Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-01-12

slant and important a part of the
daily news at present, has many IN
tereSting and typical stories based
on legends that have been transmit
ted through centuries and are known
in Uarious forms TO the whole popu-
lation, high and low. Many origi-
mated IN Spain, and some of these
haze so Moorish a 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.
LA Llorona," the WaiIing Woman,
is one of the latter, and is a most
popular one.
In the land of Mexico it may chance
that on any night a certain strange
and unfortunate thing may befall any
body, stranger or native, who wanders
In lonely road or 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 voice oddly strained
and breathless.
When he who is so accosted names
the hour, there will come from the hid
den face terrible cry. "At this hour
l must be in" and she will name a
place hundreds of leagues away. Then
she will vanish and through the air
will sound a wailing lament of mex
pressible grief and terror: where
shall | find my children?"
If he who has been thus accosted
knows his Mexico, he goes home at
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 Tulsa, a woman Of
the people, most beautiful, faithful
and good. If it had not been willed
otherwise, she should have lived in
simplicity and died in religion and
peace. But she was seen by a noble
and wealthy cavalier, Don Muno de
Monies Claros, whose family was one
of the most powerful in the city.
He was gallant figure, and many
o lovely eye cast stolen but ardent
glances at him when he rode through
the streets on his prancing Arabian.
He chose to stOOp to Luisa, and she
gave him all her heart. She consent
ed uncomplainingly to secret mar
riage, and consented humbly that none
should know that she was wife to the
brilliant favOrite Of the government.
He loved her dearly at first, and for
a long time scarcely could bear to be
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 as
angels, played about them.
Finally, however, WEAKNESS of his
low-born wife assailed the caballero,
and when a radiant and noble lady ar.
rived from Madrid, his hot heart
turned suddenly from the old love to
@ nou Soop oil Mayino hoord oP =,
great wedding that was to be.
So high was Don Muno's station
that Luisa's neighbors talked of little
else, not dreaming that their quiet
shy friend knew the famous man. She
heard, but would Tot believe. Hell
true heart chung with all it's splendid
loyalty to faith in her beloved. She
did not doubt even when the days
passed and he did not appear. She
never faltered until with her own eyes
she looked through the tall, wide
gOlden-grilled windows of his house
one day and saw him and his new
bride throned at their sparkling wed
ding feast.
, She did not go in. There came t.
2 her no thought Of confronting them
> She stood. quite dumb and frozen
) amid the jostling, ragged, curious
, crowd. She saw him drink to hi
, beautiful wife, who was far, far NOR,
, beautiful than she was. She stoot
t looking till the guests departed an,
the lights went out. Then she bowet
her head, hid her face and wake,
slowly homeward.
She walked without a sob. Slowl
3 she entered her house and stare,
= around as at place of death. Sowl
q 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
e lay with its curly head on the breas
: of the eldest, whose arms were fir
around it with that love that Is mos
sacred in such sleep of childhood
8 Over this group Of innocents Luis