The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-08-02

1 the Kitchen door. n.
Juan had been cleaning the ride
which Rawlston had allowed him to
use for week past, and seating him
self at the table, giving the gnn Few
finishing touches with greasy rag ne
exclaimed: "Ah, senior, 1t is a grand
gun. Madre de Dios, but the shots
made! l would give my soul for such q
one!"
mot being the devil, Juan, cannot
| take your soul, but what else Will you
give?' said Rawlston.
''Senor, / have nothing but my two
burros and cow-I might spare ut
tie maze and frijoles, too, perhaps"
Rawlston laughed, then poured some
cognac into the coffee, drank it, and,
leaning back against the wall, said:
"Juan, I'll give you the rifle II you Will
give me-"
"What?" cried Juan.
"Chonita."
Juan sprang to his feet and Rawlston
reached for his revolver, but he had no
need. The father turned to the girl
and led her to Rawlston, placing her
her hand in his, saying:
at is we'll, senior; 81 sta 'ueno. Your
are rich and will be good to her. Yes,
it is WE'LL" and the mother. coming
from the kitchen. nodded her head,
smiled and echoed: Eyes, it is well. "
And Chonita, she was very happy, for
she was but child of nature.
The home to which Rawlston took
her. his quarters at the mines, seemed,
with their meager, yet comfortable
surroundings, perfect palace to Cho-
nita, and the clothing that came from
Guadalupe amazed the girl She could
not understand that she was to wear
slippers and stockings every day, nei-
Their why she was to dress her hair. At
first it grew irksome to her to remain
dressed as he would have her, and at
times coming home, he would find her
as he first saw her-the one loose gar
ment, her hair in disorder and bare
footed When he would demonstrate
she would laugh and throw her arms
about his neck and kiss him, but after
awhile she grew accustomed to her
new mode Of dress
The days passed away into months,
but they did not bring to Rawlston the
ease of life he had hoped for when he
brought Chonita to his home, and he
wondered why the ideal was always
more beautiful than the real. After
all, it had only been an experiment,
and it had failed; yet even had it not,
he realized that eventually he would
have returned to the old life for the |
sake of her who awaited him there. !
Then he thought of what would come
to Chonita, the child who loved him so,
after he was gone; for leave her he |
must, and his soul cried out within |
him against, not SO much what he had
done, as what he was about to do.
One evening he sat before the fire in |
his quarters, engaged in looking over |
the weekly mail, while Chonita rested
at his feet. cuddled in little heap in |
the warmth, and with her head pill
lowed against his knee.
''Chonita, dear, l must leave you. |
am going to my home"
She started and sprang to her feet
Her heart beat wildly, and into her
great dark eyes came a strange, wild
ook. you are going toto her!' she
cried, throwing her arm violently
toward the photograph "You are go
ng to the woman who wrote you this
MOP" and she tore the letter across
ind threw it from her. mo! but you
shall not god" she continued. ''She
las NO right to you. You are mine
nine!" Majestically she stood gazing
1t him for an instant; then the little
igure forgot it's queenly bearing and
lrooped wcarily-fell at his feet-sob-
Ding out tenderly: "Ah, say it is not
are all the one have to love
Ill l have!"
He touched one little hand that rest
ID on his knee. Poor little thingr' he
aid. Poor little thing!''
She lay at his feet, her whole body
luivering.
He could not bear to see her suffer
10. He pitaed her. and he thought:
Why not lie 10 her; why not let her be-
ieve that he would return? Yes, why
lot? 1t would make it easy for her
low, and in time she would learn to
'orget. He lifted her gently up and
folded her in his arms. ''Chonita," he
said, 81 will come back to you, dear. l
must go, but it is only for a.little
while, few months. You can wait
'or me with your father at the rancho
only for few months, sweetheart"
She drew herself from his arms and
'at on his knee, her dark eyes watch
ng the fire very softly. Suddenly she
turned and gazed at him for long
while, then said slowly: