The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-03-02

locket chalH and he removed the
locket, opened il, and handed it to
her; this time not indiferently, but
with all the nriIc ot pIihoG ccciS.ost.
I was Watching Panchita closely as
she gazed fascinated by the portrait,
and ] saw her trembie. Only as read
her face then by what now know, can
tell how well it expressed all that
hopeless sense of loss which comes
with tho abandonment of things loved
or desired. For an instant her eyes
showed the rage child sometimes
feels for an inaDimate object, when
that object has hurt it. And 1 thought
she would break the locket; then the
woman conquered, and she smiled as
she returned it.
From that moment her abandon
ment toward leighton was complete:
her gayety and grace became exquisite,
while look from him would lead her.
ooh, you Eastern dervish of hearts !"
exclaimed to myself. as Panohita left
him and skipped to get handful of
cascarones and then returned, crush
ing the pretty tinsel spangles in q
shower over his brown head and throat.
She fitted about him with the grace
of bird, and her eyes never left him.
She was becoming intoxicated with her
own movements; her checks wero
flushed with bright fever spots, and
her eyes shono like stars. On and on
they danced, seeing only each other.
and she looked as If akc could dance
forever.
At length Leighton proposed they
go, and she obeyed his wish as if
hyppotized or impelled to do it; and,
ignoring her duenna, they left to-
gether.
The next week 1 ruled Leighton's
official epitaph III the l. Troop records
thus: Deserted from hunting pass
August 1S, 1885,"
You see, the case was an awkward
one. The night of the bale ho had
been stabbed in the park. ] found his
body l. ,re, and my comrades were
about co string up Morales, Panchita's 3
local admirer, for the stabbing, when
I stopped them.
"Hold on, boys" I said; "remem-
Der promised tho lieutenant no com
pllCtIIOnS.
SO Leighton became officially ode
serter," ana kept my word.
Besides, / doubt if stringing up
would have been fair to Morales, for
when l found Leighton's body, the
locket was lying on the ground beside
it. The clasp was open and the portrait
odstained and mutilated, rs II by
the point of n dagger.
1 think leighton hale knew wnaJ ho
was doing when he Haunted that por-
trait at Panchita-he was a careless
chap, and loved danger in a way to
win any woman's heart. But you SEQ
it was his first affair in this land, and
he was mistaken in their temper.
How could l let his record remain
go? Well, what could do? Besides,
Leighton was not his right name, as I
found out aftelward when reading his
homo letters to get his relatives adj
dress. His name was Jack Langhorn,
and that locket the rascal showed me
contained n portrait of his youngest
sister. found that out in writing to
his family, whom told that Langhorn
was killed by the Apachcs in the fight
ut Chirachuca Fass-that occurred two
.:vono o,-brG Mo w5ISu.
Three years later Jacks sister came
to the States, where met her in Col
orado, the year after I left the service
and made the strike Mt Harqua Hala.
She is Mrs. Marlin now, and you met
her at dinner. But remember, she
knows only half the story of her por-
trait, and Jack LanShorn was killed
by the Apaches. Let us join the ladies.
&C. Overton, in Argonaut.