The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-20

( Frru thc san Fraaeisco Call
\ month ago the bodies of Carmen
/ Rodriguez and Fernando EscalOn were
buried side by side in the little graveyard
OF Chalchuapa Salvador
These were the sad tidinCs that tTe
steamer Colon brought last week There
was weeping in the little colony Of sal
vadoreans. there was mourning among
the numerous friends that the 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 III SalTa dor
read more ike 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
n little child Of ten she was brought here
to the Convent Of the Sacred Heart To he
educated With her broken English tEat
fell softer than honey from the comb and
her gentle manners she won the hearts
Of sisters and pupils. She stayed a year
or two in the convent and then returned
TO Santa Ana. her SalvadoTean home. In
a few months she came back for another
year IN a fashionable private school
Carmen was a great fayorite. Her month
~ allowance beftted a rich coffee plant
er'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 il over the circle Of admiring
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 dashins
senior. commandant of the fort of Chalchu
apa young and handsome.
MY parents say no she added, "bUt
I will marry him OF kill myself
Don't look that way" the timid ones
would plead: you frighten us. Ugh
For Carmen had a habit Of punctuating
that statement with a flourish of knife or
scissors.
Carmen ard EscaIOn.
Her friends knew her little romance by
heart. During her last visit home her
father had taken her from Santa Ana 30
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 to 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 senOTita is mdrriageable; |
not because the COmmdndant was not a
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 |
BTaCimonte, the wealthiest 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 Francisco.
They met sooner than either had dared |
TO hope. In 1894 revolution broke out i'm |
EZeta the President. on |
one side; Gutierrez, the rebel leader. on |
the Otner- Gutierrez captured the fort
of Santa Ana. The garrison Simplv sur
rendered to him without a struggle. and |
other smaller forts followed the example |
OF santa Ana. That is, all but One-tbe |
fort OF ChalChuapa, commanded BY Fer |
nandO EscalOn. He braVely resisted the |
attack o. the rebels, but his soldiers re |
fused TO stdnu with him. The fort was 1
captured. Gutierrez held life a trifie more 1
valuable than most Central American
leaders, so instead of shooting EscaIOn |
he banished him from Salvador Very
naturally EScdlOn chose San Francisco
As his refuge during exile. Carmen saw
him during school visiting hours and out |
Tor Wdtchful teachers are as naUsht |
when schoomates are faithful allies.
Girl friends advised Carmen Ia ,ls.,.
at once. Escalon planned their eIo,s-
ment. but Carmen hesitated a fatal
month '"i
The very day on which they were to n.
married SenOr Rodriguez made his an
emo
The senor had set sail for San Francis.
co the moment he heard that FscsIon
ndd CHOSEN that city as a place Of refIte.
Senor Rodriguez kept Carmen c0uetantI,.
under his eye until the steamer W
ready 10 return 10 Salvador Before "a.
vessel sailed she managed 70 get a Iattn,
10 her lover explaining her dilemma ana
JniOldlng plan whereby they cOuId Co |
respond without their letters being mt
cepted. inter
Defed Her Father.
Carmen had learned more t7a, tho
English language in America. Sha -
learned that girls refuse to MARI, tT,l.
suItor OF their parents choice. PIeadir~,
and threats alike failed 10 gam ner con,
sent 10 marry SenOr BFacim0nte. Her re
iusals only made that gentleman more
determined 10 win her. Carmen b-srI
from Escalon, and "a I,r, -
he was faithful she resolved meyer ~
marry another. Her girl friends I'm SAINT.
Ana wondered at her courage in d3rira, IN
defy parental wishes. Their eld-rs sbl.cL
heir heads knowingly and talked a. .be
-oOlishness Of educating girls abroad
SenOr Rodriguez at last lost all M
,ience- The feast Of Semana Sauts as
close al hand. Carmen was to b.. tho l.,,
trail figure Of a float.
After the fiesta you shall marry -2r,cf-
monte declared her father.
So they worked for days and Gs,,s 90,
beautiful white gown Of shearest In
and finest lace, which was 10 De he- ri-,rt