Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-11-09

rurale were sitting on the thong couch
OF old Pedro. They seemed uncon-I
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 a aenorita 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 rs II by
bands OF steel. But. don't you know"
said the low voice of Carmelita. that
Juan has always intended to marry
met 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 a
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. neverI Oh, this
grieves me much because all OF my
life have I yearned for carriage and
a silk mantel." tAttt
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 lace
revorsa for your journey into the
city. The dresses we can purchase
Immediately after our arrival and
you can be dressed as betting,
lady" He drew from his pocket n
revorsa and put II into her hands.
Never had she seen a fabric 30 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 1t
tonight at the time of your departure"
With these words he pressed her to
him and said: Promise" yes"
she said thoughtfully. The fingers or
Juan had been running along the edge
OF his stilleto until this last word and
this last hope. Instead of plunging
1t into the back of the rurale, let me
keep 1t 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
40 YUAN ohO ddnCCu i0bb BdAiy Nudn
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. II he would approach to kill
her. II 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 his mother in
the silence of the night. Mother. I
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 IT 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
unclenched her stinging palm from
the leather thongs of the couch. She
arose. and, feeling the soft bulge of
the lace revorsa, she took II from her
dress and stamped It into the dirt of
the floor. II she ran through the
breecha, which cut off two kilometers
Of distance to the road Juan had Ia.
ken. she could reach the crossing
point before Juan arrived there.
It was nearing the hour of dawn
when she reached the crossing OF the
road The Mexican sky was filled with
the pink reflection OF the sun. At the
crossroad she stopped for breath for
the fret time-"Juan Juan. Juan!"
was the silent voice within For a
time she thought he had passed She
was about to hasten on when the click
OF horses hoof held her. Not for a
second did she doubt that II might not
be Juan. Life was returning to her
again as she fell on her knees The
faint shadow OF a horse and nan
was approaching. Not daring to meet
HIS gaze. she buried her face in her
arms. His horse stopped OF its own
accord in front OF her. Juan urged
II gently with his foot, then he sat
looking at the figure In the road Not
until he had jumped to his feet did
he recognize Carmelita His hand
passed in front OF his eyes as II
brushing away a vision when a sob
aroused him. "Carmelita," he said
She did not lift her face till he him.
self lifted II and held It long be-
tween his hands. Neither knew how
all happened after that, but he held
her closely and she chung to him with
a.. l.
horse In front Of him and turned che
horse for the walk homeward