Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-29
4 kEMlNISCENCE.

increasing light, was glad to stretch
myself under the ample shadow OF the
corridor, bssklng in the soft rays snd
with the incense Of fragrant cigar
bfeslhe in the plscid peace OF quiet
night. The scene around wss oriental.
Amid the ruins of 81 earlier civilization
that told of Moorish luxury l was the cole
| representative Of the modern, aggressive,
restless spirit that stops before no OBJ
stec!e, nor stays its march from any rev.
erence for sntiqulty.
[ had been sent cut with 8 party CT
civil engineers 20 survey g route for the
railway that was to psss through Mex
leo. The section thst had been allotted
as my division h1d never been disturbed
by modern innovation, and its inhabi.-
ants we're primitive and kind.
Our headquarters were at F-,a
/ sleepy old village, thst in years gone
Dy had gained importance from rica
mine, now exhausted. The evidences ct
It's former wealth were yet visible Ia
handsome buildings, strangely contrast
Ing With the abjsct poverty that manifest
ed Itself around. My headquarters were
in 4 massive stone building, once
monastery, but now hosttlry.
When the Liberals attained the ssCen-
danCY over the Church party the property
CT the latter YVES confscated to the state,
and tor mere sopg, buildings whose
Tlassiveness and fine csrglEg told CT the
wealth that once lowed into the Golfers
Of the church, were purchased and con-
ver.ed to base uses Or were fast becoming
ruins.
Like ell Mexican buildings, the house
formed hollow square, in the center was
Z we'll, shaded by ove:hbnglng trees, and
along the corridors were pots Of Towering
plants, where in the d:y sir was vocal
with the song Of Csged birds. At night
the lsrge gates closed, tina place was like
fortress, and st these portals old MAJ
JuaD, the faithful "por!erO," wrapped in
his serepe isid himself TO sleep, ST the
I same time guarding the entrance.
The sound OF lis ssndsled feet were
now no lorger heard, and the grating Of
the huge key told that lis days work WIS
done.
My room had beer some former monks
cell, the only opening being : email
grated window high in one corner, from
which there came tonight sounds that
had little Of the cloister in their echo.
SINE officers On the way to the capital
Rad stopped for the night ard were
hilarious; not boisterously 50, bu: the
clink of gl6saes, q snatch of 8 song, once
in while low laugh, told Of revelry.
For some reason to rae this was distssCe-
ful, and l dad passed CUT into the cpeD
space and Was neglgsn'ly reclining on
the debris Of = wall that had ouce sepRr-
ated the monks garden from the court
The moot Of 81 owl 1t my back startled
mt Il
dread by rem emaeI;ug this wxs ALdrea's
pei, &nd that the bid CT ill-ouen Was ore
Of the belongings OF me place.
Andres yer, 'twss 4 heg l YVES think
ing; child Of this vo!uptuous lscd Z
creature tCT GUNNER skies, part OF the
beauty end the song that lent an indie
scr:bAole charm to the lsrguorous life
which surrounded me.
Did 1 love heI? o., nc! That
could lot be, ard yet whcn
the soft brown eyes looked
up, and me wooing accents OF her native
tongue fell on my ear, or IS l lsztly
watched her in the embrssure CT the
grated %ind0w, the little brown hands
toying wita the thread she was weaving
into fairy web, there csme over me
scod-tide CT feeling that made me, James
Mcdonald, man whose lair Wss streaked
WIN gray, and whoae brAln WAS filled with
calculations, start from my seat and rest
lessly psCe the court yard.
O2CaeionGllY there came footing from
. neigh2orlng house notes # music, and
| could near ST inleGvals the clsppiug Of
hands that announced the beginning OF
dane Yes, the sleepy town WAS gay TO-
Il ght. The journeyiEg soldiers and clos
AmericanCs" had brought 81 element OF
life, aud the merry makers we're impTcv-
Jag the seeting hours.
For once my rank annoyed me. I could |
not be with these and keep my caste, yet,
Andrea was there, and so, too, YVES Char
lie Shaw, my handsome chsin carrier, |
for he holly told ne that day
he should be there, and row,
yes, at this very moment, he |
might be drinking in her maddenlGg |
beauty as together they whirled in the |
giddy Walfz. What mattered it tome; he |
could nct talk with herr knew the Wig |
liant duenna would see to th2t. Eyes |
could lock into eyes, and hand c!ssp |
hand az they glided Though the valves |
Of the dance.
ChSrlie Shaw wss of Ssxon type, clear
blue eyes and fAir nsir thSt lay in soft |
rings on his broad White forehead, Will |
manly massive fr&me, scc hands sbd feet |
thai were elmCst Wom&niY. He was the
lie CT the camp, snd the alteration Of
women, gay, careless and fearless; alike
ulmindful Of danger and fatigue, who
could help gdmirin9 the boy?
From The outset we had been c. mpsn-
lens, or perhaps more properly, hsd
been Mentor sud ne docile TelemsChU5.
We had shared the same tent, and eSch
IL his turn hsd been Nurse in time OF
sickness.
Sharp words mad today passed be-
tween US. He had resented waat he said
was az unWarranted Interference On my
part, ard l had retortsd more bitterly
no doubt than l should have
done. Why did the mad boy |
taunt me with memory could have
borne anything more patiently.
"Have you forgotten Alice Stuart?"
he said mockinglY.
"My love-" said, "was at Ieast honest
love-" He turned away as il to check
rising storm, yet showing. himself scorn
fully defiant.
A little scene the night before had given
rise to this unseemly quarrel. had been
sitting in the shadow enjoying my even
pg cigar, and "Don Carlos" the name
the Mexican gsve him seems so sppTo-
printe, was walking back and forth in the
occasionally leaning in grace
full attitudes sgsinst stone column,