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[52]
Spence.
Dark women like fair men, and if a half-breed girl is taken from her people young, she may be trained in English ways, until she learns to be a decent wife.
If there are brothers in the house, the fields and runs must be divided; but the lads will go to the dogs in time; the faster for a little help; and then the lots may all come back.
An English hunter after an estate is seldom foiled by an inferior race.
The second plan is for a thrifty stranger, having ready money in his purse, to lend small sums to any reckless native, known to have good sheep-runs and extensive water-rights.
Your mixed breed, whether brown or sallow, has an empty pocket and a dozen wants.
He wants to buy a horse, to give a dance, to bribe a sheriff, or to play seven-up.
Tempted by the sight of gold, he borrows where he has no hope of paying back.
Loan follows loan, each spent as fast as got, until the lender closes the account, and presses for his debt.
The hybrid has no coin.
What will the lender take instead of gold?
A league or so of pasture land — a ranch with mill and water-wheel — a bit of hill-side like an English park?
His debt being paid, the stranger has a
1875.
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