The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-09-07


ruraie were sitting on the thong couch
OF old Pedro. They seemed uncon-
scious Of Juan's presence In the door
way. The rurale was telling her OF
his great wealth in the city: You
are too pretty senorita to live hid
den in the forest II you will come
to the city with me, there to marry.
you would be known by the people Of
the world"
Juan was held to the spot as II by
bands Of steel. But. don't you know"
said the low voice of Carmelita. that
Juan has always intended to marry
me? Ever since my mothers death
my father has told Juan that he could
have me. Juan Is very brave. for he
fought at the capture of Culiacan last
year" Juan's heart leaped with
great joy. and he was about to gather
her to him, when she continued:
But Juan does not like the city. he
said never, never, never! Oh. this
grieves me much because all of my
life have yearned for a carriage and
a silk mantel"
Yes. and so you should have"
urged the rurale, as II foiling his nay,
point by point. "You can go with me
on my return. See. here Is q lace
revorsa for your journey into the
city. The dresses we can purchase
immediately after our arrival. ard
you can be dressed as BETTING a
lady" He drew from his pocket
revorsa and put 1t into her hands.
Never had she seen fabric so fine.
I'VE will go tonight after the dance.
1t will be better not to tell your ia
Their until after our marriage. Place
this revorsa in your dress and wear It
tonight at the time of your departure"
With these words he pressed her to
him and said: Promise" Yes"
she said thoughtfully. The fingers of
Juan had been running along the edge
of his stilleto until this last word and
this last hope. Instead of plunging
it into the back of the rurale. let me
keep it for myself" and he skunk away
under the glare of the noontide sun.
That night at the dance Juan was
not seen. Where is Juan?" was the
query from young and old. Carmelita
shook her head, but her mind was
busy with the same question. where
is Juan?" She danced less gaily than
she had ever done in her life
At the close Of the dance she re-
turned home with her father She
lay down to sleep for the night, but
she continually listened for the step
of Juan. II she could only hear him
speak If he would approach to kill
her. 1t would be better than this eat
ing silence
Suddenly a firm tread passed in
front OF her casa. She knew his step.
She heard Juan arouse bis mother in
the silence OF the night. Mother. !
to the other ranches-not more here.
Tomorrow follow me on burro."
She heard the creak of his saddle
as he sprang to the back of his horse.
She heard the even walk of the hoofs.
The horse did not canter, but 1t kept
slow step. step, fainter and fainter,
until she could no longer deceive her
ear into counting the step. Juan had
gone and buried her out Of his life.
She listened few minutes In the
hope that he might return, then she
nnclenched her singing palm from
the leather thongs of the couch. She
arose. and. feeling the soft bulge of
the lace revorsa, she took 1t from her
dress and stamped 1t into the dirt OF
the floor II she ran through the
breecha, which cut of two kilometers
of distance to the road Juan had Ia
ken. she could reach the crossing
point before Juan arrived there.
1t was nearing the hour Of dawn
when she reached the crossing of the
road The Mexican sky was fified with
the pink reflection Of the sun. At the
crossroad she stopped for breath for
the first time-"Juan. Juan, Juan!"-
was the silent voice within. For q
time she thought he had passed. She
was about to hasten on when the clich
Of horses hoof held her. Not for q
second did she doubt that It might moi
be Juan. Life was returning to her
again as she fell on her knees. The
faint shadow of q horse and man
was approaching Not daring to meet
his gaze, she buried her face in her
arms. His horse stopped of fits own
accord In front of her. Juan urged
it gently with his foot. then he sat
looking at the figure in the road. Not
until be had jumped to his feet did
he recognize Carmelita. His hand
passed tn front of his eyes as II
brushing away vision. when a sob
aroused him. "Carmelita," he said.
She did not lift her face till he him.
self lifted it and held 1t long be-
tween his hands. Neither knew how
all happened after that, but he held