The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-10

a;sSxS most intrepid
EAN9T wearers of the
E~@ss SsSSSL< gray. 1t was
not discom-
future at the termination of the civil
struggle, with it's very unexpected re-
suit, so much as the spirit Of adven-
ture, which led Leo to abandon his
plantation on the Pearl River and seek
that land of thrilling romance, Mex
leo, then in belligerent state.
Leo cast his fortune with the army
of -Juarez, then fighting bitterly
against Macmillan, and many were
his brave deeds, which. won for him
the respect of his comrades and the
great chief himself But it is not Of
my friends services in that struggle I
shall write, but of certain adventure
rose-hued deeply with romance, that
was far from an ordinary one, in
which Leo played prominent part.
With several comrades my friend
had gone one night to the luxurious
hacienda of very wealthy Mexican
ranchero, and begged the savage
browed master to let them pass the
night there.
but after much persuasion ut was some
what sullenly granted.
The hacienda had long, partially
furnished wing that was not used by
the ranchero's family; this was as
signed to the accommodation Of the
half-dozen Americans who had asked
TO pass the night in the hacienda, and
where they should remain wholly to
themselves.
The moon was up and S1Ivering the
brow of warm, delicious night with a
wealth of pellucid splendor CHANGING
out of one of the long, marrow windows
of the wing, Leo beheld the ample
fower-gardens of his host The beau
tiful blossoms, with their rich per
fumes waited to him ever and anon by
the bland south winds, carried the
young Southerner back to his home on
the Pearl, with it's fower-decked walks
and balmy hooks. So lost was he in
the memories the lovely scene had
aroused, that he did not at first OBJ
serve young Mexican girl cautiously
approaching the window from which he
leaned.
AS she drew near the window the
young soldier caught sight of her. She
raised one hand in warming, and
placed the foretinger over her crimson
lips to enjoin his silence.
This is mystery pers0nifed," said
Leo to himself.
But he kept silent He did not even
shift his attitude, as he did not wish to
arouse his companions, who were rest
ing on the touches of the large apart
.ment, near by, and he feared any
movement on his part might disturb
them. So he watched carefully every
step of the Mexican girl, and waited to
learn the meaning Of her strange pro-
leedule.
As she stood with her fingers over
her lips, she glanced quickly over her
shoulder to make certain that her
movements were not observed by any
other than the American with whom
her business evidently lay. Assuring
herself that she had not not been
watched or suspected, she glided close
up to the window and whispered In a
hasty but musical voice:
Look, senior! I place this down
here for you. Get out and read it as
soon as I ANA gone"
As she spoke she stopped and placed
a note under a rose-bush Then,
pIuelking several blossoms from the
bush, to. avert suspicion if she was
seen in that quarter, she turned and
left him without vOuchsafing another
glance in his direction.
Leo's curiosity was deeply stirred.
Here was promise Of romance and adj
venture certainly.
He gazed after the girl until she was
lost to view He remarked that the
girl was very pretty, but he was salts
fed she was not of the higher walks of
life. When they had ridden into the
plaza that evening he had noticed, at
the blinds of the easement, several
feminine forms and faces. But they
had so concealed themselves that Leo
and his companions had caught but a
transient glimpse of them.
"Pm ever ready to take part IN an
adventure" he uttered to himself,
"and I'll secure that note beneath the
rose if the old duenna herself rules the
garden"
He walked to the door, opened it,
and passed out. He looked about him.
No one was in sight. With an elastic
spring his strong. welltrained limbs
carried him over the fence which shut
in the garden from their quarters
Once over the fence, Leo sauntered
rather carelessly toward the bush
where the note lay hidden for him.
Feigning to admire the roses, he
stopped, and with quick grasp pos
sessed himself of the mysterious note.