Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-07-28


 across the heavens. The rain fell on the thatched roof above him with a untitled, pattering sound, and he rested there lost in reverie, dreaming of her who awaited him in distant city--his promised wife
 After awhile Chonita came to 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 50 unlike the men of her own, that caused her heart to fiutter wildly. He looked at her for a 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 frequent visitor at the little rancho, stopping over night while travelling between the mines and Guadalupe GalVo.
 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 a liffla ,1ol, house. Chonita was there filing an olla, but she did not hear him as he approached, not until he stood at her side. Then she started, and as she arose she slipped on the wet clay and 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:
 Are you hurt, Chonita?"
 ''No, senor,a she replied,
 He saw her lips quiver and, as she raised her face to his, he read from the depths of her eyes her secret, and he bent and kissed her, murmuring .Sweetheartin Then he released her and stood leaning against tree, watching her as she descended the trail.
 He had not been totally unconscious of her love, though at first it seemed to him but the admiration of mere child; but now he understood, and it wrought strange influence over him.
 He knew that his love was strong and true for the woman who alone bound him to the life he had left behind, yet he felt how easy it would be, were it not for her, to drift into the customs and adopt the modes and morals of the people of that fair Mexican land for there was certain charm in their easy-going, 1anguorous life, with it's beauty and it's restfulness, that had ap- pealed to him from the very first. In some strange way that he could not understand, and yet which seemed per fectly natural to him, he longed to re- main there, away from the world, as it were, until the end; and he pictured her, his affianeed wife, there with him. and-he laughed. His reverie was not broken: the woman alone changed and he wondered how life would be with Chonita-just for time.
 And Ghonita!-she reached the house and hurried to her room, where she dropped on her knees before a little shrine. "Oh, Diosr' she said, 1T am so glad! What have l done that I should be so happy! Thank you, God"
 Slowly night came on. Supper was over, and the room was but dimly lighted by a sputtering tallow dip and the faintly fiickering blaze of the open fire in the jacal adjoining. Rawlston leaned back in his chair, slowly smol1- ing and watching Chonita as she moved about putting away the supper things, and he became duly conscious of desire to take her in his arms again, to hold her and to feel her tremble.
 After awhile she brought him cup of coffee and took from hissaddlebag a flask of cognac that he always carried there, and placed iton the table at his side. He touched her hand, and into her eyes came look of longing almost passionate, and her lips parted as though to speak. but her father enter ing the room she turned away and sank in huddIed heap on the floor at the kitchen door.
 Juan had been cleaning the rife which Rawlston had allowed him to use for a week past, and seating him. self at the table, giving the gun few finishing touches with greasy rag, he exclaimed: "Ah, senor, it is a grand gun. Madre de Dios, but the shots made! l would give my soul for such one!"
 Not being the devil, Juan, I cannot take your soul, but what else will you give?" said Rawlston.
 'Senor. have nothing but my two burros and a cow-I might spare q lit tie maze and frijoles, too, perhaps.n
 Rawlston laughed, then poured some cognae into the coffee, drank it, and leaning back against the wall. said 'Juan, I'll give you the rifle if you will give me"
 "What?s cried Juan.