The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-20

know how she loved him. Then she
would be happy. Wait, wait! Alas!
alas! Chonita!
Already, though she knew it not,
he had forgotten her and the days gone
by. Already there had crept into his
heart a love more pure, more holy. a
maiden of his own land had won him
with her gentle ways. A maiden whom,
when Texas should be free, he would
call his wife A maiden with eyes as
blue as his own, whose feet had always
trodden sedately. He had never really
loved before; ah, no!
Chonita watched him jealously. Iii
the brief times of peace, when the war
for little space lulled its fury, she
would hold his horse for hours before
the little house covered with vines.
patient, though her eyes burned. All
for loves sweet sake. All, Chonita, love
is cruel! Many have died of it for theel
At last she saw the maid. Saw him
linger and kiss her at the door, while
the silver moonlight flooded the gar
den. The days were never the same
after that. The noisy camp wearied
her. All, she longed for the old city!
She longed for the lights, the music,
the applause, the roses showered at
her feet. She longed to dance fiercely,
madly; to dance till her brain should
reel and she should fall exhausted, uu-
conscious. Patience, Chonita; soon
comes the end.
There came a night of horror. At
last the walls were down, and over the
fallen stones poured the invaders. Into
the thicllest of the fight she followed
him. Many times she threw herself
between him and the flashing death.
Many time her hand was stained with
the blood of those who had kissed it.
Many a time she forced back the hun
cry steel that threatened him. Weary
and wounded, all, all for him, hoping
that shot or shell would still her aching
heart. Chonita, Chonita! who would
know thee now?
Suddenly she saw in the hands of
her countrymen the maid he had kissed.
He could not reach her, and they were
dragging her away. Chonita's eyes
glowed. If she were gone the old love
would return. She would lneel at his
feet, show him her wounds; ah, surely
then he would remember. The devil
whispered in her heart, and for a mo-
ment she listened willingly. Then she
saw the anguish on the face she loved,
and with one last despairing look, she
sprang forward. Fiercely she fought
them back, freeing their captive. She
dragged her to a place Of shelter, and
standing before her defended her with
the fury of a Iioness until help could
reach them.
Was it for this she had left her home?
Was it for this she had followed him?
Was it for this she had suffered? Her
eyes were blinded, she grew dizzy, her
strength faltered. Courage; they are
coming! A dozen hands are on her;
CHEEKY voices sound in her ears; strong
arms support her. Too late! too late!
Beyond their praise or blame she lies
wounded unto death by those who
would have died for her! Farewell,
Chonita!
Little feet, dance no more; thou
must be quiet now through all eter-
nifty. Lips, thou dost not feel the kisses
of anguish which he, knowing all too
late thy faithfulness, showers upon
thee. Eyes, thou canst not raise thy
dark, fringed curtains to see the tears
he sheds for thee. All, Chonita! low
lies thy head! Never more will the
old city ring with thy name. Never
more will thy laughing face lure men
to love thee! Yet in the soft moon
light evenings shall be sung the
story of thy love, for thou vert
faithful. Not for thy beauty, thy Won
drous grace, thy cruelty, do they re-
member thee, but for thy death for
loves sweet sake. Sleep well, Chonita!
Radiant, beautiful as herself, there
grows on the grave of Chonita the pas
sion flower. Never dropping, never
fading, year by year it climbs higher
under the cloudless skies. It's the soul
of the maiden, which, not pure enough
to enter Heaven, was yet, by virtue OF
her love and faith, saved from eternal
punishment. The sun and the south
wind kiss it lovingly, and its beauty is
unsurpassed. But some day the bios
SONS will wither and fall to the ground.
Then will the soul of Chonita enter
Heaven, and her sins be forgiven her.
Leslie's Illustrated Monthly.