The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-08-21

call ms Wlfe. \ II WIN th t.~ 1--
blue as his own. who q feet had always
trodden selately. He -hid never really
loved before; an, no, e. "
Chonita watched him je1iously. Ia
the brief times of peace. when the war
for little space lulled its fury. she
would hold his ilos1se 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 ii for thee,
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 sarI-;
after that. The noisy camp wearied
her. All. she longed for the old CITY.
She longed for the lights, the -nrsir
the applause, the roses show,red m
her feet. She longed To dance tigIceiy
madly; To dance till her brain should
reel. and she should fall exhausted. W.
conscious. Patience, Chonit.l; soon
comes the end. - -. 81
There came a night of horror ~
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 with
the blood of those who had kissed IL
Many time she forced hack the hun
CRY steel that threatened him. Weary
and wounded. all, all for him. hoping
that shot or shell would still her achir.
heart. Chonita. Chonitai who would
know thee now? ==s-a&--.
=. Il. =.
her countIymen the maid he had kissed
He could not reach her. and they were
dragging her away. Chonita's ekcS
glowed. If she were gone the old love
would return She would kneel al his
feet, show him her wounds; an. 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 vii u
the fury of a lioneSS until help could
reach them.
Was it for this she had left her hoE'e2
Was ii for this she had followed him
Was it for this she had suffered Her
eyes were blinded, she grew dizzy. her
strength falIered. Courage; they are
coming \ dozen hands are on her:
CHEEKY voices sound in her ears: strong
arms support her. Too late, too late,
Beyond their praise OF blame she lieS
wounded unto death by those who
would have died for her, Farewell,
Chonitai
Little feet. dance no more: thou
must be quiet DOW through all etcr-
nifty. Lips, thou dost not feel the kisses
of anguish which he, knowing all too
late thy faithfulness. showers upon
thee. Eyes, thou canst net raIse thy
dark, fringed curtains tn 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 nieE
Ia 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. 'Tis the soul
of the maiden, which, not pure enough
To enter Heaven, was yet by vlrJu" OF
her love and faith saved from eternal
punishment. The sun and the SouUn
wind kiss it lovingly. and its beauty l.
unsurpassed. But some day the bios
SONS will wither and fall 10 the ground
Then VIII the soul of Chonita enter
Heaven, and her sins be forgiven her
Leslie's Illustrated Monthly.