The evening world., 1894-05-05

Lower in the madre spread the pure.
deep purple OF Southern twilight, while
from the foothills came the soft evening
breeze. born after. the heat OF day. Even
sounds fell on the ear so gently you
thought that before reaching you they
must have loitered to battle in the
acequia and. caught some Of its muir
on the plaza I passed two groups of
comrades, one seeking solace In brandy,
the other. fortune in roulette-pleasant
lions, while money lasted. and would
bear light watching.
1 walked on to the Jardin de Orc. a
small public park, where serenaders are
themselves on benches or the grass.
Only those who have suffered the heat
and glare of a campaign In the desert
can form any idea or the physical lux
ury OF green trees and OF water. was
seated listening to the soft Indian Span
ish as fell about me In slow chatter.
From afar It mingled with the murmur
What a contrast this scene to the hot
camp had just left, where were heard
only the whirr OF the rattlesnake or the
dove-mournful sounds which seem to
add to the vibrant heat. Above the
mountains lay n zone of troubled white.
from which the moon had now risen into
the fun, upper blue, causing the leaves
overhead to cast shadows In arabesque
on the grass at my feet, where. as the
night breeze stirred the foliage, IT wove
marvellous figures in %trefoil and tracery
for fancy to play with as with those
made by flames In n CRATE. Now 1t was
the lines of n gothic window. seen In an
old cathedral and almost forgotten. and
delicate dra wn work recalled from my
lady's chamber.
Leighton was there. a mantilla beside
him. | could only half see the revealed
oval OF the face. but the figure was
slight and pretty. for I caught Its grace
full outline later when they passed me.
Next evening, at a bale. Leighton pre-,
scented me to Panchita. Together they
were dancing-he and this pretty animal
with eyes for him alone. In the desert
SO rapid is loves kindllng. 80 quick, and
full It's flames. no charred or half
burned brands are here left on loves
altar. All Is consumed. and what sur.
wives must spring, phoenix-like. from
hell or else descend from heaven.
After the dansa ended. Leighton was
standing In shirt sleeves near Panchita
with the collar of his Jersey open a
the throat-a trick OF, his that mad,
the navy. AS he leaned over her, Pan,
chita's eye caught sight OF the .locke'
chain. and he removed the locket
opened it, and handed It to herr thu
time not indiferently, but with all TIT
pride of priced conquest.
was watching Panchita closely as sh,
Gazcd fascinated by the portrait, n
saw her tremble. only as ! read ne
lt'' lll'l ny ~" . ~ -"'
tell how well 1t expressed all that hope
less sense of loss which comes wifi
the abandonment OF things loved or de
sired. For an instant her eyes showed
the age n child sometimes feels for al
inanimate object, when that object ha,
hurt II. And | thought she would breal
the locket: then the woman conquered
and she smiled as she returned 1t.
ELLA Cs muy hermosa, senor!'
From that moment her abandonmen
towards Leighton was complete; hei
gayety and grace became, exquisite
while a look from him would lead her.
I exclaimed to myself, as Panchita lef'
him and skipped u get n handful of cas-
carones and hen returned. crushing TIT
pretty tinsel spang.es in n shower ovei
his brown head and throat. She hittet
about him with the grace OF a bird, anc
her eyes never left him. She was bccom'
Ing intoxicated with her own movements
her cheeks were flushed with briRh'
fever-spots, and her eyes dhone lik
stars. ON and on they danced. seeing
only each other. and she looked as II
she could dance forever.
At length Leighton proposed they go
and she obeyed his wish as a hypnot!zet
or impe!led t. Do It; and. Ignoring hel
d%ue.nna, they left together .
The next week / ruled Leighton'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 beer
stabbed In the park. l found his bod!
there. and my comrades were about t
string w Morales. Panchita's local ad