The herald., 1894-03-08

when few bucks slipped on ]
canyon and nipped our pack t
rear. We had to quit pressing t
to save our tfain. 1t was clev olt
of work, and five bucks did it, lg
two men FOR Us, losing as our lame
just as we were bagging 1t.
Leighton was company clerk, tai
ented, handsome feilowAhad served
out in India He had a cheering fresh
ness and facility of expression and spoke
with the quick, falling injection and
directness Of the English in speech one
SO quickly learns to love. He was me-
chanically ruling double red ink lines
in a book where life's account of sery-
ices had been credited and closed, much
as a handbook is ruled when state
ment is rendered from a balance struck.
The words died" or deserted" placed
in red ink in the small space below
showed the cause of closing for service
abruptly terminated. The usual remark
was discharged by expiration term OF
service" in black ink.
Sergeant, and whose will be the
next bloody 'D?'" asked Leighton,
without ring of feeling,
'There'll be plenty of 'em if this
blooming heat continues and weremain
in this camp" / replied.
"And do you suppose the devil will
ever want transcript from Murray's
court martial recordf" Murray had
been an excellent troop blacksmith, but
a most constant drunkard, so his record
was a full one.
"If he does, Murray won't draw
birthstone liquor for year, replied.
1.-THE lad will be none the worst for
that, for surely here he had most con-
suming thirst. ,"
We were working at this official fu-
neral in the sultry summer night by the
unsteady light of lantern candles and
Were not feeling impressed or reverent.
Leighton was in his undershirt, open at
his handsome brown throat. AS he
leaned over the books at work locket
from his bosom fell the slack of its gold
chain and struck the desk.
l noticed it, and he took it off, hand
ing it to me with indifference. He had
opened the locket, revealing the Ior-
trait, which was that of fresh yolng
girl-one of those sweet English fices
whose charm is complexion and exples-
sion of confidence complete. The eyes
arrested you-pathetic, soft brown eyes,
so tender they seemed to reproach, snd
as you changed your poinr of view of
the miniature followed you with tSeir
full, warm light. have seen such af-
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 accomplished there should
be no trace either of bitterness or re-
morse, only weary indifference. / was
SO quickly fascinated by the face that
Leighton's manner annoyed me, and l
did not ask him for the story. Possibly
overhead makes men irritable, for some
how l 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,
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. ! know
tho 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" /
replied, with no questions asked as TO
game or preserve, though | can tell
what yours will be, you young devill
Tomorrow make out hunting pass for
six" Leighton was humming catchy
service ballad that had appeared in Lon
don music halls the year before and did
not reply.
Next morning l presented with the
report four days hunting pass for six
men, The lieutenant dipped his pen in
tub lHh anu u6lu IL III CuutOi4p p4qtlOh Ap4
a moment above the place for signature,
looking thoughtfully across the level
plain. Then with quick decision, 81
wish, sergeant, you and Leighton would
take hunting pass and let no complica-
tions 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 afterglow was fast fad
ing. High above the mou1tain tops lay
great billows of russet fame, with crests
like the name of q 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 hathe in
the aoequia and caught some Of its MUIR
mur.
On the piazza | passed two groups of
comrades, ore seeking solaee in brandy,
the other fortune i'll roulette, pleasant
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