The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-04-05
JUANITA.
A Story Of Old Mexico.
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A Story Of Old Mexico.
The little town of San Carlos IL 80
much like most other little. Mexican
towns that IL hardly needs any careful
description. Lying as 1t does In the
heart of that vast wilderness Of Old
Mexico; tiny patch Of green on the
face of the sun-scorched earth, 1t
seems Insignificant to a degree, and
naturally 1t IL not down on the map
such towns rarely are. It's few fields,
bravely struggling against the heat
and drought, are but sparsely watered
BY q little creek which flows from
ravine close by, and which seems to
disappear into a thirsty earth a few
hundred yards farther on. San Carlos
itself 10 composed merely Of a few
gray abode houses clustered together
around a square little plaza, and the
remnants of what had once been
tiny chapel, built hundreds Of years
before by the old Spanish fathers, and
still standing, crumbling, time-worn
monument to their memory.
Yet primitive as was the little town,
aere Juanita had lived all the happy
eighteen years of her life, and right
here she was contented to stay until
she should be laid away beside her
sleeping grandfathers and great
grandfathers in the little graveyard
beside the chapel, for she loved the
dear old place; and-posably because
abe knew nothing Of the great world
beyond-she never even thought of
saving 1t. Then, too, there was an
other and still stronger reason. Her
father, old Don Jose, had promised
her to the son of his oldest and dearest
friend, who had fought with him
years before in the war with the hated
Americans and who had been wound
ed In the battle of Cerro Gordo be-
fore the famous old City Of Mexico it.
self. Now secretly-this was just
what the young people had desired.
Pedro and Juanita had grown up to-
gether from childhood. They had been
constant companions, and were they
not the handsomest couple In the
whole broad valley? Had not Juanita
all her fathers lands as her dowry,
which, united to those which Pedro
owned, would make them the largest
and owners in the village? 1t was
certainly q most desirable match, and
the two old men congratulated each
other, as old men will who have seen
their fondest hopes fulfilled, and
empted many a sparkling cup to the
health Of Pedro and his fair young
bride. s-
But now Juanita was sorely troubled.
Everything had gone along smooth
ly as ever until one day something had
happened which bid fair to upset all
their plans for the future. On q GER
tain bright morning there had ridden
up to the door Of her fathers hut one
Of a band of Americans who were
prospecting In the gray mountains
that lay away over to the west He
was q fine looking young fellow, and
for man who had been prospecting
for two years under the fierce sun Of
old Mexico be was remarkably fair,
and then his blue eyes had a frank
expression about them which was far
different from the ever-suspicious
glance which characterized the men
of that quaint country. He wore the
usual dress Of men Of his occupation,
loose blue flannel shirt and corduroy
trousers tucked In at the top Of his
heavy boots, q red handkerchief knot
ted carlessly around his neck and huge
Mexican spurs dangling from his
heels.
Juanita had been standing In the lit
tie opening on the opposite side Of the
| house and had not seen him until he
was almost beside her, so that it ap-
peared to her as If he must have sud
denly sprung from Mother Earth.
Harding had seen her about the
same instant she had seen him, and as
| he dotted his wide sombrero and asked
In imperfect Spanish to see the don.
| unconsciously his pulse quickened.
| Juanti was really very beautiful
Mexican girl, by far the most beauti-
| full creature he had seen during the
whole course Of his stay In that dis
mally arid country, and the expression
ON the girls face fiattered him not a
i little. Still he had almost forgotten
her when he had finished bargaining
with her father for provisions for him
self and his men, which he did at last
succeed in getting only at the payment
OF q fabulous sum. and when he turn
cd and saw her standing where he
had left her he started and would
have spoken had he not felt the pierre
ing little black eyes Of Don Jose fas
tened upon him. As 1t was, the ole
man detected the start and ordered
his daughter hastily into the house.
Ever since that time Juanitat
thoughts had been In dire conflict witl
one another. and late laat night wheI
al was quiet in the village she hat
crept noislessly into the little chapel
and, kheeling before the time-worl
n image Of the Holy Mother, had pray
! ed, with tears streaming down he
cheeks, that she would direct hen AM
help her to forget. But far up anon
the hills on the great range that oveI
!. looks San Carlos the prospector wa
! standing alone. whistling softly {
Il himself and gazing down into til
. | wide plain at his feet. Some little dis
A lance behind him his companions La
, / slesping. ana on a nat rock which IN
. swered for q table. some one had Over
d turned the coffee pot and dark, ooz
stream was slowly running down tn
j aide. One Of the men moved littl
| In his sleep Harding started an
looked around at him. Then as III
imoon rose slowly above the peaks b