Western cyclone., 1886-11-11
9nt for some Of her family.

sent for some of her family.
Before the return of this messenger a
priest arrived. At first Lola was sure
he had come to prepare the dictator's
victims for execution, but as the padre
smiled and patted her on the head she
concluded they were perhaps only to be
imprisoned, and standing beside her
mother she learned with profound aston
ishment that the president of Mexico
really desired her to become his wife.
An almost regal trosseau was prepared for
Dolores, and six months later-when she
had completed her 18th year-she be-
came the dictat0r's bride.
A Spanish dame, through whose veins
coursed some of the bluest blood of
CASTLE, but who had been impoverished
by Mexican revolutions, was appointed
lady, of honor in attendance upon the
young wife, whom she was to instruct in
etiquette, etc. Six well born maidens
formed the suite of her highness, and
military guard called Los Musqueteros
de Su Alteza," was organized. Those
musketeers wore an especial uniform Of
| light blue cloth, embroidered with silver
thread; their sombreros we're gary and
encircled by a silver cord. The duty OF
his body guard was to escort "Su AL
teza's" carriage when she rode out on
Paseo or attended the tbeater. The
dictator commanded all persons to ad-
dress his wife as "Your Highness," and
treat her with the Difference due to a
princess, and little Lola was at first
dazed by her encourage. The palace
| seemed to her sort Of wonderland and
thihsregal state perplexed her quite as
mu Ia as the mysteries OF reading, writ
ing and music, in which she was in
strttcted by ''professoras" who had been
app 2inted to form a part Of the house
hUIJ.
After General Santa Anna died his
family recovered some Of his former DOS
sessions, and his widow was compare
tive.y wealthy. She owned city resi-
deDce here and pretty country seat in
| Tacubays. Her .wardrObes were filled
with silk, satin and velvet dresses, her
lace3 alone constituted q fortune, and
she still retained costly sets of diamonds,
pearls and emeralds. but when the slim
ulue Of the old generals ambition was
withdrawn Mrs. Santa Anna became SO
careless, so insane that she had not ener-
gy enough to sustain the position she
might have held If possessed of any
spirit. Her apathy was not due to any
regret for past rank or splendor. She
was simply lazy and soon degenerated
into a nonentity, and instead of opening
hel salon to those who respected her and
appreciated her virtues, she received but
a few relatives and passed her days idly
lOlling III a rocking chair.
Some two years ago Spanish lady
who was really attached to Mrs. Santa
Anna, tried to arouse her from her oys-
ter-Gke existence. One morning, when
she found her ex-highness in torn,
soiled wrapper, with her hair hanging
down and her feet thrust into slippers
down at the heel, she said:
lola, it is a shame for you to be so
untidy."
Mrs. Santa Anna replied 81 have no
person to dress for"
"Nonsensew exclaimed her friend.
You should remember that you are the
widow OF one of Mexicos most nlustri-
GUS heroes. Allow me to give you one
lesson in neatness."
| "What is it?" asked Mrs. Santa Anna
with languld smile.
1T must be given in the parlor," re-
sponded Sonora b., and, leading the
widow into the salon, she pointed to the
portrait of the deceased president, say
ing: Look at that proud face" then
stopping before full length portrait of
her ex-highness, said. Look at your
graceful figure, your beautiful face, those
magnificent Jewels which you yet pos
sess, and those almost regal robes"
then, quickly turning to large mirror,
addel: And there behold what YOU are
noww
Mrs. Santa Anna gazed at tine figure
in the mirror, then replied; ''Yes, my
beauty has all gone"
No. responded her friend; your
teeth are still beautiful, your hair is but
slightly changed, your figure is still ex-
cellent, but you are So slovenly that YOU
look worse than any of your servants,
and you are so indolent that if YOU do
not soon rouse yourself half OF your
faculties will be paralyzed for lack of ex-
ercise."
Mrs. Santa Anna rallied for a while,
but about year ago, when the writer
had occasion to see her, and had called
and waited some tine. a woman in
faded calico dress, having head and form
. envelope1 in q blue cotton rebosa, such
/ as servants and Indian women wear, en-
tered the parlor. 1 asked: Does Mrs.
Santa Anna know that | am here?n
The reply was: All! 1 see you have
entirely forgotten me-" Il was Mrs.
Santa Anna.
/ Mortified at nv own stupidity, l
I quickly replied: The parlor is a little
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