The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-03-20

fectionate light only in the brown eyes
of faithful dogs watching those they
| love.
Seeing my more than casual notice of
the portrait, Leighton added; ITS an
old story, not worth the telling. don t
know why keep it..
He spoke with the same absent inter
est we were feeling over this work for
the dead. 1t struck me as peculiar that
in romance Accomplishment there should
be no trace either of bitterness OF re-
morse, only weary Indifference. / was
so quickly fascinated by the face that
Leighton manner annoyed me, and
did not ask him for the story. Possibly
overhead makes men irritable, for some
how / resented this careless fellow
wearing about him face like that with
less interest than he wore his spurs. l
did not then notice the resemblance of
the face to Leighton's.
l stopped abruptly and thought of de-
sertion, changing the conversation to
this the subject of my days musing.
Leighton, something's got to be
done to relieve the pressure. l know
the lieutenant would like to do so. He
feels the pulse of this camp and knows
the symptoms. But what can he do
his orders to remain here are impera-
tive, and he can't pass us across the
line"
Hunting leave" laughed Leighton.
Hunting leave, then, let it be-" l
replied, with no questions asked as to
game or preserve, though l can tell
what yours will be, you young devill
Tomorrow make out a hunting pass for
six" Leighton was humming a catchy
service ballad that had appeared in Lon
don music halls the year before and did
not reply.
Next morning presented with the
report four days hunting pass for six
men. The lieutenant dipped his pen in
the ink and held it in contemplation for
moment above the place for signature,
looking thoughtfully across the level
plain. Then with quick decision, II
wish, sergeant, you and Leighton would
take hunting pass and let no complica-
lions arise. He signed the pass, add
ing our names to the text.
The following evening found us all
in Correlitos. After dinner, while
smoking fragrant Vuelta Abajo of the
"Zona Libra" | strolled through the
narrow streets Of this old Spanish town
watching the wealth of western sun
set, where the afteTglow was fast fad
ing. High above the mountain tops lay
great pillows of russell flame, with cTests
like the name of wind famed prairie
fire. 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
muir.
On the plaza passed two groups Of
comrades, one seeking solace in brandy,
the other fortune in roulette, pleasant
pastimes that might lead to complica
tions" while money lasted and would
bear light watching.
l walked on to the Jardin de Orc,
small public park, where serenaders
hre inspired and listeners stroll or seat
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 of the physical lux
ury of green trees and of water. | was
seated listening to the soft Indian Span
ish as it fell about me i'll slow chatter.
From afar it mingled with the murmur
of the fountain.
What a contrast this scene to the hot
camp had just left, where were heard
only the whir of the rattlesnake or the
insistent cooling of the lonely turtle dove
-mournful sounds which seem to add
to the vibrant heat. Above the noun
tains lay a zone of troubled white, from
which the moon had now risen into the
full, 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 a CRATE. Now it was
the lines of gothic window seen in an
old cathedral and almost forgotten and
now on grander scale the design OF deli
cate drawn work recalled from my
lady's chamber.
Leighton was there, a mantilla be-
side him. | could only half see the re-
vealed oval of the face, but the figure
was slight and pretty, for / caught its
graceful outline later when they passed
me.
Next evening at bale Leighton
presented me to Panchita. Together
they were dancing, he and his pretty
animal, with eyes for him alone. In
the desert so rapid is loves kindling, so
quick and full its flame, no charred or
half burned brands are here left on
| loves altar. All is consumed, and what
survives must spring, phenixlike, from
fire 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 Panchita's eye
caught sight of the locket chain and he
removed the loclet, opened it and hand
ed it to her, this time not indiiferently,
but with all the pride Of priced con-
quest.
| | was watching Panchita closely as
| she gazed fascinated by the portrait and
saw her tremble. Only as | read her
| face then by what | now know can |
tell how well it expressed all that hope
less sense of loss which comes with the
| abandonment of things loved or desired.
For an instant her eyes showed the rage
a child's sometimes feels for an mani
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, senorp'
From that moment her abandonment
| toward Leighton was complete. Her
gayety and grace became exquisite,
while look from him would lead her.
"Oh, you eastern dervish Of heartsi'
1 | exclaimed to myself as Panchita left
him and skipped to get handful Of
cascarones and then returned, crushing
the pretty tinsel spangles in 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 Leighton proposed they go,
and she obeYed his wish as il hypnOtlzed