The Princeton union., 1895-07-18

self at the table, giving the gun few
finishing touches with a greasy rag,
he exclaimed, "Ah, senior, it Is a grand
gun. Madre de Dios, but the shots I IL
made! I would give my soul for such
a one" N I# # Hi.
.'Not being the devil, Juan, I cannot
take your soul, but what else will you
give me?''. said Rawlston.
"Senor, have nothing but my two
sburrCs and a GOVT might spare ait
tie maize and frijoles, too, perhaps
/ Rawls.on laughed then poured some
cognac into his coffee, drank 1t, and,
leaning back against the wall, said:
!" Juan, I'll give you the rifle il you will
give me-.
'What?" cried Juan.
"Chonita''
Juan sprang to his feet and Rawls-
ton reached for his revolver, but lie
had no need. The father turned to the
girl and led her to Rawlston, placing
her hand in his, saying: 1t is well,
senior; 81, sta 'ueno. You are rich and
will be good to her. Yes, it is well,"
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 mine, seemed,
with their meagre yet comfortable fur
nishing, a perfect palace to Chonita,
and the clothing that came from Qua
dalupe for her use amazed the girl.
She could not understand that she was
to wear slippers and stockings every
day, neither 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 garment, her hair in disor-
der and barefoOted. When he would
demonstrated she would laugh and
throw her arms about her neck and
kiss him, but after awhile she grew
accustomed to her new mode of dress.
The days passed into months, but
they did not bring to Rawlston the
case off, life he had hoped for when
he brought Chonita to his home; and
he wondered why the ideal was al
ways more beautiful than the real.
After all, it had only been an expert
ment, and it had failed; yet even had
it not, he realized that eventually he
would haye 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. ~.<s Aa ~
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 a little heap
in the warmth, and with her head pill
lowed against his knee. The loose
leaves of letter that he had been
reading slipped from his hand, scat
tering over the floor, and from them
arose. a faint perfume that caused a
pang Of jealousy to enter the girls
heart, for she knew it was from a
woman from whom almost every mail
brought him a letter-a woman whose
likeness rested on the mantel shelf be-
fore her, and who he had said was but
a friend, and yet who, her instinct told
her, stood between her and the full
ness of love that should be hers. Her
eyes filled with tears as she Slowly
gathered the fallen leaves, but she
thought that, after all, she possessed
him, for he had come to her and was
with ...... Et.
"Chonita, dear, must leave you. I
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
look. "You are going toto her!' she
cried, throwing her arm violently to-
| ward the photograph. "You are going
to the woman who wrote you this
no?" and she tore the letter across
and threw it from her. :.'No! but you
shall not go!' she continued. "She has
no right to you. You are mine-minev "
! Majestically she stood gazing at him
for an instant; then the little figure
forgot it's queenly bearing and dropped
wearily-fell at his feet, sobbing out
tenderly: "Ah, say it is not so!--yor
are all have to love-all have!'
He touched one little hand that rest
! ed on his knee. Poor little thing.' he
said. ''Poor little thing!''
She lay at his feet, her whole body
quivering.
/ He could not bear to see her suffer
so. He pitied her, and he thought
Why not lie to her; why not let he]
Uc1lcfc ludC l1c WOulu IeIuiu 10 Her
Yes, why not? 1t would make it easy
for her now, and in time she woult
learn to forget. He lifted her gently
up and folded her in his arms ''Cho
nita," he .salu, II will come back, t.
you, dear. I must go, but it is onl,
for little while, a few months. Yol
can wait for me with your father a
the rancho-only for a few months
sweetheart"
She drew herself from his arms ant
sat on his knee, her dark eyes watch
ing the fire very softly. Suddenly sh
turned and gazed at him for a lonI
while, then said slowly:
"You are not going to her, and yo1
will return to me?'
He said:
! II am not going to her. and vii
return to YOU"
She looked him in the eyes, an
seemed to doubt. After awhile sh
arose, and taking the photograph fror
the shelf, she brought it to him, say
. ing, ''Tear it and throw it in the fire
, no?'
He hesitated an instant, then arosl
The hot blood came to his face; thel