Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13

IN the wide world for square isht with the
Mexicana. He used to say they we're no better
than the fattlesnakes and ought to be all
stsmped out Of existence. After the City OF
Mexico had been captured and Gen. Scott had
marched up its broad streets Jim was that dis
gustcd over there being no more fighting he
couldn't talk sensibly. end when peace was de-
cared Jim actually had commissions After
that at every opportunity he used TO 60 around
picking nights with stray Mexicans, and it's the
greatest wonder in the world that Jim didn't
Ind q knife stuck in him half dozen times.
Our battery stayed at Mexico City for over .
month. and before half that time had passed
Jim commenced to change his tune about the
nexicans. He used to say they weren't bad
but noble characters; that's the way Jim de-
scribed them about this time. Everybody was
wondering what had come over Jim and il all
came out ut last; Jim was in love with Mexi-
can girl
MEXICAN BEAUTY
"Heaven knows where Jim ever got &C.
quainted with her, but sha was the prettiest
fairy-lihs little girl ever saw Dark eyes and
the longest lsshes, and her laughter laugh
was the sweetest, most silvery tinkle Won can
Imagine. Something like chimes little ways
on on clear. frosty morning. She was the
most graceful little person, too Why, when
she walked the grass and the trees seemed to
nod their heads in approval; at least that's
what Jim used to say, and he ought to know;
ne watched her enough. You probably wonder
now knew so much about Jims girl. Well.
You see the colonel was trying to establish
pleasant relations with the citizens ana he en-
couraged their coming around the camp in the
evenings. Well, do you know what Jim and
that girl were doing2 They wero using me,
veteran cannon that had been through q war,
as common mail box. That little girl would
come tripping by me with hor brother, who
was one OF the sternest. meanost, most gaily
dressed men you ever saw, and, without stop
ping and with the demurest face, would slip
little note in my mouth. In Q few minutes Jim
would DO around aud snatch that note,
with never . thank you to me, and
spend the rest Of the night trying
TO read 1t with the aid OF
spanish dictionary. Later on she used to steal
would walk around the big square in which we
were camped and often come and SIT down by
me Tor little time. She lived alone with her
brother whowas very hard on her. and she used to
try to tell Jim all about it in the cutest half Eu-
giish and half Spanish; and Jim when he did
understand, which would be after about half an
hour, would get mad and swear until he would
scare the poor little thing almost as bad as her
brother did. ! tell you that pair was circus.
o see them trying to teach each other their
ainerent languages. Why, / actually used to
forget all about fighting, and would listen until
Ia have to chuckle right out. and then they
would jump up % if they were shot thinking
somebody was coming.
STRANGE EXPERIENCE FOR A cAySoS.
zone evening saw Anita Chat was the little
ones name) coming toward me with her head
down. which was . very strange thing for the
gay Anita. As soon as she reached me her
arms went around me and she CONNIE need to
cry as II her heart would break 1 toll YOU l
ieit mighty funny with that girl, her wavy
long hair hanging around her face. leaning on
me ana crying her eyes out. Pretty soon she
nad something Better to lean against, for in a
few minutes abe was in Jim's arms pouring out
ner poor little story. What do you think?
That brother OF hers had found out about her
loving Jim and that evening he had charged
her with 1t and, could hardly believe it, had
struck her; had struck that little girl, more
like flower than anything else, and had told
ne to 60 to her Americana aud stay there.
wen, you should have seen Jim, He was lust
raving, and that little girl hanging around his
neck and begging him not to hurt that brute
OF brother. In minute, though, everything
was still az death, for standing within two
feet OF them was the colonel looking
as stern and mad as q colonel can when
he tries Well. 1 shivered ali over
ITS not tho common practice to put cannon in
tne guard house. put did not think of that,
and Just about wished the ground would open
and swallow me up. Jim did not seem very
much scared, though, and he just up aud told
the whole story In straightforward way: How
much he loved Anita and how no wanted to
make her his wife and how she had agreed to
this. By this time cutie little crowd of the
boys had gathered and their faces were a sight
when Jim told about that rascally brother and
how he had struck his little girl and showed
them the red mark on her pretty tear stained
face. Well, the colonel Just took Anita's hand
IN gentle sort OF way and asked her if she
wanted to marry Jim and she said, low like,
that she did, and then the colonel gave an order
TO one OF the men, and when the man under
stood him he went off like shot and pretty
soon came racing back with the chaplain,
putning and blowing. at his heels; and blamed
II the chaplain didn't stand just where you are
sitting and marry those youngsters on the spot
and the colonel gave the bride away, and Jim
looked sheeplsh but proud, and Anita blushed
and the boys-well the boys just went wild:
tney cheered till they were hoarso and wanted
to rre me Of, only the colonel wouldn't let
them, and. in short, everybody was happy.
Only Anita said 1t would all have to be done
over again before the priest and Jim said he
didn't care; he would Just as soon spend the
rest OF his lie getting married to Anita The
and he and Anita went north, but that wasn't
the last OF their story.
BOUND TO THE GUN.
"About week after the excitement one
night about midnight. just as was falling into
my 1oSoho Sioop louuu bOmcD0Qy having his
arms and legs tied around me. Gosh. but I
vas mad at first They must take me for
whipping post or pillory, thought, and was
Just getting ready to make things mighty
lively when found out who it was that was
clasping me so lovingly. 1t was that brute of
a brother. He had been up threatening the
colonel about what he called tho abduction of
his sister. The colonel had treated him mighty
chilly and outside he had run into some six of
the boys, who had quietly gagged him, tied
him around me and wero whipping him with
couple of blacksnake whips. How / braced
up under him and how he squirmod and tried
to beg OIL and pray for mercy. He was SO
close to me could feel his heart shrink up
from fear. He was coward and you NAV set
1t down as rule that any man who will strike
u woman is id coward in his heart"
couldn't make out why the cannon stoned
here until heard another voice: "Say, old man.
you don 'twant to sleep out here all night. Come
in; the corporars through his story" 1t was
Lieut. F., and blamed if his big black
mustache and internal Mexican ways hadn't
scared that cannon into silence; but I'm going
to tackle it again some night. / wonder if il
wasn't in the civil war.