Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-15

terized the
most intrepid
" wearers Of the
- gray. 1t was
not discom-
future at the termination of the civil
struggle, with its 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 a 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 a certain adventure,
rOse-hued deeply with romance, that
was far from an ordinary one, in
which Leo played a prominent part.
With several comrades my friend
had gone one night to the luxurious
hacienda of a very wealthy Mexican
rancherO, and begged the savage
browed master to let them pass the
night there.
Their request was at first refused,
but after much persuasion it was some
what sullenly granted.
The hacienda had a 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 mp and siIvering the
brow of a warm, delicious night with
wealth of pellucid splendor. CHANGING
out of one of the long, narrow windows
Of the wing, Leo beheld the ample
hower-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 its hOwer-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 a young Mexican girl cautiously
approaching window from which he
leaned.
As she drew near the window the
young soldier caught sight of her. She
raised one hand in warning, and
placed the forefnger over her crimson
lips to enjoin his silence.
"This is mystery persOnifed, 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
cedure.
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! 1 place this down
here for you. Get out and read it as
soon as am gone"
AS she spoke she stopped and placed
g note under a rose-bush. Then,
plucking several blossoms from the
bush, TO avert suspicion If she was
seen In that quarter, she turned and
aolG uA44 W1UuOuG EOuCu6d1lB ttnOb4o1
glance In his direction.
Leo's curiosity was deeply stirred.
Here was promise of romance and ad-
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, al
the blinds of the easement, several
feminine forms and faces. But they
had so concealed themselves that Lee
and his companions had caught but &
transient glimpse Of them.
"I'm ever ready to take part in al
adventure" he uttered to himself
"and I'll secure that note beneath thu
rose if the old duenna herself rules thu
garden"
He walked to the door, opened it
and passed out. He looked about him
No one was in sight. With an elasti
spring his strong, wel-trained limb
carried him over the fence which shu
In the garden from their quarters
Once over the fence, Leo sauntereC
rather careIessly toward the busl
where the note lay hidden for him.
Feigning to admire the rosess h
stopped, and with quick grasp pos
sessed himself Of the mysterious note