The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-08-10

HF&-o2SM twenty rs one could
MNtsssss-se-sSSM find in n weeks
1sI.s-y., - ky'l search. He was a
f& civil engineer, in
~ the employ of n
=, company that was
!" that tune making survey for II
railroad through New Mexico He
was SO noticeable in figure and bear
ing that stranger would DO sure to
look after him if he passed him ON the
street. But there must have been an
other man in the world that looked
Very much like him, if he were not an
"'!uai double, aud the adventure
arising from this resemblance was n
remarkable blending of the tragic and
comic.
Santa Fe had in it then, and no
doubt has still, very mauy beautiful
Drunettes of Spanish and aboriginal
descent.
= Senorita Maria Diaz-a year previous
to the date L have given-was enpaoed
according to the Mexican custom that
does not consider the wishes of the
iaIy IN the matter, to Bernal Valdez.
who, like her father, was n rich,
middle-aged man.
Senior Valdez would undoubtedly
have married the lady In not n voung
army surgeon appeared on the scene.
Doctor Brandon met the beautiful
Maria Diaz, and it was case of love
at first sight.
The young American would have let
tho cause OF his wooing follow tho
regular AID eminently proper chan
nels, If there had been time for IT.
Dut, Unfortunately, he only met his
enslayer week before the dav.on-
pointed for her marriage with VALDEZ.
10 secure the LADY there was not a
moment to lose, and the only means
ne could think of was to enact the role
OF young Lochinvar. He found friends
TO help him and the lady willing.
They eloped to Fort Union. where
they were married, aud as it was
positively dangerous-indeedi it would
nave been death-for the doctor to
return, with or without his bride, he
very prudently kept on to New York
CITY, where his parents, well-to-do
people, resided, and whore he subse-
quently remained.
The advent OF troop Of soldiers or
OF any considerable body OF stranger.
1nto It New Mexical town is always
celebrated bya "iandango, or bale
tho former word, though originally
the name Of q special dance. Is now
applied in that region to an evening OF
general dancing.
The coming of the engineer corps
was celebrated after the usual fashion
Inc men were enc1mped near old Fort
Marcy aud the officers of tho expedi.
tIon took up their quarters at the
Fonda, as the hotel facing on tbe
piazza was called, though it may not
be anlss to add that "fonda" il the
Spanish namc for "hotel."
pall Mansfield was writing uD his
heli notes in his rooAA NJ tho hotel fine
nlgh' OF his arrival, when Captain La.
mar, who commanded the engineer
cavalry escort, catered, aud. without n
word, removed the papers and put
away the ink.
Hello, Lamarl Making vourseIt
~ nome ell? Como, bring back my
profile blanks; ! must finish n report
tonight said Paul Mansfield.
Finish it when wo get bacl,lr re.
pied Captain Lama~, as no took up d
nat nad cont, and, putting the former
on Paul'a hSl, cyincsd desire r
help BIN on with ths latter.
Why. what's up?' asked Paul.
"a fandaugo.
That Is not unusual here, 7 under
ctand"
But you never saw one. and lis i.
to be swell affair. Come. old follow
don't neglect the chance of seeino !
pretty woman Think Of the drear,
morniains and sterile plniue, with not
n woman within hundreds Of miles.
that JIG before You And then eyery
scientific man should know sometime
OF human nature. will show Won b
now phase Of 10 tonight"
"But ] don't dance" pleaded Pan
Mansfield.
VERY well, TN dance for both and
yOu cnu look ON, replied tho CAPTAIN.
After much urging Paul Mansfield
e1i he would g0 TO thc fandaugo "foi
i1st one hour
Tho dancing took place lin low
adobe building on tho oufr,irts of th,
town. Tho long room was Illuminate
by suspended oil lamps, and at tn,
entrance was "refroshmenC counter
at tho farther cnd n platform for tin,
two men with Gdllcs and The ono ma-
with guitar while ON benches around
the wells sat the scuoritas many oil
them cbapcroued by their mothers
aud thoroughly democratic rather.