Western cyclone., 1886-11-11
The Romance of Santa Anna
Bride
Philadelphia Times.

Dolores Tosta became the wife of Cen
eral Santa Anna when he was at the Ze-
NTH of his power. She had neither tai
ent, ambition nor energy; nevertheless
she was good, harmless soul and yir-
tuous woman.
One phase of General Santa Annals
wooing reminds us of Napoleon's over
lures to the young countess Eugene;
when she assured him that lie could
reach her only "via the church" For a
while after the death Of his first wife the
great dictator seemed Indifferent to the
fair sex, but one day, while driving down
the Gale San Francisco, he stopped to
speak to one of his officers, and observed
at the door Of little shop on the oppo-
site side of the street a beautiful bare
footed, shabbily dressed girl playing
with kitten. The child--for she was
then but II years old-unconsciOus of
the attention che was attracting, display
ed the grace of fawn, and just as the
dictator was saying "adios" TO the officer
she looked toward him and he nodded to
her. Surprised at this cOndecension on
the part Of "Su Alteza," the girl first
blushed and then smiled, exhibiting the
most pearly, beautiful teeth Imaginable.
The following day a middle-aged cap
tain of the Palace Guards, in a highly
bedizened, belaced and befrogged uni
form, entered the shop Of Sonora Tosta,
and the good woman, quite certain the
officer had called to purchase cigarettes,
hRstened forward to him, and was con-
founded when she learned that he was
fhe bearer of a message from "Su AL
teza," the president of the republic. She
gave beftting reply, and the captain
retired muttering: Served me right, it
was cowardly for a soldier to accept such
mission"
A week later the palace fop, who had
never gmelled gunpowder, called on Sc
nora Tosta, and without circumlocution
said: "His highness desires you to send
your daughter to the palace don't be
foolish, my good woman, accede to the
desires of the president, and you may
shut up your miserable store and live in
spendor the rest Of your days"
The mother, choking with indigna-
ton, could find no words for reply, so
seizing jarro of beans which were set
ting Oh a brazier, she dashed them at
Sir Pander. They struck directly upon
his satin vest and he beat an ignomini-
GUS retreat, while Dolores, who in her
simplicity believed that Su Alteza want
ed her for a "Galopina," or sculhon in
his kitchen, laughed merrily at his dis
comfture.
The widowed mother now hoped that
she had routed the enemy, for Lola"
the pet name of her daughter-had for
gotten to report that Su Alteza rode past
the shop two or three times every day
and had never failed to look in. Scarce
ly fortnight had passed when one
morning the dictator himself walked into
the humble store. Lola ran into the
back room and took refuge under a
high posted bedstead, the sole remnant
her mother possessed Of "better days"
The child was determined not to go
wash dishes in the palace.
Sonora Tosta, brave as a ioness in de-
fence of her young did not even return
the courteous salutation of the president,
but instantly commenced reproaching
him.
"You," she said, ''you who ought to
be the father of the people, to try to rob
a widowed mother of her daughter"
"Listen to me 8ood woman" blandly
commenced General Santa Anna.
81 wont listen to you," retorted Sc
nora Tosta.
"Then I'll send my private secretary
to explain that my intention IS to"
IN scald him if he enters my door" 4"
shrieked the mother, ''and I'll complain
to the archbishop"
Then, you old virago," shouted the
dictator, tell his eminence that intend
to marry Dolores" ;"
II cannot tell his grace q lie, " respond
ed the mother.
General Santa Annals patience was
now completely exhausted, and finding
that Lola would not at his solicitation,
come out from her refuge under the bed
he turned to Sonora Tosts with flashing
eyes and said: You are a fool / will
send for my private chaplain to propose
for Dolores in due form, for I intend to
make her nv wife, and then he left
hastily mounted a horse which his order
ly held at the door, and dashed up to the
palace.
The moment the president disappeared
Sonora Tosta sank into a chair, over
come with terror. She was quite certain
the dictator had no idea of marrying the
poor little Lola; she was Politi7e he
would seize her child and as to her own
fate she would most assuredly be cast
into dungeon for life OF else be racked
to death III one Of those torture cham
bers" Of the old Inqusition hall, Of
which she had in her youthful days
heard such terrible stories. The terri
fed Lola crept to her mothers side, sob
bing bitterly and expecting every mo-
ment a squad Of soldiers would come to
shoot her and her sole protectress.
i