The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-11-19
THE LOST LOCKET
A Story of 1925 and 1900
IN AUGUST, 1900.

| Two young people VINO Stfolleu down
/ to the Preside beach, however, had no
| glances to spare for anything so com
monplace as diamonds and opals. For
! Lieutenant Anderson was gazing into the
depths of the great, soft black eyes of
Miss Pachita de Sola, and Miss Pachita
de Sofa was looking up into the ardent
blue ones of Lieutenant Anderson. She
| seemed to like it.
The tall young soldier with the fair
hair, broad shoulders and square. manly
! Saxon face had not been long released
| from the hard work and harder restraint
/ of West Point, and in his new freedom
i of army life went at things with an en-
ergy of desire that was quite irresistible.
! Miss Pachita de Sofa found it so, as had
half a dozen other girls within as many
/ months. 1t was wholly serious business
with the lieutenant this time though.
! He had been in California but a few
weeks and this daughter of an ancient
though decayed Spanish family, as Amer
lean in education and thought as himself,
was ravishing in her novelty. Altogether
feminine, Pachita, at one moment child
like and clinging; the next worldly, witty
and mocking; then, with the lids hiding
those lovely, big eyes of hers, her whole
aspect suggested especially to a lieu
tenant with ample means to marry-pos-
sibilities of tenderness unspeakable.
/ No wonder that when Miss Pachita
J permitted Lieutenant Anderson to gaze
down into her eyes and returned an an
swering look, giving little sigh, too, his
head went after his heart, which had
been lost for an eternity-that is to say,
for two terrific, sleepless nights.
But the young lady was discreet, and,
gently clasping his fingers, removed them
from her waist, saying demurely:
Don't be foolish, John. Somebody
may be looking"
This in a city and in full sight of the
ever vigilant garrison struck John as be
ing not improbable.
Instant in action, as became soldier,
Lieutenant Anderson executed a flank
movement on a sand bank and seated
Miss de Sofa in its lee, on a large. water
whitened, sun dried log Of driftwood
Then this censummate tactcian repeated
the original attack with entire success.
"Pachita, oh, my darling!" brcaihed
the ecstatic lieutenant, straining her to
his side and Immediately showing a dis
position to put knee upon the beach.
"Well, JohnY and the smile of low
and gratified vanity that smote his eyes
blinded them.
'Name the day, oh. Pachita; canrat
live till you dor
Pachita pursed her full, red lips, puck
cred the midnight eyebrows and consid-
cred profoundly, digging deep into the
sand with his cane the while.
'The day, my own love-the day
gasped John.
Dear me-" Miss de Sofa exclaimed
suddenly, what a beautiful she'll"
BLAST the shell!' cried Lieutenant An
derson, reaching for what she had I'M
earthed, to cast it wrathfully out among
the unnoticed diamonds and opals.
But he was restrained in wonder.
IN AUGUST 1925.
The same sun was enriching the dane
ing waters Of the same bay with dia-
monds and opals. A young couple who
strolled down to the Preside beach ad
mired the view very much, and Senorita
Pachita de Sofa had no occasion to re
mind the lieutenant by her side that
somebody might be looking. Lieutenant
Juan de Echeandia would have liked
greatly to coil his arm about that slim
waist, but did not dare, though there was
/ only a small and sleepy garrison and nc
city at all behind them-only the padres
and Indians at the mission Dolores, fal
over the sand hills, and cabin or two
down at the embarcadero, entirely out OF
sight. Pachita de Sofa was niece Of
Commandante Don Luis Antonio Arguel
10, and though he, Lieutenant Juan de
Echeandia was a nephew of Don Jose
Maria, of the same name, one, ever
though an aristocrat, has under all cir
cumstances to show proper respect fol
his commanding officer. Besides, the
Senorita Pachita had twice refused his
friendly offered hand. 1t was bestowed
upon Ensign Tiburcio Mendez at Monte
rey, though this was not known to Ger
tainty at the Preside.
Lieutenant Juan de Echeandia anC
Senorita Pachita de Sofa walked leisurely
to the little wharf where that wonderful
vessel, constructed but recently by 6
wandering British sailor, lay preparing
for a voyage to Sausalito, four leagues
distant. 1t was a marvellous boat, witt
oars and sail, and capable of accommo
dating no less than six persons. Dor
Luis Antonio Arguello himself had com
manded her in person on the dozen pas
sages which she had made to the opposite
shore for timber Previous to the crea
ton of this extraordinary ship, which an
initiated distance and obliterated time
timber was hard to get from Corte de
MADEIRA. Soldiers were sent around by
way of San Jose, armed with axes, who
crossed the strait of Carquinez on RATS
and in the circuit Of seventy leagues en-
countered hardships and consumed weeks
And the timber was brought over by
Chief Martin, an aborigine given to cruis
ing on a float of logs and tules, who alone
knew the winds and currents of the bay
1t was but a matter of a day now to sal
over for the timber and return with it.
CORPORAL Pedro Sanchez had made al
the voyages with the commandante anC
rated now as a superior navigator, his
marine fame being dear to him. Dor
Luis had swollen him with pride by plac
ing him in command for this one trip
His enlargement became perilous wher
lieutenant Echeandia suddenly proposed
to Senorita Pachita that they make the
voyage, and she, being young ant
thoughtless, consented.
Brave Corporal Sanchez sailed the
MEXICO superbly as far as Angel island
descanting eloquently on the art ant
mystery of seamanship. Issuing to his
crew of three soldiers sundry orders IL
a commanding voice of thunder he pre-
pared to pass the point
Alas, an eastern wind came whistlin9
through the treacherous RaccoOn strait
and in spite of all Corporal Pedro's sea
manship the MEXICO was caught anC
whirled round and round and borne with
the racing tide toward the Golden Gate.
Senorita Pachita de Sola screamed, but
there was no help sent down from heav-
en-, even on the appeal of those pretty
lips, grown quite white, or of that pale
face, with its big black eyes wild with
terror.
Lieutenant Juan de Echeandia swore-
swore at Corporal Pedro Sanchez, but
profanity, though frequently an adjunct
to navigation, is not of use in imparting
knowledge thereof.
So out to sea they drifted, far out, al
most to the Farallones
For eight days and nights they were as
a chip on the waves, the Raccoon gusts
having snapped the mast and carried
away the sail Corporal Pedro. famous
as mariner, had forgotten to bring oars
Senorita de Sofa gave herself up tc
Mary, mother of God, as did the corporal
and the three men in the bow, who pass
ed the hours in shuddering prayer.
But Lieutenant Juan had soldiers
soul.
On the second day he drew his sword
and at its point the men yielded such
food and water as the boat contained
These he bestowed where his body was
between them and reeapture.
The corporal Pedro, though a fool ant
unfortunate, was loyal With him the
lieutenant kept watch and watch, anC
through all those awful eight days ant
nights (by my pen, it is true that the
boat was gone that long, as you may reaC