The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-17
DOLORES FOSTER'S CARE
THE ROMANCE OF SANTA ANNA'S
WIFE.
How She Was WOOed aud Won by
the Dictator of MexicO-Her
Present WOeful Poverty.

1879 gGS NAO NAkS
Dictator or President Santa Anna was
buried, without pomp or ceremony.
Doors Tcs,a beclme the wife OF Gen.
Santa Anra when he was at the zenith
of his power. She had neither tslent,
ambition nor energy; nevertheless,
che was q good, harmless soul, and a
virtuoas woman,
o.. One phase of Gen. Santa Annals
wooing reminds US of Napoleon's
overtuI e 8 to The beautiful young
Countess Eagepie, when she assured
him that be corld reach her only "vie
the church" Fur q while sfler the
death tf his first wife the great Dicta
tor seemed Indifferent TO the fair sex,
but one day, while driving down the
Gale San Fiancisco, he stopped to
speak to one OF his officers and OBJ
served at the door of a lit e shop on
the opposite side of the street a beau.
full, barefooted, stability dressed girl
playing wi h q kitten. The child-for
she was then but twelve and a nall
years old unconscious of the atten-
ton che was attracting, displayed the
grace Of a iawn, aud juet as the Dicta-
tor was saying ''adios" to the officer
she looked toward him and he ncdted
to her. SURPRISED at this c~ondescen-
sion on the part of 'Su Alteza," the
girl first blu he'd and then smiled, ex-
hibiting the mot pearly, beautiful
teeth imaginable.
Santa Annals wooING.
The following day a middle eyed
eaptsin of the Pslsce Guards, IN a
highly bed zened, belsced and be-
frogged uniform, tn'trSd The shop OF
Sonora Tosta, ard The good woman,
quite certain the officer had called IT,
purchase cigarettes, hurried forward
to him, and YVES copfcuuded when she
learned that he was the bearer Of a
mesesge from "Su Alteza," the Presi-
dent CT tie republic. She gave a De.
fit ing reply, and the captain retired,
mu terinp SERVED me night, 1t was
cowardly for a soldier to accept such
mission"
A week lstera palace fop, who had
never smelled ~gunpowder, called on
SenoIa J ta, an0 wi hout ciTcumlccu-
ton said: "His Hiehn IS desires you
to send your daughter to the palace;
don't b. foolis b, my good woman, &C
cede to the desires IF the President
and you may shut up this miserable
little store and live in splendor the
rest Of your days"
The mother, choking with indigra.
tiop, could fnd no words for reply, 80
seiziDg q jArro of bans which were
seething on a brazier, the dashed
them al Sir Pander. They struck
directly upon his satin vest and he
beat an ignominicus retreat, while
D. lores, who in her simplicity be-
lieyed that Su A tea wanted her for
a Galopina or sCul,ion in his kitchen,
laughed merIi|y at his discon future.
The widowed mgther now hoped
that she rad rouled the enemy, for
Lola-the pet name OF her daughter
had forgotten to report that Su AltSza
rode past the shop two or three times
every day ard never iailt to look in.
Scarcely a fortnight had passed when
one morning tie Dictator himself
walked into the humble store. Lola
ran into the back loom and took
refuge under q high posted bedstead,
the sole remnant her mother pos.
seesed OF "better days." The child was
determined moi 10 90 wash dishes in
the palace.
DEFENDING HER CHILD.
Sonora Tosta, brave as a lioness in
defense of her young, did noteven re-
turn the eour .eous sslu alton Of the
President, hut instantly commenced
Teproaching him.
hYouP she said, "you, who ought
to be ths father of ths people, to Try
to rob widowed mother of her daugh-
teri"
"Listen to me, good woman" bland
ly commenced Gen. Santa Anna.
II won't listen to you," retored SEN
ora Tosts!
Then I'll send my private secretary
to explain that my intention is
to"
"Ill scald him if he enters my door,"
shrieked the mother, "and I'll com
plain to the Archb shop"
"Theg, you cd vir3go," shouted the
Dictator, "tell his Eminencs that L
intend to marry Dolores"
81 cannot till his Grace a lie," re-
sponded the mother.
Gen. San.a Annals ~patienca was now
comp'e'ely exhauetsd, and fnding
that Lo'a wou d not, at Ills solicitation,
come out from h-r refuge under the
bed, he turned t. S nora Tosta with
flashing eyes and sid: "Yuu are a
fooll will send my private chap ain
to propose for Dolofe. in due form,
for 1 intend to make her my WIFI"
and then he left, hastily mounted a
horse which his orderly held at the
door and dashed mp 10 the palace.
The moment the President disap-
peAIed Sonora Tosta sank into a chair,
overcome with terror. She was quite
certain the d ctGtor had no idea Of
marrying the poor little Lola; she was
positive be would seq her child, and
as to her own fate she would most as
suredly bs cast into q dungeon for
life or else be racked to death in one
Of those ''toIture chambers" of the
old Il quisition Hall, OF which she had
in her youthful dsya heard such ter
rible stories. The terrified Lola crept
to her mothers side, sobbiDg bitterly
and expecting every moment a squad
OF soldiers would come to shoot her
and her cole protsctress.
Hours OF aRonixing suspense passed.
DtuOIh AlbA ueblf6u Il6 hlu OI u6T
relatives and friende, but when she
began to dress Lola sbrieked and was
almost wild with terror, fearing her
mother would be shot in the street.
Then the perplexed woman called q
neighbor and send for some Of her
family.
THE IT'LL BRIDE.
Before the return Of this messenger
q priest arrived. At first Lola was
sure he had come to p,epsre the Die.
tator's victims for execution, but as
the padre SMILED and pattad her on
the head she concluded they we're
perhaps only to be imprisoned, aud,
standing beside her mother, she
learned with profound establishment
that the President of Mexico really
desired her to become his wife. An
almost regal troueseau was prepared
for Dolores, and six months later
when she had completed her thir-
teenth yeSr-shs became the Dicta-
tors bride.