National Republican., 1883-02-23
PAQUlTA.
BY A. A. HAYES.

Fort Massachusetts, in the Sangre do CristO
mountains, toward Sante Fe. Ho had Just
passed the Tezuke Pueblo, aud he hoped to
reach his destination before the pleasant
September day came TO close Tired of
riding in the ambulance, drawn by four
mules, which had brought him thus far he
walked ut brisk pace along the rough road,
the clumsy equipage following just far enough
behind for him to hear some notes of the
army song which the driver was singing,
always stopping at the end of each stauza to
loudly berate the mules. The sun shone
brilliantly and almost fercely, but so dry was
Vhe air that the heat was hardly felt. So alb
soutely transparent, too, was this air that the
mountains west of the Santa Fe seemed to lie
but mile away. To tho lieutenant, who
had served some time on the plains, barren
Ian dscape was no novelty; but he had never
en- countered more sterile and tOrbidding
on tlook. No level spot appeared, no glimpse
of green grass, no sign of water. The road,
roughly built over hills and through valleys,
was flanked by more hills and Valleys and
these again by mountains. All was rocky and
sandy-gray, brown, and parched Scrub &C.
dars and distorted pinons clung precariously
to the hillsides as far as the eye could reach |;
Jagged and unlOvely outlines were boldly re-
vailed by the white glare.
To many persons u lonely Journey through
such region would be profoundly depressing,
but this traveller little needed his surround
ings. AS he strobe along, his thoughts weic
far away from New Mexico and rowing "in
fancys rich domain" Good health and per-
feet digestion had something to do with it,
but il was mainly due to letter-inclosing
photograph lay snugly in his breast
pocket Thispicture, which he had more than
once taken out and regarded long and low
i. N..g. 4. A
cool critic would have seen in the face too
much ofwhat the French call pesprit moqueur,
but il was the gazer's idea of loveiness. He
had met the original at West Point and had
become engaged to her after his graduation
He had cherished her image through several
years of separation, and seen it take shape in
the dying embers of far western camp fire,
or the smoke of his pipe on a lonely scout.
ObliviOus, on this OCCASION of his grim and
desolate surroundings, he was standing in
spirit on Filtration walk or in Kosciusko's gar
den; he was dreaming of happy days near ut
hand; for the letter, received before leaving
Fort Massachusetts, told him that If he So
cured an expected leave his flance would be
ready to marry him. 'H
A tramp, however, over n New Mexican
road must soon recall the most ardent senti-
mentalist to hard physical conditions and
our traveller at last stopped, waited for the am
bulance to come up, and took his seat thei Elm.
The driver cracked his long whip, the mules
broke into a trot, and presently the strange
collection of one story adobe buildings, known
for some ten generations as the Royal City of
the Holy Faith of st. Francis, came in sight.
To appreciate its peculiar characteristics, its
rare charms, ones mind should not be pro-
occupied by tender passion. but should be
inspired with degree of sentiment of quite
another kind andalove of the old and quaint
student of history would have felt no little
interest in approaching place which was
probably an important Spanish town before
the pilgrims saw Plymouth Rock, and whose
three centuries of recorded existence are pre-
ceded by an indefinite prehistoric past. To
our soldier the reflections of the afternoon,
and even such prosaic prospect as that of q
good dinner, were worth more than all the
legends Of the Toltecs or the Mayas. He
brushed the dust from his uniform as the
driver stopped at headquarters, reported him
self in due course and finished the evening
with cigar on the plaza, under the bright
moon. ' i'H'n"
A fow months of duty, more agreeable than
that lately performed at the lonely fort in
che mountains, relieved by the hopes Of the
leave" soon to come, passed rapidly. One
day the lieutenant was returning with a
detachment of cavalry from Albuquerque
whittier he had escorted commissary train.
When within a few miles of Santa Fe and
near solitary rancho, he heard cries of dis
tress. Riding rapidly forward aud gaining
on the command, he entered the corral AS
he turned the corner of the rude house he
came upon group o." COW boys" intoxicated
and noisy. Some had seized an old Mexican,
others were bringing a rope, and still Others
held beautiful young girl, who was wildly
struggling to escape from them. They released
her vt the sight Of the stalwart hOrseman,
whose uniform told its story to their bsfud-
died brains.
"What are you doing" asked the officer.
Half dozen voices told him that the old
man had been stealing horses. In second
the young girl, her long hair falling round
her face, her eyes filled with tears, her voice
husky with terror, her hands claspod, sprang
forward and spoke rapidly in Spanish.
"No, no! senior, it Is not true. This is my
father, Jose Sanchez. He lives in Santa Fe,
and you must know him. He has dealings
with the army. Oh, do not believe these
wicked men! We never harmed them, yet
they seek TO kill us. We came to visit the
rancho, which belongs to my father. They
rode up and demanded brandy, and because
We had none they seized us"
The men did not allow her to finish her
sentence, They were crazy with drink, and
saw that the officer was alone. Several of
them, as he noticed. had their rifles. They
advanced u step, with muttered curses, and
then one bOlder than the rest, sprang for
ward, bringing the gun to his shoulder
Quick as thought the officer rode at him.
knocking the barrel up with his sword. Be-
fore he could aim a swinging blow at the fell
lows head, tho latter with a cry of dismay
jumped back, as did his companions. The
cavalrymen had come up at gallop. As il
sprung out Of the ground they confronted the
murderous villainS-the sun cleaning on the
bright barrels of the carbnes, the fierce faces
behind them, and tho ready fingers on the
triggers. But the slightest sign form the OH
Ger and the volley would have rung out.
mol" he said returning his sword with
rattle to the scabbard. "rhey are not worth
powder and ball. Secure them and march
them into town. The marshal will attend to
THEN case" Ho dismounted and walked up
to the Old Mexican, who stood by the door of
his house, his daughter clinging to him In
a trenulOus voice the father uttered passion
ate expressions of gratitude for the rescue of
his daughter and himself The officer stopped
him as soon as possible, told him he was de-
lighted to have been Of service, and that he
had better make use of an ambulance which
would soon come up and so home under es-
cort OF the soldiers. AS he turned away the
young girl, who had stood with downcast
eyes, looked up timidly and said:
shall never forget, senor."
The cowboys had been disarned, and, with
their hands bound, were ready for their
march to santa Fe. AS the sergeant reported
this 10 the Lieutenant, the latter asked if he
had ever seen the old Mexican before
"NCarly every day for years, sir" replied
the pan with his formal salute. "He is the
best greaser in Santa Fe; has had plenty of
contracts with the quartermasters depart
ment, and always acted on the square. The
little girl is his only daughter they
call her IN their lingo; the prettiest girl in