National Republican., 1883-02-23

ing the father called upon him and renewed
his protestations Of gratitude. Perhaps, hC
said, the senior would honor his poor ROOT
with visit. The latter readily assented
and that evening called at the adobe build
ing, entered the low door, and passed into
the central court or placita, where flower.
were blooming and the family were waiting
to receive him. As Paquita rose and gave
him her hand, and through the hour he
spent in her company, conversing, slipping
the thick, sweet Spanish chocolate, and listen.
ing to her skillful playing on the Mexican
harp, he had the curious psychological OK.
pcrience of admiring her land he doubtless
paid her resultant attention) in o purely
vicarious manner. Had he analysed his &C.
tual sentiments, he would have found that
for her living, present personality he had but
the merest kindly feeling, but that he was
manifesting warm admiration for the coun.
terfeit presentment through tho medium OF
this personality, Of his absent love. When
the time came for him to CO. there was a
slight blush on Paquita's face as she bade him
farewell
During several following weeks he went
frequently to Sanchez's house. Tho leave OF
absence had not come, and ho was no nearer
his Mecca. Waiting made him uneasy, and
the placita was quieting resort. Then, too,
under the influence of an absorbing senti-
ment--dweling long and often on the mental
liked to look at the pleasant face of the little
Mexican girl, and trace Ont again and again
the fancied resemblance. The thought that
she might be interested in him never sug-
gested itself, partly from absence of vanity,
still more on account of this same preoccu.
patton Of mind. How long such a state OF
affairs might have lasted no one can tell.
but soldier, of all men, little knows what a
day may bring forth. One morning a courier
arrived from "the States" but instead of the
furloughs for which the lieutenant and some
of his brother officers were hoping, he brought
-tolegraphed to overtake the stage
of the battle of Bull Run. The command was
thrown into the utmost confusion. A number
of officers left their stations aud made their
way toward Texas. Others, more loyal, found
their positions trying TO the last degree Only
one thing seemed certain, that there was
nothing for them but to stand by their post,
with no thought of seeing home and friends.
The arrival of that splendid soldier, Gen.
Candy, gave them q certain confidence, and
he succeeded in bringing some order out of
chaos; but mails were interrupted, and came
only at long intervals, and often without
bringing any private letters.
The lieutenant was eventually sent TO Fort
Union, and was there wlIen the Colorado
troops arrived, in 1862 on their way to on
counter the confederate expedition from
Texas. He was with the detail of regular
troops, under Capts. Lewis and Carey, sent
with these Colorado forces and on certain
morning found himself between the grim
walls of Apache canyon, expecting his first
battle. Suddenly Mexican approached and
asked that he would accompany him to a
ranch house at the rear. Here, to his great
surprise, he saw Paquita of whom he had
hardly thought since he said good-by on the
eve of his departure from Santa Fe. With
her was stalwart man, whom she eagerly
led forward.
"Senor Lieutenant" said she, this is my
cousin Manuel. l was in Santa Fe when the
soldiers came thther from Texas, and | knew
that you would meet them here. They are hut
mile away and advancing upon you. Oh,
senOr, have been in such terror for you, and
| sought Manuel and begged him to come
with me and help me to warn you. AS we
hurried hither, he told me he knew of a path
whereby you could gain the rear of the enemy
and fall upon thom unawares. Aud then,
senior, told him how you had saved my
father and myself, and how good you were,
and l begged him, for the love of the Blessed
Virgin, to show you this path, and"-she
pressed forward, her ey os sparkling" he will
do 1t. and here he Isl"
What ensued is matter of history. Up the
steep side of that grim canyon climbed the
detail under Chivington, and with him went
Capts. Lewis and Carey and our lieutenant.
The way was long, rough, and steep but after
they had tOiled for hours, Manuel suddenly
stopped and laconically said, in his imperfect
English:
You are on top of dem"
The officers peorcd over the sharp edge of
the rock, and thore, sure enough was the
Texan rearguard, considerably outnumbering
the union forces. The volunteer commander
of the latter was a fighter to the end of his
fingers, but war was u new trade to him, and
feared an ambush. With his subordinates, he
took u seat on a fallen log.
"What do you say, Capt. Lewis?" he asked.
well, major, we came here to fight" was
the reply.
"And you, Capt. CareyP"
81 agree with Capt. Lewis, major"
Very well, go on; but shall sound n re-
call if l see you in danger of an ambush"
The column started, Capt. Lewis at its
head, tall and handsome us when he went TO
his death at the hands of the Cheyennes
a few years ago. When they had gone short
distance he looked over his. shoulder and
said:
"Carey, we don't hear any order of recall,
If We know ourselves-eh -
During the next few years the lieutenant
saw many hard fight, but none like this
first one; the tramp down the path, the rush
at the end, and the fierce struggle and the
victory which saved Fort Union and the far
west. He was not unmindful of Paquita's
thoughtful devotion. When again in Santa
Fe for short time he saw her more than
once. just before he went east with Con.
Roberts he purchased piece of the pretty
Mexican jewelry Of filigree silver, which
one finds in the old city, and as he bade
her good by-never noticing the effort with
which she concealed her emOtion-gave it to
her as mark of his grateful remembrance.
Little did he know that, as the command
marched across the dry bed Of the river and
climbed the road leading to Las Vegas, she
was looking after him in passionate despair.
AS they traverscd the long trail stretching
through the valley of the Arkansas his
thoughts journeyed far ahead of the column
toward the goal of his still-oherished hopes and
but rarely reverted even to the striking epi-
sodes of his near past. Paquita, in her proper
self, was probably but aeeting memory be-
fore he crossed the Missouri. At st. Louis
came orders and an unexpected disappoint-
ment With promotion he was compelled to
join new regiment, and for nearly u year
more was never east Of the Alloghanies. From
time to time he heard of the girl whom he
loved as ever, and she wrote affeotiOnately as
of old, hopeful of his coming, and seemingly
faithful to her trOth Then came word that
she was to accompany her parents
to Europe, with the assurance that she
would write regularly from thence
and would soon return, Just after he received
this letter, the officer was severely wounded
and lay long in hospital, between life and
death. When at last convalescent, he jour
neyed slowly TO his home ON tho seabOard.
In the great cities he found whirl of busi-
ness and pleasure mad speculation, dissipa-
tion, revelry-all at their height-while the
soldiers were dying at the front and he real
lied how true It is that inter drmd silent leges
Ono day, sitting at the windows of New
Ns.s.l .N..N. L. i. 4.