Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-29
A REM1NISCENCE.

into dreamy poetic reverie. The dsy
had been busy one, and now, as the
glimmsring stars faded before the moons
increasing light, WAS glad to stretch
myself under the ample shadow of the
corridor, bssking IN the soft rays and
with the incense of fragrant cigal
breaihe il the plscid peace OF quie,
night. The scene around was oriental
Amid the ruins of an earlier civilization
that told OF Moorish luxury was the sole
representative Of the modern, aggressive,
restless spirit that stops before no OBJ
stacle, nor stays its march from any rev.
erence for antiquity.
1 had been sent out with s party CT
civil engineers to survey route for the
railway that was to psss through Mex
leo. The section thst had been allotted
IS my division had never been disturbed
by modern innovation, and its inhabis
ants we're primitive and kind.
| Our headquarters were st r, Q
sleepy old vlllsge, thst in years gone
by had gained Importance from ricn
mine, now exhausted. The evidences OF
its former wealth were yet visible Ia
handsome buildings, strangely contrast
Ing with the abisct poverty that manifest
ed itself around. My headquarters were
in massive stone building, once C
monastery, but now q hostelry.
When the Liberals attained the sscen-
dancy over the Church party the property
Of the latter was confscsted to the state,
and for s mere sorg, buildings whose
nassiveness and fine csrviIg told OF the
wealth that once lowed into the Golfers
Of the church, were purchased and con-
verted to base uses OF were fast becoming
ruins.
Like all Mexican buildings, the house
| formed hollow square, in the center was
Z well, shaded by overhsnging trees, and
along the corridors were pots ofhoweri1g
plants, where In the d.y tie sir was vocsl
with the song of csged birds. at night
the large gates closed, the place was like
fortress, and at these portals old man
Juan, the faithful "por!ero," wrapped in
his serepe lsid himself to sleep, st the
I came time guarding the entrance.
The sound of lis ssndsled feet were
now no longer heard, and the grating Of
the huge key told that lis days work Wss
done.
My room had been some former monk
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.
| SJme officers on the way to the capital
had stopped for the night and were
hilarious; not bois;erously 50, but the
clink of glasses, a snatch of song, once
in while low laugh, told Of revelry.
For some reason to ne this WAS distasre-
full, and had passed cut into the open
space and was negligen;ly reclining on
the debris OF . wall that had once separ-
ated the monks garden from the court.
The hoot Of an owl at my back startled
me, out l Overcsme any superstiiious
dread by remembering this wss AIdrea's
pei, Snd that the bird CT ill-omen was one
Of the belongings OF the place.
Andrea yes, twas Ct her was think
ing; child Of this voluptu0us Isud 4
creature fer summer skies, part OF the
beEuty and the song that lent an indie
scr:bable charm to the lsnguorous life
which surrounded me.
Did 1 love her? o., nc! That
could Lot be, and yet when
the soft brown eyes looked
up, and The wooing accents OF her native
tongue fell on my esr, or is L lsziIy
watched her in the embrssure CT the
grated window, the little brown hands
toying with the thread she was weaving
into fairy web, there csme over me 8
q 2od-tide CT feeling that made me, James
Mcdonald, @ man whose hair WAS streaked
wl:h gray, and whoae brain WAS filed with
calculations, start from my seat and rest
less!y pace the court yard.
Occasionally there csme hostlug from
. neighnoring house notes # music, and
could hear st intervals the clspping CT
hands that announced the beginning OF
dance. Yes, the sleepy town WAS gay TO-
night. The journeYlrg soldiers and clos
Americancs" had brought an element OF
life, and the merry makers we're improv-
ing the feeting hours.
For once my rank annoyed me. could
not be with these and keep my caste, yet,
Andres was there, and so, too, WAS Char
lie Shaw, my handsome chain carrier,
for he holly told NE that day
he should be there, and now,
yes, at this very moment, he
might be drinking in her maddeniDg
beauty as together they whirled in the
giddy Waltz. What mattered it tome; he
could moi talk with herr knew the Wig
liant duenus would see to thst. Eyes
could lock into eyes, and hand clasp
hand az they glided Though tbs valves
Of the dance.
ChSrlie Shaw YVES of Saxon type, clear
blue eyes snd fair htir thSt lay in soft
rings on his broad white forehead, with
manly massive frsme, sGd hands and feet
tbs. were almost Womanly. He was the
life OF the camp, snd the alteration Of
women, gay, careless and fearless; alike
unmin0tul of danger and fatigue, who
could help sdmiring the boy?
From the outset re had been c. mpsD-
ioDs, or perhaps more properly, l hsd
been Mentor sDd ne docile Telemschu5.
We had shared the same tent, and esch
il his turn hsd been Nurse in time OF
sickness.
Sharp words had to-day passed be-
tween US. He had resented whst he said
was 81 unwarranted Interference On my
part, and 1 had retorted more bitterly
no doubt than 1 should have
done. Why did the mad boy
taunt me with 8 memory? could have
borne anything more patiently.
"Have you forgotten Alice Stuart?"
he said mockingly.
"My love-" said, "was at least honest
love-" He turned away as il to check g
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
mn ctoer end gDop r,rlor - tho name