The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-08-02

There 1901 III ItNtIlt. va l+Ft
who awaited him in distant city-his
promised wife
After awhile Chonita came 10 the
door and told him that his supper was
ready. Dreamily he heard her voice
and raised his head She stood with
her dark hair falling in disordered
mass over her shoulders. one bare arm
half raised and resting on the door
sill. her body partly turned. showing
the beautiful lines of her figure As she
hesitated. as though fascinated by his
look. and gazed into his eyes as little
child might. and yet not. for there was
TO her strange attraction about this
Americana. this man Of the Saxon race
/ who was so unlike the men of her own.
that caused her heart u fiutter wildly.
lie looked at her for long while. and
then arose. She drew aside To allow
him to pass into the house. and. as he did
so. gust of wind blew her hair across
his face.
During the months that followed
, Rawlston became a frequent visitor at
the little rancho. stopping over night
, while travelling between the mines and
. Guadalupe v Calvo.
; One afternoon. as the glory OF the
! sunset spread slowly across the valley.
? Rawlston rode up to the rancho. where.
finding no one at home. he left his
mule and climbed the trail that led To
l . little spring in gulch back of the
. house. Chonita vas there filing an
OLA. but she did not hear him as he
5 approached. not until ne stood at her
FL ~v.l hA
, arose she slipped on the wet clay and
I. would have fallen had he not caught
! her in his arms.
He felt her tremble as he held her,
{ and drew her closer to him. asking:
l Are you hurt. Chonita?"
( mo, senor." she replied
He saw her lips CULVER and. as she
= raised her face to his. he read from the
: depths of her eyes her secret. and he
Z bent and kissed her, murmuring
II sweetheart Then he released hel
and stood leaning against tree
a watching her as she descended thu
l. trail.
He had not been totally unconscious
= of her love. though at first it seemed
q TO him but the admiration OF mere
II child; but now he understood. and i
"a wrought strange influence over him
a He knew that his love was strong an'
"a true for the woman who alone bouns
e him to the life he had left behind. ye'
- he felt how easy il would be, were
A. not for her. to drift into the custom
and adopt the modes and morals of tn
NJ people of that fair Mexican land 70
Il there was a certain charm in thei
n. easy-going. languorous life. with II
81 beauty and its restfulness. that had al
IL pcaled to him from the very first l
:. some strange way that he could nc
of understand. and yet which seemed pei
pe fectly natural to him, he longed 20 r
=. main there. away from the world as
were. until the end: and he picture
~ her. his afsianccd wife. there with hin
ve and-he laughed. His reverie was n
/, f. broken: the woman alone change
a and he wondered how life would
%. with Chonita-just for time.
Al. And Chonita.-she reached the hou
10 and hurried to her room. where st
re- dropped on her knees before a lit
no shrine. "Oh. Dios." she said. II am
nd glad. What have done that shou
nt be so happy. Thank you. God
sc Slowly night came on Supper W
ne over, and the room was but dim
,ur lighted by sputtering tallow dip al
he the family pickering blaze Of the OPP
on fire in the jacal adjoining. Rawlst'
ng leaned back in his chair. slowly smo
est ing and watching Chonita as 81
moved about putting away the supp
ed. things. and he became duly console
e~.1r hnx
( again. to hold her and TO feel b
ath tremble.
yer After awhile she brought him c
or; of coffee and took from his.saddl bae
i've flask Of cognac that he always CARR
: a there. and placed i. on the table at
side. He touched her hand. ana in
me, her eyes came look Of longing alms
yed passionate, and her lips parted
-ew though TO speak but her father emit
and ing the room she turned away a
as sank in huddlcd heap on the door
or. the kitchen door.
his. Juan had been cleaning the RI
In which Rawlston had allowed him
his use for a week past. and seating nj
an self at the table. giving the gun y
il finishing touches with a greasy rag.
YES exclaimed. Al. stuoi. ~ - ~ .
lust gun. Madre de Dios. but the shot
He made. would give my soul for sue
led: one-
Not being the devil. Juan. cam
| OF take your soul. but what else Will
cal. givc?" said Rawlston.
nos. ..Senor. l have nothing but my
anne burros and . cow might spare
zed tie maze and frijolcs, too. perhaps
Rawlston laughed, then poured 80
aid cornac into the coffee. drank it, q
eve. leaning back against the wall =
own Juan. Ill give you the ride II you
her give me-"
con. WHAT cried Juan.
the .'Chonita-"
Juan sprang to his feet and Rawls
~;n0 reached for his revolver. but he had
. NJ need. The father turned to the
hot and led her TO Rawlston. placing
her hand In his. saying:
the 1T Is well. senior; 81 sta 'ueno
ring: are rich and will be good TO her.
mort. Il is WE'LL and the mother. con
g Of from the kitchen. nodded her h
smiled and echoed: Yes. It Is W
.ton. And Chonita. she was very happy,
,htlv she was but child Of nature.
cite The home 70 which Rawlston
, she her. his quarters At the mines seer
2..E3