Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-22
JUANITA.

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) JUANITA. Z
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t A Story Of Old Mexico.
The little town of San Carlos is SO
much like most other little Mexican
towns that 1t 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, it
seems insignificant to degree, and
naturally it is not down on the map
such towns rarely are. Its few fields,
bravely struggling against the heat
and drought, are but sparsely watered
by little creek which flows from
ravine close by, and which seems to
disappear into thirsty earth few
hundred yards farther on. San Carlos
itself is composed merely of few
gray abode houses clustered together
around 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,
here 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-possibly because
she knew nothing of the great world
beyond-she never even thought of
leaving 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 us her dowry,
which, united to those which Pedro
owned, would make them the largest
land owners in the village? 1t was
certainly 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 sparkling cup to the
health of Pedro and his fair young
oflde.,
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 GER
tain bright morning there had ridden
up to the door of her fathers hut one
of band of Americans who were
prospecting In the gray mountains
that lay away over to the west. He
was fine looking young fellow, and
for man who had been prospecting
for two years under the fierce sun Of
old Mexico lie was remarkably fair
and then his blue eyes had 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, n 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 dOffed 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 flattercd him not n
little. Still he had almost forgotten
her when he had finished bargaining
with her father for provisions for him
Snvf On1 htc wilt L. ~
succeed In getting only Mt the payment
of fabulous sum, and when he turn
ed 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 old
man detected the start and ordered
his daughter hastily into the house.
Ever since that time Juanlta's
thoughts had been in dire conflict with
one another, and late tnat night when
all was quiet in the village she had
crept noislessly into the little chanel.
and, kneeling before the time-worr
image of the Holy Mother, had pray.
ed, with tears streaming down her
cheeks, that she would direct her and
help her to forget. But far IN among
the hills on the great range that over.
looks San Carlos the prospector was
standing alone, whistling softly to
himself and gazing down into the
wide plain Mt his feet. Some little dis
lance behind him his companions lay
sleeping, and on fiat rock which an