The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-03-23

pleasant rastimes that might lead to
complications while money lasted,
and would bear light watching
walked on to the Jadin de Oro
n small public park, where serenadars
are inspired and listeners stroll or seat
themselves on benches or the grass.
Only those who have suffered the
heat and glare of q campaign in the
desert can form anyidoa of the physi-
cal luxury of green trees and of water.
| WIS seated listening to the soft In
dian Spanish as it fell about me in
slow chatter. From afar it mingled
with the murmur of the fountain
What contrast this scene to The
hot camp | had just left, where were
heard only the whirr of the rattle
snake or the insistent cooling of the
lonely turtle-dove- mournful sounds
which seem to add to the vibrant heat
Above the mountains lay 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
ut 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 CRATE. Now it was the lines
of Gothic window, SEEM in an old
cathedral almost forgotten, and row,
on grsnder scale, the design of deli
cate drawn-work recalled from my
lady's chamber.
Leighton was there, mantilln beside
him. l could only half see the re-
vealed oval of the face, but the figure
was slight and pretty, for l caught it's
graceful outline later when they
passed me.
Next evening, at q bale, Leighton
presented me to Panchita. Together
they were dancing he and this pretty
animal, with eyes for him alone. In
the desert so rapid is loves kindling,
50 quick and full it's flame, no charred
or half-burned brands are here left on
loves altar. 1t is consumed, and what
survives must spring, ph9nix-like,
! from fire or else descend from heaven.
After the DANA 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 that 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
locket, opened it, and handed it to
her; this time not indifferently, but
with all the pride of priced conquest.
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
hopeless sense OF loss which comes
with the abandonment Of things loved
or desired. For an instant her eyes
showed the rage a child sometimes
feels for an inanimate object, wher
that object has hurt it. And 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 Panchita lef
, him and skipped to get a handful o
Z cascarones and then returned, crush
: ing the pretty tinsel spangles in
shower over his brown head and throat
{ She fitted about him with the grac,
l of bird, and her eyes never left him
She was becoming intoxicated with he
own movements; her cheeks wer
e flushed with bright fever spots, ant
Y her eyes shone like stars. On and Of
e they danced, seeing only each other
S and she looked as if she could dane
forever.
r. At length Leighton proposed the
e 60, and she obeyed his wish as j
hypnotized or impelled to do it; and
ignoring her duenna, they LETT to
l gether.
q
n The next week I ruled Leighton
2 official epitaph in the L Troop record
2 thus: Deserted from hunting pas
g August Is, 1886"
= You see, the case was an awkwar
+ one. The night of the, bale he ha
been stabbed in the park. l found hi
c body there, and my comrades wer
X about to string up Morales, Panchita
n local admirer, for the stabbing, whe
n | stopped them.
: ''Hold on, boys, | said ''remem
IS Der [ promised the lieutenant no con
: plications. '"
d So Leighton became officially I'd,
5, serter, and kept my word.
e Besides, l doubt if stringing IL
o would have been fair to Morales, fC
v,l,nn fo,D1 Ta;0bt,p'c hOJ,r ~