Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-17
TULA vELASQUEZ.

Leo Gordon was a handsome young south
erner wrosa horne was On the balmy banks
Of the Pearl river He mad served IN the
Confsdersscy with ell the enthusiasm and
copfdeace tdat characterized the most in
trepid vearer. Of gray II was not 80 much
the disco nfture be 81 at the termination OF
the civil struggle a. It was the spirit Of adj
venture which bad led Leo to abandon his
southers. ao.ss 81 seek that land of thrilling
romance ii.xaO i-eo found Mexico then
In belli .er@rt state Immediately on his
landing De YHnei tie army Of Juarez, who
was fgltiEg gains; HaxiHilian-
MANY we're tie bra ge leeds Of Leo Gordon,
which won tae resrect and admiration OF his
comres > and Of the great chief himself But
It Is not d bls services in that struggle that
we into. u, write, but OF q certain adven-
ture, deeply rose hued with romance, In
which i<-o played an active part
With >~TcTai of his friends, who bad fol-
lowed i,iu fr,fn the United States, Leo went
one nis.t The luxurious hacienda OF very
wealthy 3'exiean ranchero, and asked the
savage hrwe'i master TO grant them per
mission - .-iss the night there
WITH a ie-s clTlsty words IN q suriy voice
the ra..~..ero refused the request But the
Americans persuaded and on their saying at
LIST ;aat they were determined TO stay any
way, Be 5ru.iy and sullenly acquiesced to
their lodging beneath his roof
The hacienda had somewhat rambling,
partially furnished wing that was used by
the rancheros family, but mad long ago been
abandoned 10 the bats and spiders Tins wing
was assigned to the accommodation of the
half dozen adventurous Americans who had
insisted on passing the night at the hacienda.
Here they would be wholly to themselves,
save the stealthy gnawin. that broke the al
lence OF those unused rooms, and suggested
multitude Of rata
The moon vas up and was d tering her sill
very beams over the breast OF the warm, do
licious night Leo was leaning out Of one Of
the long, narrow windows Of the wing, look
ing with sincere admiration at the ample and
beautiful flower gardens of his host The
flowers, in the moons wealth OF pellucid
spendor, with their rich perfumes tossed to
him ever and anon by the bland south winds,
carried the young southerner's mind back to
his home on tho Pearl, with its flower be
decked walks and bnlny hooks.
So lost was he in tho memories which the
scene before him evoked, that at first he did
not observe a beautiful Mex can girl APP
preaching the winuow from which he
leaned.
As She drew nearer the young soldier be-
came aware Of her presence She was very
handsome. Her form, which was plump,
was richly clad. Her eyes were dark and in
tellisent. She looked searchingly at Leo,
and as II satisfied with her swift scrutiny,
she raised one soft, dimped hand in warning
and placed the forefnser over her crimson
lips to enjoin his silence.
"Tlis is mystery personified" Leo ex-
claimed within himself
But no preserved silence, and nos a move
ment Of the graceful girl escaped his yigilant
eye. He did not even shift his attitude, fear
ing he might arouse his companions who
were resting on the couches Of the long apart
ment, and he cared not to disturb them
What could be the meaning of the strange
procedure OF the lovely Mexican girlf
As she stood with her fingers over her lips
she glanced quickly over her shoulder to
make sure that her movements were not OBJ
served by other than tue young American.
Assuring herself that she had not been sus-
pected and watched, she glided up as close to
the window as she we'll could and whispered
in a musical voice;
Look, senior. | place this down here for
YOU Get and read 1t as soon us | am gone"
And a. she uttered these words she stopped
and placed note under a rosebush. Then
plucking several blossoms from the bush to
avert suspicion If she should be seen in that
quarter, she turned quickly and left him
without vouchsaflng him another glance from
her dark orhs
Leo's curiosity was deeply stirred. Here
was promise of romance and adventure be-
You'd the specter of doubt.
ilo gazed after the girl until she was lost
from view He was fully satisfied that the
girl was n lady of considerable refinement,
but in some trouble, from which, no doubt,
she hoped he might he Instrumental IN effect
ing her release.
When they had ridden into the plaza that
evening Leo Gordon had noticed at the
blinds of the easement several feminine forms
and faces. But SO carefully had they con.
cealed themselves that the American had
caught but a transient glimpse of them.
I'm just in / he right mood for an adven-
turc,' he uttered to himself IN secure
that note beneath tie rose if tho old duenna
herself rules the flower garden
lie stepped softly TO the door, which stood
ajar and passed oat, Ho looked about him
circumspectly. Not soul was in sight.
The night was lovely, and everything seemed
to favor his plans.
With an elastic spring, Leo's strong, well
trained limbs carried him over tho fence
which shut out tho garden from their quar-
tcrs Oace over tho fence Leo sauntercd
nonchalantly toward tho bush where the
noto of mystery lay hidden.
Feiguinc TO admire tho roses, he stopped,
and, with dexterous grab, sooa possessed
himself OF tho mysterious epistle. lie was
walking leisurcly back TO his room with tho
dc icatcly scented note tlrust in his breast,
when bis disuiIlcd steps wcro vastly accel-
Grated by huge Mexican bloodhound sud-
denly Undertaking. among the bushes { ito
other end of the garden, and plunsins head
long after him.
Leo felt that perhaps the eyes of the Mexi-
can beauty might DO following him and
would have fam preserved his dignity dur
ins the retreat But he found it cxpedient
to change his will after ono sweeping glance
into the capaciot;s red mouth of tho canine
mons,er that had been SO quick to resent an
intrusion on his masters private grounds.
Leo, { T. oace, babe dignity hasty farewell
and vaulted the fence in the very face Of his
savage Zoe. lie just barely rnadc his escape,
and that was all. lie congratulated himself,
as he hastily entered the wing of the ha-
ciendl, that the Mexican dress he wore had
no saperiaity of coat tails to have suffered
an inglorOus intuition in length.
Safe within the quarters which had been
reluctantly assigned TO Kim and his coInpan-
ions, Leo broke The seal OF the dainty ht.le
note, and perused with eager eyes the follow
ing finely written lines:
SENIORS A,irRIcASos-This Is penned you by gu
unfortanGtc -.-.ol, y.ho, believing il your noble
uess of soul. lnp!orcs your help to save her fr~l
a cruel fate
Ny father, the ranchero, who reluctantly per-
mits you 20 pass the night here, intends to force
me To we'd, this nisnt, Gn olicer in the army Of
MaxiFailian, a nan whom l most vehe:nently de-
test; but he holds some Great power over my
father. and am to be the victim 10 annul t5at
power
The man love is Fl Captain Eznado, one Of
the oraeest in the army Of our chief Juarez |
desire TO flee 10 the protection of my lover and
implore your aid that | may do SO
The ceremony is to he held at 10 O'Clock to-
night. when that detested man. Col Henrique
Fernandez, will be here to claim me
He dare not venture into the lines of Juarez ex-
cept under cover ofdeep night. The little chapel,
which you may easily see from the wing which
you occupy, Is the place where the marriage rites
are TO BE- performed
In writing this. good brave Seniors Amertcanos
| apreil To wong gpoducSs Of heart To save ma