The Butler weekly times., 1888-12-12
VULA FELASQUEZ.

~
on the balny banks OF the Pearl riv-
er. He had served in the confeder-
acy with all the enthusiasm and con-
fidence that characterized the most
intrepid wearers Of the gray. 1t
was not SO much the discontinue
he felt at the termination of the civ
il struggle, as it was the spirit of adj
venture, which had led Leo to aban-
don his southern home and seek
that land of thrilling romance, Mexi-
co. Leo found Mexico then in a
beligerent state. Immediately On
his landing he joined the army Of
Juarez, who was fighting against
Maximilian.
Many were the brave deeds of Leo
Gordon, which won the respect and
admiration of his comrades and of
the great chief himself But it is
not of his service in that struggle
that we intend to write, but of q
certain adventure, deeply -hued
with romance, in which Leo played
an active part.
With several of his friends, who
had followed him from tho United
States, Leo went one night to the
luxurious hacienda of a very wealthy
ranchero, and asked the savage
browed master to grant them per-
mission to pass the night there.
With few crusty words in sur
~ voice the ranchero refused the re-
quest. But the Americans persuad-
ed, and on their saying at last that
they were determined to stay any
way, he gruffly and sullenly acquies-
ced to their lodging beneath his
roof.
Auc IlCItuud uau u somewhat
rambling, partially furnished wing
that was used by the ranchero's fam
lily, but had long ago been abandon
ed to the bats and spiders. This
wing was assigned to the accommo-
dation of the half dozen adventur-
ous Americans who had insisted ON
passing the night at the hacienda.
Here they would be wholly to them
selves, save the stealthy gnawing
that broke the silence of those unused
rooms, and suggested a multitude of
rats
The moon was up and was filter
tering her silyery beams over the
breast OF the warm, delicious night.
Leo was leaning out of one of the
long, narrow windows OF the wing,
looking with sincere admiration at
the ample and beautiful flower gar
dens of his host. The flowers, in
the moons wealth of pellucid splen-
dor, 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 the Pearl, with it's flower bedeck-
ed walks and balmy hooks.
So lost was he in the memories
which the scene before him evoked,
that at first he did not observe Mex
lean girl approaching the window
from which he leaned.
As she drew nearer, the Young
soldier became aware of her presence.
She was very handsome. Her form,
which was plump, was richly clad.
Her eyes were dark and intelligent.
She looked searchingly at Leo, and,
as if satisfied with her swift scrutiny,
she raised one soft, dimpled hand in
warning, and placed the forefnger
oyer her crimson lips to enjoin his
silence.
This is mystery personifed!' Leo
exclaimed within himself.
But he preserved silence and not
= movement of the graceful girl es-
caped his vigilant eye. He did not
even shift his attitude, fearing he
might arouse his companions who
were resting on the couches of the
long apartment, and he cared not to
disturb them. What could be the
meaning of the strange procedure OF
the lovely Mexican girl?
As she stood with her fingers ov
ar her Enc cho rrIopo,l