The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-08-30

Gc1Ou9 OF Juan,e 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. IF You viii 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
| grfeves me much because all Of my
life have yearned for carriage and
q silk mantel"
Yes, and so you should have"
urged the rurale, as If 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 a
lady. He drew from his pocket a
revorsa and put it into her hands.
Never had she seen fabric SO fine.
We will go tonight after the dance,
1t will be better not to tell your IA
Their until after our marriage. Place
this reyorsa 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 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
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. If she could only hear him
speak. If he would approach to kill
her. it would be better than this eat
ing silence.
| Suddenly firm tread passed in
1 front of her casa. She knew his step.
She heard Juan arouse his mother in
the silence of the night. Mother, l
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
a slow step. step. fainter and fainter.
until she could no longer deceive her
ear into counting the step. Juan had
i gone and buried her out of his life.
She listened a few minutes in the
4 hope that he might return, then she
unclenched her singing palm from
the leather thongs Of the couch. She
arose, and, feeling the soft bulge 81
the lace revorsa, she took it from her
dress and stamped it into the dirt Of
the floor If she ran through the
breecha. which cut on 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 filed with
the pink reflection Of the sun. AZ the
crossroad she stopped for breath for
the first time aJuan. Juan. Juan!'