The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-22
A JULIET OF MEXICO.
BY II. 6. CANFIEI D.

Jack Hammond, a New Englander by
! birth, Yale man by education, adventur-
| Gus by disposition and a civil engineer by
profession, went down into Mexico when
the Mexican National people were driving
their parallel bands Of steel through the
stone heart of the country. He was tall
and strong-iimbed, with long, narrow blue
eyes, reddish hair and a brown mustache.
lie was placed AT the head of a party Of
surveyors and sent on to map out a route,
which was a slight departure from the
one originally selected. The days were
hot with a torridness not appreciated in
the north and the nights were chill All
day the sun burned and when it set, a
breath as from the grave swept over the
barren land. Ii was hard work, but good
pay, and the Yankee being of rugged
health. enjoyed it. Many Of his cOmpan-
ions sickened and were replaced by others
sent on by the company, which dared not
lose moment heavy concession result
ing upon the completion of the work with
in 4 specified time.
Hammond was as true to his employers
as any man need be- and moreover, he
| had his station TO achieve. He told him
self often that he would lay his
life down rather than cause a
delay of an hour. Those were
days when loyalty was richly re-
Warded, but lapse from duty meant that
a mans usefulness, in that part Of the
world was ended. The limit of time
given him in which to finish the survey
was near at hand and back at headquar-
ters mis- friendS were betting that he
would send in his report with a week TO
spare They did not understand the con-
dition Of affairs at the front but they had
faith in Hammond. faith in his New Eng
land blood, his training and his Steadfast,
courageous soul.
1t had been concluded TO 90 10 one side
OF VaIenzuela and send the road through
Monterey. One Sunday Hammond decided
10 ride over and see what Monterey was
like. He found il large city, built IN the
Mexican style, with blank walls Of houses
showing only grated windows to the
streets. but each OF them with a court
in rs center The town interested him,
and in many ways, amused him. He wGs
attracted TO the central plaza by the
sound Of lively music. There he saw. d
band of thirty pieces discOursing waltZes
one Of the many saints was having lis
dav and a fiesta was in progress. \ '.fies-
4
are sold. The staples are music. love max
ing, and gambling. The engineer found
plenty Of all three he had mastered
Spanish at college and during mis- months
in The country had found il easy 10 mas
ter Mexican, which is a different IAN
suaGe He listened idly 10 the buzz Of
talk around him, Until his ear vas caught
by an excited whisper from a young Sc
nor vlsp him narg. gbs -
He followed the direction Of a dozen
glances and saw entering a gambling
booth d girl Of not more than seventeen
years Undoubtedly she was OF pure Cas-
tiian blood Her eyes were "a blue as his
own, her hair auburn. and her COM
plexi0n peaches and cream. She leaned
upon the arm OF a gTiZZled hidalCO evil
IDENTIFY her father. anu b=hind them came
two poems trandiiEg little PED Wheelbar-
rows. Thes- vehicles were piled with can
vas rouleauX, tarred at eacn end with
the seal OF the owner stamped upon the
tar. Hammond had been long enough IN
Mexico 10 know that each Of the rouleaux
contained lC0 silver dollars and that 4
gambling bout was on.
He walked into the booth In time 10 see
the gTandee take a chair facing a monte
dealer. His daughter sat al his left hand
while The poems wheeled the barrow-
within reach Of mis- right hand and went
away. The monte dealer bOWe 81 Courteous
~ 10 his visitor and said
The best OF fortune be yours senior"
The grandee saluted In response and
answered.
May you always vim
The duel OF money began Hammond
took a place TO the LETT Of the table. Wn+-e
he could watch both the play and th-
girl He found himself fascinated By that
proud patrirlan type OF beauty which
was strange 10 him. There vas in aer
something spiriturlle yet passionate, r.
fined, Yet strong She stirred slightly and
l Rh!n Oi perfume, lgdeauable aGt 1s.I