The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-13
ROMANCE OF
THE FAR SOUTH.
Modern Romeo and Juliet Of Central
America,
ENDED WITH A SIMILAR TRAGEDY
Daughter OF the Rodriguez Family
Loved the Dashing Command
ant Fernando EscOiOn but
Match Was Opposed.

A month agos the bodies OF Carmen
Rodriguez and Tornado Escalon were
buried side by side In the little graveyard
of Chalchuapa. Salvador.
These were the sad tllings that the
steamer Colon brought last week. There
was weeping in the lltue colony OF Sal
yadoreans. there was mourning among
the numerous friends that the unfortunate
lovers had made during their life n this
city.
The story that led up 20 This painful
double tragedy Is one that could happen
only m Central America The early love-
the desperate attempt Of the lovers 90 D'
united despite parental opposition. ana tho
way whirigig fortune played with their
faies during two revolutions in Salvador
read more ike fiction than plain every
day happenings I'm this rushing close Of
the century.
Both the lovers were very well known
here Carmen Rodriguez spent much or
her short young life in san Francisco. AZ
little child oi ten she was brought here
to the Convent of the Sacred Heart 10 bc
educated. with her broken English chat
fell softer than honey from the COMB and
her gentle manners she won the hearts or
sisters and pupils. She stayed d year
or two in she convent and then returned
tO Santa Ana. her Sslv3dOrean home. Don
"a few months she came back for another
year in n fashionable private school.
Carmen was great favorIte. Her MONTH
ly allowance bcutted rich coffee plant
cr's daughter and she was AS generous as
she was pretty.
After another snort absence Carmen re-
turned tO san Francisco for a third time
and was placed in another fashionable
b0arding-sch0Ol. She was now fifteen
years old, tain. with the dangerous, info-
lent air of her couutryw0mcn, ana par
of big black ewes swept by "a tull iuch oi
dark curling ashes. 100 the hours Wnen
the Girls sat ana told each other every
thing just because twas dark carmen
qucencd it over the circle OF admiring
srh0o'mates For she had a real lover:
Not merely a stage hero or creature or
'he girllsh imagination tnat stalks the
revories OF sweet sixteen, hut d1sh'ns
senior. commanlaut of ths FORT of Oh'l-
chuapa. young and handsome.
MY parents say 'uo she added, Dut
I will marry him or hll myscif''
Don't look that way. The timld ones
would plead. "y0u Brighten us. Ugh
For Carmen had % habit n punctlatlng
that statement with a flourish OF knife or
SCISSORS.
CARMEN AND EsCALO%.
Her friends knew hor little romance BY
heart During her last visit home ner
father had taken her from santa Ana to
the fortress OF Chalchuapa, some miles
distant. The dashiug young commandanl
fresh from the schools Of France ana
England. straightway fell In love with
her They found time and place away
from parental eyes To VOW eternal love.
mi fFf.f as. n4 ana 9
OF rings and pictures. Finally adorned
fin an his gold lace Fernando Escalon,
commandment Of the Tort u Chalchuapa.
asked Senior Rodriguez for the hand or
his daughter Carmen.
Senior Rodriguez said no very forclbly.
Not because his daughter was TOO young
for AZ fifteen senOrita IS marraseaDie'
not because the commandment was not a
splendid match. but because there was
already a favored suitOr-Eduardo Bfaci-
monte-owner OF vast plantations.
Carmen was Immediately sent back TO
school in San Francisco. and told thar on
her return home she must wed Senior
Bracimonte, the wealthcst tnquero IN
Santa Ana.
To Fernando she promised that this
would never be- Then praying that their
separation would not be Tor long, she SET
sail for san Francisco.
They met sooner than either had dared
b hope. In 1921 revolution broke out Ia
Salyador-Carlos Ezeta. the President, on
one side: Gutierrez the rebel leader, on
the other Gutierrez captured The rort
OF Santa Ana. The garrison simply sur
rendered to him without struggle ana
other smaller forts followed the example
OF Santa Ana. That is. all but one-the
fort OF Chalchuapa, commanded BY Fer
nanIo Escalon. lie brayely resisted the
attack OF the rebels but his soldiers re-
fused to stand with him. The fort was
captured. Gutierrez held life a trlhe more
valuable than most Central American
leaders. so instead OF shooting Escalon
he banshed him from Salvador. Very
naturally Escalon chose San Francisco
as his refuge during exile Carmen saw
him during school visiting hours and out
for watchful teachers are as naught
when schoolmates are faithful allies.
Girl friends advised Carmen to marry
az once. Escalou planned their elope-
ment. but Carmen hesitated fatal
month.
The very day on which they we're 20 be
married Senior Rodriguez made his APP
pearauce and spoiled their arrangements.
The senior had set sail for san Francis
co the moment he heard that Escalon
had chosen that city az place OF refuge.
Senior Rodriguez kept Carmen constantly
under his eye until the steamer was
ready to return to salvador. Before the
vessel sailed she managed to get a letter
a. - ,o..... e.,f,fpfpor har dilaprua and