The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-08
AN ABALONEsS SECRET.
A Romance of California in Two
Episodes.
m AUGusT. 1890.

N AUGUST, 1890.
Under the afternoon sun The restless
waters Of San Francisco bay flung dia-
monds and opals at such human eyes as
chanced 10 look on them
Two young people who stroIled down.
to the Preside beach, however, had no
glanees to spare for anything 50 com
monplace as diamonds and opaIs. For
Lieutenant Anderson WAS gazing into
the depths Of the great, soft black eyes
of Miss Pachita de Sola, and Miss Pa
chita de Sola was looking up into the
ardent blue ones Of Lieutenant Ander-
son. She seemed to like it.
The tail 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 irresist-
ible Miss Pachita de Sola found II so,
rs had half a dozen other girls within as
many months. It was wholly serious
business with the lieutenant this time,
though.
He had been in California but few
weeks, and this daughter of an ancient
though decayed Spanish family, as
American in education and thought as
himself, was ravighing in her novelty.
Altogether feminine Pachita: at one
moment chiIdlike and clinging; the next
worldly. witty and mocking; then, with
the lids hiding those lovely, big eyes Of
hers, her whole aspect suggested -esps
ciaily to q lieutenant with ample means
to possibilities Of tenderness nm
speakabIe.
No wonder that when Miss Pachita
permitted Lieutenant Anderson to gaze
down into her eyes and returned an an
swering look, giving a little sigh, too,
his head went after his heart. which had
been lost for an eternity-tilat is TO say,
for two terrific, gleepless weeks.
But the young lady was discreet, and,
gently clasping his fingers, removed them
from her waist, saying demurely:
Don't be foolish, John. Somebody
may be looking"
This. in a city Of 300. 900 inhabitants
and in full sight Of the ever rigiIant
garrison, struck John as being not i'm
probable.
Instant in action, as became soldier,
Lieutenant Anderson executed a flank
movement on a sand bank and seated
Miss de Sola in its lee, on q large. water
whitened, sun dried log Of driftwood.
Then tsis consummate racfIcian repeat
ed the original attack with entire sue
cess
sPachita, oh, my darling breathed
the ecstatic lieutenant, straining her to
his side and Immediately showing a dis
position to put knee upon the beach
ssWell. Johng and the smile of love
and gratiied vanity that srnote his eyes
blinded them.
Name the day, oh, Pachita; Icannot
live till you dor
Pacllita purssd her full, red lips, puck
cred the midnight eyebrows, and con-
sidered profoundly. digging deep into
the sand with his cane the while.
"The day, my own love- the day.
gasped John
Dear me- Miss de Sola exclaimed
suddenly, what beautiful shelllr
Damn the sheIiF' cried Lieutenant
Anderson, reaching for what she had
unearthed, 10 cast it wrathfully ont
among the unnoticed diamonds and
opals.
But he was restrained in wonder,
IN AUGUST, 1926.
The same sun was enriching the dane
ing waters Of the same bay with dia-
monds and opals- a young compile who
strolled down to the Preside beach adj
nired the view very much, and Senorita
Pachita de Sola had no occasion TO re-
mind the lieutenant by her side that
somebody might be looking. Lieutenant
Juan de Echeandia would have liked
greatly 70 coil his arm about that slim
waist. but did not dare, though there
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, ana a
canin sr two down at the emharcadero,
entirely out Of sight. Pachita de Sola
was niece Of Co1nmandante Don Luis
| 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 under
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 was
believed that her young affections were
bestowed upon Ensign Hburcio Mendez
at Monterey, though this was not known
| to certainty at the Presidio
Lieutenant Juan de Echeaudia and
/ Senorita Pachita de Sola walked leisure
" TO the little wharf where that won
! derful vessel, constructed but recently
1 by wandering British sailor, lay pre-
| pairing for 3 voyage 10 Sausalito. four
leagues distant. 1t was marvellous
boat, with oars and sail, and capabie
of accommodating no less than six per
sons. Don Luis Antonio Argnello hin-
self had commanded her in person ON
| the dozen passages which she had made
| to the opposite shore for timber. Pre-
vious to the creation Of this extraordi-
nary ship, which anuihilated distance
and obllterated time, timber was hard to
get from Corte dc MADEIRA. Soldiers
| were sent around BY way Of S&n Jose,
armed with axes. who crossed the Straits
| Of Carquinex On RATS. and in the circuit
4.