Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-04-02

ment is rendered from 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
4 blooming heat continues and we remain
| in this camp" l replied
| And do you suppose the devil will
ever want transcript from Murray
court martial record?' Murray had
| been an excellent troop blacksmith, but
/ a most constant drunkard, so his record
! was full one.
eff he does, Murray won't draw
| birthstone liquor for year, replied
1.-THE lad will be mono the worst for
that, for surely here he had a most con-
| Stunning thirst. -
We were working at this official flu
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 ut
his handsome brown throat. AS he
leaned over the books at work locket
from his bosom fell the slack of it's 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 por-
trait, which was that of fresh young
girl--one of those sweet English faces
whose charm is complexion and express
sion of confidence complete. The eyes
arrested you pathetic, soft brown eyes,
so tender they seemed to reproach. and
as you changed your point of view of
the miniature followed you with their
full, warm light. l 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. y
He spoke with the same absent inter-
es: we We're feeling over this work for
the dead. 1t struck me as peculiar that
in romance accomplished there should
be no trace either of bitterness OF re-
morse. only weary indifference. was
SO quickly fascinated by tho face that
LeightOn's manner annoyed me. and l
did not ask him for the story Possibly
overhead makes men irritable, for some
how | resented this careless fellow
wearing about him a face like that with
less interest than he wore his spurs.
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
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 cant 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 devil.
Tomorrow make out a 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
the ink and held it in contemplation for
a 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
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 Nuelta Ahajo OF the
"Zona LIBRA l 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 mountain tops lay
great pillows of russell flame, with crests
like the name of a 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, a
small public park, where serenaders |
are inspired and listeners stroll or seat |
themselves on benches or the grass.
Only those who have suffered the heat |
and glare of campaign in the desert |
can form any idea of the physical lux
ury of green trees and of water. l 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 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 zone of troubled white, from
Wnlcn inc moon ndu now IlScll lHlO tIle
full, upper blue, causing tho 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 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, 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