Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-28
or else descend from heaven.

after the danza ended Leighton was
standing in shirt sleeves near Panchita,
with the collar of his jersey open at the
throat-a trick of his that made me
suspect he had seen service in the navy.
AS he leaned over her PaEchita $ eye
caught. sight of the locket chain, and he
removed the lockct, opened it and hand
ed it to her, this time not irGi !Icrently,
but with all the pride of priced Goa
quest
| was watching Panchita closely ;.s
she gazed fascinated by the portrait ;.l.d
saw her tremblo Only as read her
face then by what now know can !
tell how well it expressed all that Lnpe
less sense Of loss which GENES with Inc
abandonment of things loved CT dairod
For an instant her eyes showed iie' rag,
Il child's sometimes feels (, ili .n..i-
mate object when that object has hurt
it. And thought she would break the
locket. Then the woman conquered
and she smiled as she returned it.
Ella es muy hermosa, seEor.''
From that moment her abandonment
toward Leighton was complete Her
gayety and grace became exquisite,
while a look from him would lead her
.Oh, you eastern dervish of hearts !"
exclaimed to myself as Panchita left
him and skipped to get /, handful of
cascarones and then returned, crushing
the pretty tinsel spangles in a shower
over his brown head and throat She
fitted about him with the grace of a
bird, and her eyes never left him. She
was becoming intoxicated with her own
movements. her cheeks were flushed
with bright fever spots, and her eyes
shone like stars. On and on they danced,
seeing only each other, and she looked
as if she could dance forever.
At length ighton proposed they go,
and she obeyed his wish as if hypnotized
or impelled to do it, and ignoring her
duenna they left together.
X
The next week | ruled .Leighton's s
official epitaph in the L troop records
thus: Deserted from hunting pass Aug.
Is, 1885,
You see, the case was an awkward
one. The night of the bale he had been
stabbed in the park. ] found his body
there, and my comrades were about to
string up Morales, P;,ncliita's local adj
mirer, for the stabbing when stopped
them.
.'Hold on, boys" | said. "Remem-
Der l promised the lieutenant no com
plications. -
So Leighton became officially a de-
serter, and | kept my word.
Besides, doubt if stringing up would
have been fair to Morales, for when
found Leighton's body the locket was
lying on the ground beside 1t. The
clasp was open, and the portrait blood
stained and mutilated, as if by the point
of a dagger.
think Leighton half knew what he
was doing when he faunteds that por-
trait at F..nchita-he was a careless
devil and loved danger in way to win
any woman's heart. But, you see, it
was his first affair in this land, and he
was mistaken in their temper
flow could l let his record remain SO?
Well, what could ] do? Besides, Leigh
ton was not his right name, as l found
out afterward when reading his home
letters to get his relatives address. His
name was Jack Langhorn, and that
locket the rascal showed me contained
a portrait of his youngest sister. ]
found that out in writing to his family,
whom | told that Langhorn was killed
by the Apaches in the fight at Chira
chuca pass-that occurred two weeks
before his death.
Three years later Jacks sister came
to the States, where | met her in Colo
RADIO the year after left the service and
made the strike at Harqua Hala. She
is Mrs Marlin now, and you met her
at dinner. But remember she knows
only half the story of her portrait and
Jack Langhorn was killed by the Apa.
ches. Let us join the ladies.-C. Over.
ton in San Francisco Argonaut.