Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-31
SANTA Annals BRIDE.
TIE ONCE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS DY.
ING ALMOST FoRa0TrEH.
The Very Remarkable and Romantic his
tory Of the Beautiful and Pasci-
mating Dolores Tosta.


tory OF the Beautiful and Fasci-
mating Dolores Tosta.
A City Of Mexico letter in the Phila-
delphia Times says:
4 few days ago the widow Of the
famous Dictator or President Santa
Anna was buried without pomp or cere-
mony. Dolores Tosta became the wife
of General Santa Anna when he was q.
the zenith Of his power. She had
neither talent, ambition, nor energy
nevertheless she was a good, harmless
soul and virtuous woman.
One phase of General Santa Annals
wooing re minds us Of Napoleon's over
lures to the young Countess Eugene
when she assured him that be could
reach her only "ria 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 ofli-
GERS and observed at the door Of little
shop on the opposite side Of the street
beautiful barefooted, shsbbily dressed
girl play ing with kitten. The child
for SIZE was then but twelve and half
wears old--unconscious Of the atten-
ton she was attracting, displayed the
grace Of a fawn, and just as the Die
iator was saying adios to the officer she
looked toward him and he nodded to
her. Surprised at this condescension
on the part of 4" Su Alteza," the girl
first blushed and then smiled, exhibit
ing the most pearly, beautiful teeth i'm
aginable.
SANTA Annals WooING.
The following day a middle-sged cap
tain of the Palace Guards, in highly
bedizened, belaced, and befrogged uni
form, entered the shop of Sonora Tcsta,
and the good woman, quite certain the
officer had called to purchase cigarettes,
FASTENED forward to him, and was con-
founded when she learned that he was
the bearer of a message from Z" Su AL
teza," the President of the Republic.
She gave a BETTING reply, and the cap
tain retired muttering: "Seryed me
right it was cowardly for soldier to
accept such a mission"
A week later a palace fop, who had
never smelled gunpowder, called on
Sonora Tosta, and without circumlocu-
ton said /" His Highness desires you
to send your daughter to the palace
don't be foolish, my good woman, &C
cede to the desires Of the President, and
YOU may shut up this miserable little
store and live 10 splendor the rest Of
your days"
The mother, choking with indigna.
ton, could find no words for reply, so
seizlng q iarro Of beans which were
setting on a brazier, she dashed them
At Sir Pander. They struck directly
upon his vest and he beat an ignomini'
Gus retreat, while Dolores, who in her
simplicity believed that Su Alteza "
wanted her for " Galopina," or skull
lion in his kitchen, laughed merrily al
his discontinue.
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 y
rode past the shop two or three times
every day and never failed to look H.
Scarcely 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 g
to wash dishes in the palace.
DEFENDING HER CHILD.
Sonora Tosta, brave as a liOness il
defence Of her young, did not even re
turn the courteous salutation OF the
President, but instantly commenced re
preaching him.
"You," she said, "you, who ough
to be the father of the people, to try
to rob q widowed mother Of her daugh
ter"
Listen to me, good woman" bland
" commenced General Santa Anna.
81 won't listen to YOU" retortec
Sonora Tosta.
"Then I'll send my private secretary
to explain that my intention is to"
I'm scald him if he enters m
door, sbrieked the mother, and III
complain TO the Archbishop"
"Theu, you old virsgO," shouted tn
Dictator, " tell his Eminence that | in
tend to marry Dolores"
SCI cannot tell his Grace lie," re
sponded the mother.
General Santa Annals patience wa
now completely exhausted, and findinI
that Lola would not, at his solicitation
: come out from her refuge under tn
: bed, be turned to Sonora Tostawith flash
ing ewes, and said: " You are fool
will send for my private chaplain t
, propose for Dolores in due form, for
intend to make her my wife," and thel
n left. hastily mounted horse whic
his orderly held at the door, and dashe
ny to the palace.
The moment the President dis'p
pesred Sonora Tos,a sank into a chair
overcome with terror. Sac was quit
certain the Dictator had no idea o
) marry ing the poor little Lola; she va
positive he would seize her child and a
! 10 her own fate, she would most assn
rsdly be cast into a dungeon for life o
else be racked to death in one Of thos
"torture-chambers " Of the old inqui
sition hall, OF which she had in he
youthful days heard such terrible ste
ries. The terrified Lola crept to be
mothers side, sobbing bitterly and ex
pectiDg every moment a squad of sol
diers would come to shoot her and he
sole protectress.
! Hours Of agonizing suspense passed
Sonora Tosta desired the aid Of he
relatives and friends, but when she be-
gan to dress Lola shrieked and was q
most wild with terror, fearing he
mother would be shot in the stree
Then the perplexed woman called
neighbor and sent for some of nc
family.
THE LITTLE BRIDE.