive enemy, Lorenzo Brogado, would never find him, to rob him of his only loved one, his darling child Lena. Don Jose, upon his arrival in San Antonio in- vested a large portion of his funds in real estate, in and about the town. At this time there were but few American residents of the city, and soon after, when the tide of emigration swept that way, he became immensely wealth the advance in landed property. But with all his wealth Don Jose was far from being ha the tragic death of his parents haun him in his dreams and a thousand fearful conjectures inregard to the condition of his wife Marietta so preyed upon his mind that it was a wonder his reason was not unseated. All these bereavements, so dreadful to brood over, having come upon him through the per- fidious treachery of one he had called friend who had so often broken bread with him, and shared his pare. steeled him against all men and he looked upon none as bis friend, trusted no one with his hopes, may 4 his daughter, and closely hugged his fears of future trouble within his own breast, The consequence was he seldom went out, knew but little of the doings in tbe outside world, and gained the name of being proud and morose. vwing from the past that Lorenzo Brogado would hesitate at no crime to satisfy his inhuman enmity, he was in constant dread of his daughter being taken from him by that devilish monster. CHAPTER IT, THE SPANISH RECLUSE. ONE of the grandest homes in San Antonio was the abode of Don Jose Castro, the recluse, as the citizens were wont to call him, An almost broken-bearted man he lived alone for his daughter, and gathered around her every luxury that heart could desire. Austere to others, to her he was ever gentle, and now as we find him seated alone in bis ele- nt library late in the afternoon of the day of e bull-fight, bitterly musing on the his thoughts of the beautiful Lena mingle in his bitter memories, for, to please her only he had gone to the exciting exhibition, the gala scene that opens this ref Two things had particularly attracted the attention of the Don, and over both he was deeply worried. First, from their seats, which were very near the spot where the matadore had fallen, the Don had observed the eyes of the dying bull- fighter fixed upon Lena with a look he could not fatbom, even though the man knew that death was not far from him, and lay in the arms of Mariana Coyen, the Queen Coquette, as she was often called. In vain was it that Mariana bent over the wounded matadore, trying te fix his dying upon her: his eyes would roam to the utiful face of Lena Castro, and there dwell with an unfathomable stare. This tedagig Je look Lena noticed, as well as did her father, but neither spoke to the other re- garding it. The other cause of distress to the Don, was the shriek given by Lena, at the danger of Buckskin Sam, when he fearlessly sprung to the rescue of the dying matadore and Fandango Queen, and her fainting at the risk he run. But upon this subject also the Don had not spoken to Lena. though now, as he sat alone in his library, be mused deeply upon the scenes, “T fear that my child bas m some way met this young Ranger,” he muttered half aloud, “though she bas never spoken to me upon the subject. ‘* Ah me! what if she should love him, as her deep emoticon certainly leads me to believe? ‘‘ It is wrong in me to keep her wut of society, where she can meet men who are of equal rank as herself, and I will in future see that she holds the position to which she is entitled, for, though there is notbing against that dashing “ee + LLL LL LL LLL LL LL LL A LL LL LL LC ttt daca a yore Ranger Buckskin Sam, he is not the ome would select as a husband for my daughter. “‘T will send for her, and find out just how deeply she is interested in him,” and tinkling a silver bell, Don Jose bade the servant who an- swered its summons, to ask the Senorita Lena to come to the library. Rising, he paced the room slowly, and his dark, sad face was clouded more than wag usual; but then in the past he had much to sorrow for, and remembering that Lorenzo Brogado still lived, he feared daily that an otherblow might be struck at his life, or, worse still, his daughter be torn from him as his wife had been. A few moments only he waited and the door. opening, Lena Castro swept into the room. A form of rare , and a face of exquisite loveliness, it was no wonder that the gallants of San Antonio were wont to vote her father an’ old wretch for keeping her out of society, where. pg Pees lay siege to her beart and hand. din a snowy robe, that set off her dark. beauty to perfection, her father gazed on her in rapt admiration as he gook her hand and led her to a seat, ‘I hope my daughter has fully recovered from her indisposition of the morning?” said Don Jose, kissing her affectionately. “Wholly, father; it was foolish in me to be so overcome at the look of a man I did not know.” “* The look! Ranger?’ Lena flushed slightly, but said in reply: ‘* No, father; the look of that dying matadore overcame me, for it made me very nervous, and) I saw in it a presentiment of evil.” Don Jose turned deadly pale, but trying to hide his fears, he answered: ‘*T too noticed his strange look, and somehow his face haunted me like a vision in a dream, as though I bad seen it before; but, my ‘child, I feared that your fainting, when the a whom they call Buckskin Sam, placed his life in peril, showed a deeper interest in him than a young girl should feel for one who was not am. accepted lover.” ‘“No, father, I feel only kindly toward the Ranger, though it is true lL have met him befor as he it was who so severely punished the wil cow-boy that day, for throwing his lasso and catching my horse.” ‘‘Ah! he it was; you said only then that it was a handsome young Ranger; I owe him gratitude, and shall thank him when next we. meet. ‘““ Now, Lena, I wish to subject near my heart.” ‘** I am listening, father.” you mean the danger of the young “T wish you to go more into society, and to * — with men and women, for there are old families here, as you know; and, my c iene is one whom I would be willing to see you ove. Lena arched her beautiful brows, but asked no questions audibly, of who this favored one in her father’s eyes might be. ‘‘It is Augustin Siliceo; he is wealthy, a gen- ou happy, and ing the boner tleman, and well fitted to make I have had a letter from him, a of offering you his attentions. ‘** Remember, I do not puedes you to him, only I know of no one I would rather see your suitor; now, my child, you may accept the invitation to the danzas that are given here, and I know you will re supreme as a belle; now we will go for a drive,” and shortly after the stylish uipage of Don Jose Castro, astonished the citizens of San Antonio by driving through the: streets, with the father and datohiter seated in, it, and which caused a noted monte sport to re- mark to a brother gambler: “At the bull-fight this morning and now driving through San Antonio. Tl a thou- sand pesos that the Don is — bring hia daughter out in society, and if he does, that she'll be the reigning belle within the month.” The bets were taken atonce; not from a de Sabie e opty ere a because it was na or the gamblers wager pesos on any thing where there was a chance te win or . CHAPTER IV. THE RANGERS’ BIVOUAG. THE San Pedro § eS ee a mile from the main plaza of San Antonio, have long been the Mecca of the traveler’s hopes, coming as he does across the burning sands, with no moisture to soothe bis burning throat after a long and dreary trail from the northern plains. Out of the limestone ledge gurgles the limpid wnter, and around it is a ve of trees that cast upon it a cooling shade, while trail vines and festoons of Spanish moss make ita retreat that seems a Paradise to those who have been facing the heat of the sun for many a Creare mile across the plains, In this little grove many thrilling scenes have transpired, and many a desperate encounter has been there. when men stood face to face in ‘the night following the day bull-fight, a ue scene presented to view, for it is a € speak to you upon & } com - “ . ts . Se! ‘ fm Jib pooks * : de ae =. .* - “ > i” c > ed aoe) eee” y ae