The true Democrat., 1897-07-24

III III uCltt, LIZ Ioce, "t'o
as handsome q fell
4, - ~M low Of four and
J .zSSylSM twenty as one could
F.ZNNss@k9M FZNNsssa@k9M find in weeks
MS1.:s - NW\ search He was q
is &zss. r civil engineer, in
N;FsssS!1 the employ Of a
+ ~ company that was
ut that time making a survey for. a
railroad through New Mexico. He
was so noticeable in figure and bear
ing that q stranger would be 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
actual double, and the adventure
arising from this resemblance was q
remarkable blending Of the tragic and
comic.
!; Santa Fe had in it then, and no
doubt has still, very many beautiful
brunettes of Spanish and aboriginal
descent. t+,
ESenorita Maria Diaz-a year previous
to the date have given-was engaged,
according to the Mexican custom that
does not consider the wishes Of the
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 a young
army surgeon appeared on the scene.
Doctor Brandon met the beautiful
Maria Diaz, and it was q case Of love
at first sight.
: The young American would have let
\ the cause of his wooinS 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
/ 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 married, and as it wa:
positively dangerous-indeedit woul(
have been death-for the doctor t.
return, with or without his bride, b
very prudently kept on to New Yorl
City. where his parents, well-to-d
people, resided, and where he subse
| quAntly remained.
The advent Of troop Of soldiers o
of any considerable body of stranger
into New Mexican town is alway
celebrated by a 'fandango," or 'baile;
the former word, though original
the name Of special dance, is no
applied in that region to al evening {
general dancing.
The coming Of the engineer corr
was celebrated after the usual fashio,
The men were encampe1 near old 70
Marcy, and the officers Of the exped
tion took up their quarters at Il
Fonda, as the hotel facing on Il
piazza was called, though it may n
be amiss to add that fonda is Il
Spanish name for "hotel."
Paul Mansfield was writing up h
field notes in his room at the hotel Il
night of his arrival, when Captain L
mar, who commanded the engine
cavalry escort, entered, and, without
word, removed the papers and p
away the ink.
"Hello, Lamar! Making yoursf
at home, Ell? Come, bring back Il
profile blanks; 1 must finish repc
to-nightp' said Paul Mansfield.
'Finish it when we get back!' I
piled Captain Lamar, as he took uE
hat and coat, and, putting the form
on Paul's head, evinced desire
help him on with the latter.
"Why. what's up?" asked Paul.
ga fandango."
s'Ihat is not unusual here, und
stand"
"But you never saw one, and this
to be o swell affair. Come, old fellc
don't neglect the chance Of seeing
pretty woman. Think Of the dre'
mountains and sterile plains, with
woman within hundreds of mil
that lie before you. And then ev
scientific man should know someth5
of human nature. I will show yo1
new phase Of it tonight"
'tBut don't Dance" pleaded 2
Mansfield.
every we'll, I'll dance for both
you can look on, replied the Capts
After much urging Paul Mansf
said he would go to the fandango .
just one hour"
The dancing took place in a !
adobe building on the outskirts OF
town. The long room was illumina
by suspended oil lamps, and at
entrance was "refreshment" coun
at the farther end platform for
two men with fiddles and the one
with guitar, while on benches aro'
Aho .ntalla saf tho sannr,itas-man