The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-09-08

"a Eee%S
20 NC.OvtkrOn:
4 ! !; i
" Nh N polk er w h
" the POSTPAID
N9( err and drink
~~ Ing warm
beer. The windows had all been
thrown open to admit the night air,
| which, from radiation, becomes
quickly freshened in dry climates.
| when skies are clear and the sun has
set, and bathes the thick-walled.
adobe buildings, tempering them and
| making them habitable, and, if closed
! in the early morning. seem clolsters
OF coolncss--welcome refuge, after
| drill duty done in the glare and
J pitiless he at of day. No other mater
| ial known to architecture SO we'll re-
| sists the penetrating artlor of untem-
! pered rays shed in southern summer
! by a clcudless sun; for adobe is of
mother earth, the grand conservator
of heat and cold, and. like her, makes
! stubborn resistance to changing tenn
| pera ture.
The walls of the building now
| seemed hot and exhaled through the
room the expiring heat of day: Stand
| ing near them. hot air was breathed
on tho face like the slow, warm
breath Of a great animal sinking into
| silent sleep. The sun had set, and
the dimness of twilight was creeping
from the valley over the foothills
and rising in shadowy cones of noun
tain purple up tho pine-clad slopes be-
framed the base of frozen bastions,
whose faded whiteness, seen in fail
ing light, was that of SHOWS a sunset
had left cold. The curtains and
tanks of natures grand redoubt were
no longer visible. for the fugitive
nfter-giow had faded into gray, and
the sharp tracery of the divide was
| lost for want OF light.
Through the open window we could
see the sentry-lamps, just lighted. Dor
dering the rectanRle of the bare
parade-steady, sultry, and yellow,
like the street-lamps of foreign
town. Around each, as far as the illu-
minetion extended, lay a disk of yell
low where the white parade had taken
up the tone of light that fell upon 1T.
Certainly in each disk lay a circular
shadow, cast by the base OF the lamp
On the side OF the general bar-room a
light near the door OF the traders
store illuminated the compound as far
as the troop corral, where stable
guard paced the gravel In his rounds
past the heavy gates. challenging and
admitting mounted parties returning
from duty or from pass
1t was shortly after dinner, and. be
ing yet warm, the game had not grown
hilarious. Davis, out post-surgeon
had not joined in the play. Thai
D.. afternoon he had been shooting 100
| quail on the mesquite fat up the ella
| he was late at mess, SO had missed the
arrival of the weeks mail, this being
Friday: and, still in shooting jacket
was seated at the reading-table, look
ing over news contained in latest New
. York papers. now ten days OLD, ant
/. opening his letters.
8 81 thought 1 heard firing towar'
Mackay'' David had walked across
the room and was standing near al
D open window. He spoke quietly t.
the traders clerk, still giving tn
alert attention of one uncertain tina
he has heard sound.
l Muckay was an adobe village ad
= | Joining the garrison, where soldier
became intoxicated and were the
robbed, for the territorial laws wer
getting severe and it was not wise t
|, | rob men sober.
Several shots fred in quick succe.
sion confirmed the doctors opinion
there was a pause in the poker game
a shutting back of chairs, and som
.. one said: "Remember, Jones. it wa
g your ante as joined the surgeo
t. at the window.
i. The shooting had ceased, and in tn
village we could now hear the barlxin
: of dogs, the hurrying of feet, and tn
:. sound of an unshod horse gallopin
over soft earth on the fat leading y
4. to the post A moment later til
horse was halted under the sentry
- challenge at the corral, and a cowbo.
clad as on rodeo, came into the ger
eral bar and asked for the post-su
geon, saying..as Davis entered:f2..Do
they've had q scrap at the Harmon:
and need you and undertakes"
} | spoke with the short. quick breath I
- one who has hastened.
to ssThe undertaking can wait" sa
Of Davis: but I'LL go down at one
" Ride around to the hospital and tie
- the steward to bring my operatiz
case and bandages to the Harmon
lru walk; you can overtalSe me-"
accompanied Davis to the vi1lag
:. distant a few hundred yards and col
prisinE a double row of square adol
Gats along the Gale Audea, an u