Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-01


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 1t had failed; yet even had 1t 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 80 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, / 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
look. you are going toto her!" she
cried, throwing her arm violently
toward the photograph. you are go
ing to the woman who wrote you this
MOP" and she tore the letter across
and threw it from her. mo! but you
shall not gor' she continued She
has no right to you. You are mine
minel" Majestically she stood gazing
at him for an instant; then the little
figure forgot its queenly bearing and
dropped wcarily-fell at his feet-sob-
bling out tenderly: "Ah, say it is not
so-you are all the one have to love-
all / havel"
He touched one little hand that rest
ed on his knee. Poor little thingr' he
said. poor little thingr'
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 her be-
| ieve that he would return? Yes, why
not? 1t would make it easy for her
now, and in time she would learn to
| forget. He lifted her gently up and
folded her in his arms. ''Chonita," he
said, 81 will come back to you, dear. I
must go, but it is only for little
while, few months You can wait
for me with your father at the rancho
only for few months, sweetheart"
She drew herself from his arms and
sat on his knee, her dark eyes watch
ing the fire very softly. Suddenly she
turned and gazed at him for long
while, then said slowly: ..... ..... 3 .....
you are not going to her, and you
will return to me?'
He said, 81 am not going to her, and
/ will return to you"
| She looked him in the eyes, and
seemed to doubt. After awhile she
arose, and taking the photograph from
the shelf, she brought it to him, say
ing:
Tear it and throw it in the fire
MOP" .....s...
He hesitated an instant, then arose.
The hot blood came to his face; then,
because he pitied her, he made the
} sacrifce-and she believed.
A few days later he left the mine,
J and, sending his servants on with the
pack-train toward Guadalupe Y Calvo,
he took Chonita to her fathers home.
} With Juan he made his peace with
more pesos than the old man had ever
hoped to possess, but he told him, as
J he had Chonita, that he would return.
: The following morning, when all
was ready for his departure, and at
the last moment, he went to where
Chonita sat weeping in the doorway
: and took her hands and drew her up to
him
r "Pobrecito," he said, poor little
thing, you are only child. Would tc
S God we had never metl Poor little
r hearth
She turned her face to his shoulder
P and buried it against his neck, sobbinl
. gently. He wound his arms about hel
/ and held her close to him. He let hel
s cry for awhile, then he drew her fac
o close to his He kissed 1t and put i
t back in its resting place, pressing hi
9 lips to her hair. After awhile he pu
: her gently from him, slowly passed t.
d where his mule awaited, slowly mount
It ed-she ran after him, stretched on
her arms. a cry was on her lips
Some one caught her by the arm an
o said: mo use running after him, girl
/ He's gone for good. You will have t
find another lover"
o Through her tears she saw at he
q sids tall, lank Texan, who had al
l rived early that morning from tn
mines with message for Rawlstor
"Gone for goodv she echoed. mo! 81
D. is coming back to me!'
~ 1.-The new boss says he is going mort
to marry another girl. You won't Sc
70 him again." and the Texan turned tc
u ward the corral to get his mule.
"Gonel' she cried. Lied to me an
~ gone to marry-no God in Heaven
u she shall not have him, he is minel
u; and with her eyes flashing with rag
~ she caught up her fathers rifle, whic
rested against the house-the one wit
which she had been bought-and hui
ried after him. ...
On 1t was only little way; then sh
ho paused and threw the rifle to he
M shoulder calling: Jack! Jack! milo
CT and then with all the tenderness of he