The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20

From thn san Francisco call
4 month ago the bodies OF Carmen
Rodriguez and Fernando EscaiOn were
buried side by side in the little graveyard
Of Chalchuapa. Salvador.
These were the sad tidinEs that tire
steamer Colon brought last week. There
was weeping in the little colony Of sal
yadoreans. there was mourning among
the numerous friends that he unfortunate
lovers had made during their life in this
city
The story that led UP TO this painful
double tragedy is one that could happen
only in Central America. The early love,
the desperate attempts Of the lovers to be
united despite parental opposition. and the
way WhiTligig fortune played with their
fates during two revolutions in Salvador
read more like fiction than plain every
day happenings in this rushing close Of
the century
Both the lovers were very well known
here. Carmen Rodriguez spent much Of
her short young life in san Francisco. As
little child Of ten she was brought here
TO the Convent of the Sacred Heart to be
educated With her broken English that
fell softer than honey from the comb and
her gentle manners she won the hearts
of sisters and pupils. She stayed year
or two in the convent and then returned
to Santa Ana, her Salvadorean home. In
a few months she came back for another
year in a fashionable private school.
Carmen was a great faYOTite. Her month
ly allowance befitted rich coffee plant
eT's daughter. and she was as generous As
she was pretty.
After another short absence Carmen re-
turned to San Francisco for a third time
and was placed in another fashionable
boarding school She was now fifteen
years old. tall. with the languOrous. indo-
lent air of her CoUntrywomen, and a pair
of big black eyes swept by a full inch of
dark. curling lashes. In the hours when
the girls sat and told each other every
thing just because twas dark, Carmen
queened it over the circle Of admiriug
sChoolmates. For she had a real lover!
Not merely a stage hero or a creature of
the girlish Imagination that stalks the
reveries of sweet sixteen, but a dashing
senor, commandant of the fort of Chalchu-
apa. young and handsome.
MY parents say no " she added. but
viii marry him or Kill myself
Don't look that way" the timid ones
would plead; you frighten us. Ugh"'
For Carmen had a habit Of punctuat!ng
that statement with d flourish of knife or
scissors
Carmen ard Escalon.
Her friends knew her little romance by
heart. During her last visit home her
father had taken her from Santa Ana TO
the fortress of Chalchuapa, some miles
distant The dashing young cOmmandant
fresh from the schools of France and
England, straightway fell in love with
her They found time and place away
from parental eyes 10 VOW eternal love.
There were frequent meetings, exchanges
of rings and pictures. Finally, adorned
in all his gold lace, Fernando ESCalOn.
commandant of the fort of Chalchuapa.
asked Senior Rodriguez for the hand Of
his daughter Carmen.
Senor Rodriguez said no very fOrcibly
Not because his daughter was too young,
for at fifteen a senOrita is marTiageable;
not becaGse the cOmmandant was not
splendid match; but because there was
already a favored suitOr-EduardO Braci-
mOnte-OWner of vast plantations.
Carmen was Immediately sent back to
school in San Francisco, and told that on
her return home Sne must wed SenOr
BrdCimonte. the wedlthiest finquerO in
Santa Ana.
To Fernando she promised that this
would never be. Then praying that their
separation would not be for long, she set
sail for San Franc SEQ.
They met sooner than either had dared
10 hope. In 1891 revolution broke out i'm
SalvadOr-CarlOs Ezeta. the President, on
one side; Gutierrez, the rebel leader, on
the otner. Gufiz:rez captured the fort
of Santa Ana. The garrison simply sur
rendered TO him without a struggle. and
other smaller forts followed the example
of Santa Ana That is, all but one-the
fort OF Chdlchuapd, commanded BY Fer
nando EscalOn. He bravely resisted the
attack o. the rebels but his soldiers re-
captured. Gutierrez held life a trifie more
valuable than most Central American
leaders, so instead of shooting Escalon
he banished him from Salvador Very
naturally EscalOn chose San Francisco
as his refuge during exile. Carmen saw
him during school visiting hours and out
Tor Watchful teachers are as uaught
when schoOlmates are faithful allies.
Girl friends advised Carmen 10 marry
at once Escalon planned their clone
ment, but Carmen hesitated a fafsI
month.
The very day on which they were to be |
married Senor Rodriguez made his an
Pc eaTance and spoiled their 40 ,,o,ar,,..,,-F !
The senor had set sail for San Francis |
co the moment he heard that EscsIoy |
had chosen that city as place Of ref1,l,e
SenOr Rodriguez kept Carmen corstantl,. !
under his eye until the steamer VS.
ready 20 return 10 salvador Before the
vessel sailed she managed TO get a Iettar
10 her lover explaining her dilemma ana |
Unfolding a plan whereby they cOnid CO., CO.
respond without their letters being infer
cepted. ''i'ei
Defied Her Father.
Carmen had learned more than the
English language in America. She Ia
learned that girls refuse TO MARI H. |
suiJOr Of their parents choice. .pIe,dfD, |
and threats alike failed To gam ner cor. |
sent TO marry Senior Bracimonte Her 20
fusals only made that gentleman roo.e /
determined 70 win her Carmen b-srI /
from EscalOn. and az I9uo % |
he was faithful she resolved meyer IN /
marry another. Her girl friends i'm S,,r,
Ana wondered az her courage. in darip, IN /
defy parental wishes. rheir elders sh.,L 1
their heads knowingly and talked o. fbe /
fOOlishness Of educating girls abroad
SenOr Rodriguez at last lost all ns-
tience. The feast Of Semana SANTA Vas
close al hand. Carmen was TO be the con-
trail figure Of float
After the fiesta YOU shall marry -}r5cI- |
monte declared ner father
So they worked for days and DAYS a, q
beautiful white gown OF sheeresr Inn
and finest lace, which was to be he- riasr,
and wedding gown Carmen had ag !4st
given her consent. On The last Fav of
Semand Santa from her seat on tho ficg1
Carmen smiled al the people afd csgerf /
the gaTlands Of flowers which th-v fT,ss
I'd her.
Suddenly. they heard a scream. and
Carmen. cIutching her white gowl. faiI