Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1889 — A LEGEND OF MEXICO. [ARTICLE]

A LEGEND OF MEXICO.

Don Pedro de Ycaza, alcalde of Las was a great hunter —handsome and rich. He was quite advanced in life when he made the confession here recorded. Rumer had it that in his life of every social feast, but for many years ne was seldom seen to smile; a gloomy expression was habitual upon his face. It was late in December, as after din* ner Don Pedro sat with two dear and old friends who had just arrived to pay him a long promised visit. They talked of old times, and, among other things, of a certain beautiful marquise. “Oh! Pedro,” said the older guest, “how I tried to marry you to her; such ajmagnificent woman, with such wealth. Why don’t you marry? You are not too old. I have a charming bride for you. Girls always prefer elderly men, you know, and this one is so pretty and so well brought up—just out of a convent and easily moulded to your wished and tastes.

There was a long pause. At last Pedro said: “Well, there are a good m*ny reasons why I should not merry, and good reasons, too. The first is, because—l am married already— ’” , “Manied already!” exclaimed his friends in one breath. “Where, when, and to wham? We never heard of any wife, nor have you ever spoken of her. 'Are you a Moor, that you keep her shut up in a seraglio? “No,” replied the Don sadly. “It is a sad story, but if you do not mind listening and sitting up quite late,, vou will both hear my story and see ms wife. But on one condition, that you do not apeak ( whatever you may witness) either to her or to me after she has gone again. Once a year, this night in December, she is permitted to come and see me. There will just be time enough,” he said, looking at his watch., “for me to tell you, my old friends, how it happened. But you must promise to keep it a secret, as I have for so many years. They both promised and Don Pedro began. I was bear hunting in the most solitary mountains of our wildest regions, nearly eleven years ago, and got separated from my comrades, i wandered about until dark, trying to join my friends, when night came on; for safety I climbed into the tallest tree I could find, leaving my horse .to wonder at will, certain that my call would bring him when I wanted him. I had been asleep some time when I was awakened by the call of a hunting horn, most beautifully played. It was none of our calls, so I looked out cautiously o see what manner of men were hunting at midnight. The night was a very dark one, but the whole place seemed to be lighted up in some mysterious manner. Suddenly out of the darkness stepped the most beautiful woman I ever beheld. She was exquisitely formed, and dressed in some gauzy stuff which showed her figure off to perfection. About a yard from where I was she stopped under another tree and played again a sweet tune upon her horn. And as I watched her I saw all sorts of animals coming in troops one after the other down the mountain paths. There were bears, wolves, wild cats and lynxes, and when they came very near to her I trembled. Ddt she showed no fear; standing with her back to the tree. The wolves crouched at her feet, the cats clawed playfully at her gown, the lynxes rubbed against her, and the bears reared up and laid their jieads upon her shoulders. She caresses each one in turn, and they actually purred with delight. She sat down in the midst of them for a few minutes, talking to them as though they were human. Then she stood up, held out her hands, and dismissed them. When the last one had disappeared the beautiful creature played another tune upon her horn and a flock of goats and deer came cantering along the mountain passes. She fed and petted them, seemed to love them very much, and soon dismissed them, and again blew a long blast. A troop of horses came galloping along the mountain passes, neighing and kicking up their heels as though utterly happy. These performed a sort of dance about the lady, who in turn caressed them and rode on their backs, to the great delight of each. After an hour of what seemed like teaching they wqre dismissed. She sat down under the tree, loosened her long, golden hair, and combed it with a golden comb. At the same time she looked toward the tree where I was hidden, watching her every movement, and suddenly said: “Oh, man, come down from that tree and talk to me.” Then she sung a lovely song, and as she sang I slowly, and utterly against my will and better judgment, got down from the tree and approached her. SI.S seemed to take ne notice of me, but went on singing until I was quite close to her, when she said, “Sit down, don’t toe afraid.” For some time we talked as if ws hap known each other all our lives. But gradually I fell asleep. When I awoke, my lady had vanished. But the remembrance of her never left me, her image never faded from my mind. I was really in love for the first time in my life, and night after night did I go, at the peril of my neck,, to try and again meet her. For months I was unsuccessful, then suddenly I met her in a lonely

mountain pasA My heart gave iTgreaf bound, andj determined to ask her to marry me. I told her I was rich, and would lavish upon her all that wealth could buy; but she gave me a look of scorn, and said: T am as rich and richer than one thing do I require of the man I marry, and that is—” 77 ' I swore to conroly with her wishes; she no longer hesitated. “The man I marry will never utter the name of the Virgin, or cross himself.” “I was so much in love I could not realize all the conditions implied. We were married. She was greatly admired, wherever we went she created a grand sensation. But to all others than myself she was entirely indifferent. To me she was devoted and we were very happy. One curious thing about - her was that she never seemed to wear shoes or stockings. This was very strange to me, and one night, urged by intense curiosity, I looked at her feet when shgwas asleep. What was my horropwifen I found that she had two hopra like a horse, with iron shoes on them. For some time I could not shake off a feeling of dread, but she was so womanly and affectionate in other respect, that after a time I forgot the shock. In the course of two years we had twin sons, who were the joy of our lives. She could hardly let them out of he’- arms, much less cut of her sight. When they were about 4 years old, 1 came in from a grand day’s shooting. The game was thrown in a corner of the largestone dining- room, nmt the dogs lay near to guard it. Suddenly, while we were dining, one Of the pointers gave a loud howl, rushed swiftly around the room, crawled to my feet, and dropped over dead. My wife, afraid that the dog might revive, snatched up our boys and got on a chair. I was very much alarmed, and forgetting mv promise altogether, said, “Santisima Virgin Maria, there is some witchcraft and devil’s work here,” as crossing myself, I stooped down to examine the dog.

I heard a peculiar sound from the other side of the room, which was half a neigh and half a scream. I looked up and beheld my wife changing into a black horse; the children held on to the mane and wings came from the sides. Gradually rising in the air, sbe went up and up, and flew out of the window, carrying the little ones with her. Once a year they camo to see me.and to-night I am expecting them. But make no noise, or speak not when they appear, or something dreadful will happen. The friends of Don Pedro, astonished at this extraordinary story, were quiet, but looked timidly and, anxiously toward the door. They were not kept long in suspense, for very soon after the tale was finished the door of the room opened, and one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen entered the room. Behind her came two 7-year-old colts. The men rose—the strangers retiring to the end of the room. Don Pedro advanced, ami the lady greeted him lovingly, while the two colts rubbed their heads together and gave every sign of joy. “They have grown taller since last year, have they not. Pedro?” their mother asked. “I should hardly have known them again, Nora7’ he replied. The lady called the two colts to her, and as they knelt before her she took them by the tails and pulled off their skins, and in an instant they were two charming little boys. Tne skins were folded up like little coats and laid in the corner of the room. Don Pedro and his wife conversed a long time in an undertone, and the l.ttle boys got tired. Their eyes wandered about the room and at last spied the guests. The children walked directly to them. r “Who are vou, and how do yotfuo?” said they as they held out their little hands. “We are old friends of your papa,who have come a long way to see him. He is very lonely, poor papa,” said one of the gentlemen. “Do you come often to see him?” “We only come once a year; we want to come oftener, but we can’t.” “Why can’t you?” inquired the guest The boy hesitated, and his brother spoke up: “Because no one can speak the charm. We can not ask papa to do it, for it has no effect after the first time, and he has already done it once, when we went away with mamma.” “What is your name, my child?” “Pedro.” . n — w ,--- “And yours?” “Pablo.” “And does it not hurt you whenithat little coat is taken off ?” 9 “Oh, no,” cried Pedro, “mammatakes off our coats every night, and then she eaches us manners, and reading and writing. I wish some one would say the charm pipa said, and then we could stay with papa. It is sometimes very cold outside, when it rains and snows.” The time was growing near to midnight, and at last the beautiful lady said to the children. “We must go.” But the little ones held fast to their father’s friends, and begged: “Oh, say the charm! please say the charm!” I Then the two gentlemen looked at

- ------ - :• \.■ .. - ■ - - each other, and, each holding a child lightly by the hand, eaid, “Santo Virgin Maria,” crossing themselves as they uttered these words. The beautiful, lady, who was standing up near Don Pedro, suddenly staggered back and would have fallen to the ground had her husband not eaught ber in his arms. , / •_ ---- : -<—< ——’ ——- “My time has come, Pedro,” sLe whispered. “Farewell! the children are saved!” and. after heaving one deep sigh, the beautiful lady was dead.