Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/58

47 The Christian name of our young lover and hero-to-be is Alonso, surname Perez, his name being inscribed upon the rolls of honor in the archives of Spain as one of the men who explored the provinces of Cibola in New Spain, and Quivera, now Kansas. The only tarnish or cloud recorded by the old chroniclers against his character is: "He was sent to the war by his father on account of his "."

Oh Youth, how long will you have to contend with this aspersion, that you are restless and full of energy, and vim, also a longing for adventure? Ye Gods, would you have the finest work of God emulate Saint Anthony, whom the bard of the River Avon (Shakespeare) represents as resisting the blandishments of a woman. Or is the chastity of the youth Adonis, as depicted in Shakespeare's poem "Venus and Adonis," to be the standard of conduct?

Our Alonso is not an Adonis, but from the age of sixteen he had known, this Moorish damsel, and she by her demeanor had taught him everything that, was noble and pure, notwithstanding his acquaintance with her had been interdicted by his parents when it, was discovered there was an attachment. But all the angels in Heaven, or the imps of his Satanic Majestic, could not stay the stream of affection and love which flowed from the young people's souls for each other. Father, mother, relatives, friends and church, all endeavoring to dissuade this youth fellow to abandon that One who was his ideal women as well as the idol he worshipped.

This magnilled specimen of womeahood had duing the years of their associations told him of the