The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-05-05

to battle in the acequia and caught
some of its murmur.
On the plaza passed two groups OF
comrades, one seeking solace in BRAN
dy, the other, fortune in roulette
pleasant pastimes that might lead to
complications while money lasted,
and would bear light watching.
/ walked on to the Jardin de Orc, q
small public park where serenaders are
inspired and listeners stroll or seat
themselves on benches or on the grass.
Only those who have suffered the
heat and glare of campaign in the
desert can form any idea of the physic-
al luxury of green trees and of water.
l was 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 was this scene to the
hot camp had just left, where were
heard only the whirr of the rattlesnake
or the insistent cooling of the lonely tur-
tie 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 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 cathe-
dral and almost forgotten, and now, on
grander scale, the design of delicate
drawn-work recalled from my lady's
chamber.
Leighton was there, a mantilla be-
side him. l 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 this pretty
animal, with eyes for him alone. In
the desert so rapid is loves kindling, so
quick and full it's fame, no charred or
half burned brands are here left on
loves altar. Ali is consumed, and
what survives must spring. phoenix
like, from hell 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 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 indiffer-
emily, but with all the pride of priced
conquest
Twas 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 we'll il expressed all that
hopeless sense of loss which comes with
the abandonment of things loved or de-
sired. For an instant her eyes showed
the rage child sometimes feels for an
object, when that object has
hurt it And 1 thought she would
break the locbet; then the woman con-
quered; and she smiled as she returned
it.
ELLA Es MUY HEBMosA, sENoE!"
From that moment her abandonment
toward Leighton was completes; her
gayety and grace became exquisite,
while look from him would lead her.
"Oh, you Eastern dervish of hearts!"
/ exclaimed to myself. as Panchita left
him and skipped to get handful of
cascar0nes 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 sbone like stars. On and on they
danced. seeing only each other. and
she looked as if she could dance for
ever.
At length Leighton proposed they go,
and she obeyed his wish as if hypno-
tiled or impelled to do it; and, ignoring
her duenna, they left together.
The next week ruled Leighton's Off
cial epitaphin the L troop records thus:
Deserted from hunting pass August
Is, 1885,"
You see, the case was an awkward
one. The night of the bale he had
been stabbed in the park. l found his
body there and my comrades were
about to string up Morales, Panchita's
local admirer. whe.: stopped them.
Hold on, boys" said, remember I
promised the lieutenant no 'complica-
tions.'"
So Leighton became officially a dc
serter," aud kept my word.
Besides, doubt ifstringing up would
have been fair to Morales, for when
found Leighton's body. the locket was
lying on the ground beside it. The
clasp was open and the portrait blood
stained and mutilated, as if by the
point of a dagger.
think Leighton half knew what he
was doing when he Haunted that por-
trait at Panchita-he was a careless