Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-07-28

the employ OF
~ company that wa
at that time making survey for
railroad through New Mexico. H
was so noticeable in figure and bear
ing that stranger would be sure t.
look after him if he passed him on tn
street. But there must have been an
other man in the world that looket
very much like him, if he were not al
actual double, and the adventur,
arising from this resemblance was
remarkable blending of the tragic ant
comic.
Santa Fe had in it then, and NJ
doubt has still, very many beautiful
brunettes of Spanish and aborigina
descent.
" Senorita Maria Diaz-ayear previou,
to the date I have given-was engaged
according to the Mexican custom tha
does not consider the wishes of til,
lady in the matter, to Bernal Valdez
who, like her father, was rich
middle-aged man.
Senor Valdez would undoubtedly
have married the lady had not young
army surgeon appeared on the scene
Doctor Brandon met the beautiful
Maria Diaz, and it was n case of love
at first sight.
The young American would have lei
the cause of his wooing follow the
regular and eminently proper chan.
nels, if there had been time for it,
but, unfortunately, he only met his
enslaver week before the day ap
pointed for her marriage with Valdez,
To secure the lady there was not 9
moment to lose, and the only means
he 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 MAJ cd, and as it was
positively dangerous-indeedit it would
have 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-dc
people, resided, and where he subse.
quently remained.
The advent of troop of soldiers OF
of any considerable body Of strangers
into q New Mexican town is always
celebrated by stfandango, or s'baile;;"
the 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.
The men were encamped near old Fort
Marcy, and the officers of the expedi.
ton took up their quarters at the
Fonda, as the hotel facing on the
piazza was called, though it may not
be amiss to add that "fonda" is the
Spanish name for "hotel."
Paul Mansfield was writing up his
field notes in his room at the hotel the
night OF his arrival, when Captain La
mar, who commanded the engineer
cavalry escort, entered, and, without a
word, removed the papers and put
away the ink.
'Hello, Lamar! Making yourself
at home, eh? Come, bring back my
profile blanks; 1 must finish report
tonight" said Paul Mansfield.
Finish it when we get backp' re-
piled Captain Lamar, as he took up q
hat and coat, and, putting the former
on Paurs head, evinced desire to
help him on with the latter.
"Why, what's up?" asked Paul.
ga fandango."
''That is not unusual here, I under
stand"
SBut you never saw one, and this is
to be swell affair. Come, old fellow,
don't neglect the chance of seeing a
pretty woman. Think of the dreary
mountains and sterile plains, with not
woman within hundreds of miles,
that lie before you. And then every
scientific man should know something
of human nature. I will show you a
new phase of it tonight
''Bnt I don't Dance" pleaded Paul
Mansfield.
every we'll, I'll dance for both and
You can look on, replied the Captain.
After much urging Paul Mansfield
said he would go to the fandango "for
just one hour.
The dancing took place in low,
adobe building on the outskirts of the
town. The long room was illuminated
by suspended oil lamps, and at the
entrance was o 'srefreshment" counter,
at the farther end a platform for the
two men with fiddles and the one man
with guitar, while on benches around
the walls sat the senoritas-many OF
them chaperoned by their mothers,
and q thoroughly democratic gather.
ing of cavaliers, American and Mexi.
can.
Paul Mansfield stood near the door
watching the graceful dancers, among
whom was his friend, the Captain; but,
though much interested, he could not
help noticing that the Mexican men
stared at him by twos and threes, and
that they whispered excitedly, and
that their black eyes burned with
anger. AS he could not think that he,
perfect stranger, could be the cause
of their excitement, he gave it nc
further thought.
When the hour he had set himself
was up he decided to go he ne without
notifying his friend.
He had gone but few p.ces from
the door when he heard q rush and
felt himself being hurled to the ground.
Looking up he saw number of men
bending over him with knives in their
hands, and one of them hissed:
"Make an outcry and we will kill
you!"
Paul was unarmed, and, though
brave as a lion, he realized that resist
ance would make bad case worse. AS
the men began to bind his arms he
asked:
"What are you going to do with
..a,,