The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-09-05

tie brief times Of peace, when the var
for a little space lulled It's fury, she
would hold his horse for hours before
the little house covered With vines
patient. though her eyes burned. Al
for loves sweet sake. Al, ChanIta. love
is cruel, Many have died Of Il for theei
At last she saw the maid. Saw INN
linger and kiss her ST the door, while
the silver moonlight flooded the gar.
den. The days were never the same
after that. The noisy camp wear1ed
her. All. she Ionged for the old city.
She longed for the lights. the music,
the applause. the roses sh0wered al
her feet. She longed 10 dance flerceiy.
madlv: 10 dance till her brain should
reel. and she should fall exhausted. u
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 thickest of the fight she followed
him. Many times she threw herself
between him and the flashing death.
Many a time her hand was stained VITA
the blood of those who had kissed II
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 Eeach her. and they were
dragging her away. Chonita's EYES
glOwed II she were gone the old love
would return. She would kneel at his
feet, show him her wounds: ah, surely
then he would remember. The devil
whispered in her heart, and for 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 place Of shelter, and
standing before her defended her with
the fury of Koness 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 fal1ered. 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 herl Farewell.
I Chonita.
J 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 toe
I late thy faithfulness, showers upef
thee. Ewes. thou canst not raise thy
dark. fringed curtains 70 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 ntel'
/ to love thee. Yet in the soft moon
I light evenings shall be sung the
story of thy love. for thou vert
I faithful. Not for thy beauty. thy woE-
drous grace, thy cruelty. do they re-
member thee. but for thy death for
I loves sweet sake. Sleep well. Chonitai
! Radiant, beautiful as herself. there
grows on the grave of Ghonita the pas
sion flower Never dropping, never
fading, year by year it climbs higher
under the cloudlesS skies. tbs the soul
of the maiden. which, not pure enough
TO enter Heaven. was yet, by virtue OF
I her love and faith. saved from eternal
Z 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.
l Then viii the soul of Chonita enter
Heaven. and her sins be forgiven her
Leslie's illustrated Monthly.