Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-01-26

y
slant and important a part of the
daily news at present, has many tn
teresttng and typical stories based
on legends that hare been transmit
ted through centuries and are kno,On
in various forms to the whole popu-
lation, high and lou. Many origi-
mated in Spain, and some of these
haze so Moorish q flavor that they
convey an arabian Nights atmos-
phere. Others spring from the an
cient Magyar and Aztec traditions,
though they haze been so modern
lied by the people that only his
torians can recognize the sources.
ia Llorona," the Wailing Woman.
Is one of the latter, and is q most
popular one.
In the land Of Mexico 1t may chance
that on any night certain strange
and unfortunate thing may befall any
body, stranger or native, who wanders
in a lonely road or a city street. 1t
may be anywhere-in the City of Mex
leo itself, far north in Chihuahua, even
on the American border, or in far
southern Oaxaca. Indeed, it may hap
pen at the same hour in two or more
of these far-separated places.
This strange thing will occur as fol-
lows:
| One will see a woman approaching
swiftly with her face hidden in a lace
shawl. "What time is it, senor?" she
will ask with a voice oddly strained
and breathless.
| When he who is so accOsted names
the hour, there will come from the hid
den face a terrible cry. AT this hour
/ must be in" and she will name a
place hundreds of leagues away. Then
she will vanish, and through the air
will sound wailing lament of mex
pressible grief and terror: "Where
shall i find my children
If he who has been thus accosted
knows his Mexico, he goes home al
once and arranges his affairs; for he
will know that he has met La Llorona
and he need not be told what Is the
fate Of those who speak to her.
In the days Of the Golden viceroys
La LlOrona was Luisa, a woman OF
the people, most beautiful. faithful
and good. II it had not been willeG
otherwise. she should have lived In
simplicity and died In religion ani
peace. But she was seen by a noble
and wealthy cavalier, Don Muno d.
Monies Claros, whose family was one
of the most powerful in the city.
He was a gallant figure, and many
lovely eye cast stolen but ARDEN
glances at him when he rode through
the streets on his prancing Arabian
He chose to stoop to Luisa, and sh,
gave him all her heart. She consent
ed uncomplainingly to a secret mar
rage. and consented humbly that non,
should know that she was wife to tn,
brilliant favOrite of the government
He loved her dearly mt first, and fo
a long time scarcely could bear to b,
away from her. There was no happi
ness for him so great as that which
he found In their hidden nest, where
In time. three children, beautiful a
angels, played about them.
Finally. however, q WEAKNESS of hi
low-born wife assailed the caballero
and when a radiant and noble lady ar
rived from Madrid, his hot hear
turned suddenly from the old love t,
new. Soon all Mexico heard Of
great wedding that WAS to be.
So high was Don Muno's station
that Luisa's neighbors tallsed of littl
else, not dreaming that their quiet
shy friend knew the famous man. Sh
heard, but would not believe. He
true heart chung with all its splendi,
loyalty to faith in her beloved. Sh
did not doubt even when the day
passed and he did not appear. Sh
never faltered until with her own eye
she looked through the tall, wide
gOlden-grilled windows of his hous
one day and saw him and his ne,
bride throned at their sparkling wed
) ding feast.
She did not 60 in. There came {
her no thought of confronting then
She stood. quite dumb and frozer
amid the jostling, ragged. curiou
crowd. She saw him drink to hi
beautiful wife. who was far, far NOR
beautiful than she was. She stoO
looking till the guests departed an
the lights went out. Then she bowe
her head, hid her face and wake
slowly hOmeward.
She walked without a sob. Slowl
she entered her house and stare
around as at place of death. SlOwl
she went to the wall where hun
MunO's own bright dagger. She too
1t down and went into the room wher
slept the three children.
One lay on its side with its littl
dimpled fist pressed to its cheek. On
lay with its curly head on the breas
of the eldest, whose arms were fri
around it with that love that is mos
sacred In such sleep Of CHILDHOOD
Over this group Of innOcents Luis
leaned.
She did not kiss them or weep owe
them. She drove the dagger home
three times. Then the bonds Of silenc
were unlocked within her. Shriekin,
she ran from the house and throug
the streets, her gauzy white garment
dreadful with blood and her reddene