Chapter 55

           DonSilvioMartinezwasoneofthefewMexicanricos,whohadchosentoremaininTexas,aftertheconquestofthatcountrybythestalwartcolonisersfromtheNorth.

           Amanofmorethanmatureage,ofpeacefulhabits,andtakingnopartinpolitics,heacceptedthenewsituationwithoutanygreatregret.Hewasthemoreeasilyreconciledtoit,fromaknowledge,thathislossofnationalitywasbetterthancounterbalancedbyhisgainofsecurityagainstComancheincursions;which,previoustothecomingofthenewcolonists,hadthreatenedthecompletedepopulationofthecountry.

           Thesavagewasnotyetentirelysubdued;buthismaraudwasnowintermittent,andoccurredonlyatlongintervals.Eventhiswasanimprovementontheoldrégime.

           DonSilviowasaganadero,agrazier,onagrandscale.Sograndthathisganaderiawasleaguesinlengthandbreadth,andcontainedwithinitslimitsmanythousandsofhorsesandhornedcattle.

           Helivedinalargerectangularone-storiedhousemoreresemblingajailthanadwellingsurroundedbyextensiveenclosurescorrales.

           Itwasusuallyaquietplace;exceptduringthetimeoftheherradero,orcattle-branding;whenfordaysitbecamethesceneofafestivityalmostHomeric.

           Theseoccasionswereonlyofannualoccurrence.

           Atallothertimestheoldhaciendadowhowasabachelortobootledatranquilandsomewhatsolitarylife;asisterolderthanhimselfbeinghisonlycompanion.

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