The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-11-21
an ABALONES SECRET.
IN AUGUST. 1890,

IN AUGUST, 1871.
Under the afternoon sun the restless
waters Of San Francisco bay flung dia-
monds and opals at such human eyes as
CHANGED to look on them.
Two young people who strolled down
to the Preside beach, however, had no
glances to spare for anything so CON-
nonplace as diamonds and opals. For
;-ieutenant Anderson was gazing into
ihe depths Of the great, soft black eyes
of Miss Pachita de Sofa, and Miss Pa
chdta de Sofa was looking up into the
ardent blue ones of Lieutenant Ander-
SON. She seemed to like 1t.
The tall young soldier with the fair
hair, broad shoulders and square, manly
Saxon face, had not been long released
from the hard work and harder restraint
Of West Point, and in his new freedom
Of army life went at things with an
energy of desire that was quite irres1st-
IDLE. Miss Pachita de Sofa found it 50,
as had half dozen other girls within as
many months. 1t was a wholly serious
business with the lieutenant this time,
thOugh.
weeks, and this daughter Of an ancient
though decayed Spanish family, as
American in education and thought as
himself, was ravishing in her novelty.
Altogether feminine Pachita; at one
moment childlike and clnging; the next
worldly. witty and mocking; then, with
tine lids hiding those lovely, big eyes of
hers. her whole aspect suggested espe-
chilly to lieutenant with ample means
to lnarry-possibihties Of tenderness un-
sIA9akable.
No wonder that when Miss Pachita
permitted Lieutenant Anderson to gaze
down into her eyes and returned an an
swering look, giving little sigh, too,
lis head went after his heart, which had
!,een lost for an eternity-that is to say,
TOR two terrific, sleepless weeks.
But the young lady was discreet, and.
-,ently clasping his fingers, removed them
from her waist, saying demurely:
Don't be foolish. John. Somebody
may be looking"
This, in q city of 100000 inhabitants
and in full sight Of the ever vigilant
garrison, struck John as being not i'm
probable.
Instant in action, as became soldier,
Lieutenant Anderson executed q flank
movement on sand bank and seated
Miss de Sofa in its lee, on a large, water
whitened, sun dried log Of driftwood.
Then this consummate tactician repeat
I'D the original attack with entire sue
cess
"Pachita, oh, my darling" bresthed
the ecstatic lieutenant, straining her tc
his side and Immediately showing dis
position 70 put knee upon the beach.
"Well, john and the smile Of love
and gratified vanity that smote his eyes
blinded them.
"Name the day, Oh. Pachita: 1 cannot
live till You do
Pachita puCscd her full, red lips, puck
cred the midnight eyebrows, and con
sidered profoundly, digging deep inte
the sand with his cane the while.
"The day, NY own love-the day,
gasped john.
''Dear me-" Miss de Sofa exclaimed
suddenly, what beautiful she'll"
''Damn the she'll" cried Lieutenan
Anderson, reaching for what she na(
unearthed, TO cast II wrathfully on
among the unnoticel diamonds ant
opals.
But he was restrained in wonder.
~ AUGUST, 1925.
The same sun was euriching the dane
ing waters OF the same bay with dia
monds and opals. a young couple wht
strolled down TO the Preside beach ad
Inired the view very much, and Senorits
Pachita de Sofa had no occasion to re
mind the lieutenant by her side tina
somebody might be looking. Lieutenan
Juan de Echeandia would have liked
greatly to coil his arm about that slim
waist, but did not dare, though Their,
was only small and sleepy garrison
and no city at all behind them-only
the padres and Indians at the mission
Dolores, far over the sand hills, and
sabin or two down at the embarcadero
entirely ont of sight. Pachita de Sol
was niece of Commandante Don Lui
Antonio Arguello, and though he, Lieu
tenant Juan de Echeandia, was nephew
OF Don Jose Maria, Of the same name
one. even though an aristOcrat. has unde
all circumstances to show proper re
spect for his commanding officer. Be
sides, the Senorita Pachita had twice re
fused his friendly offered hand. 1t wa
believed that her young affections wer
bestowed upon Ensign Tburcio Mende
st Monterey, though this was not know
Z 70 certainty at the Preside.
Lieutenant Juan de Echeandia an