Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-09-28
L0RENA.

"N' Hot DtSn usEu 10 SUCH me
Clothes rs She wore, though ! was
called the prettiest girl in Los Ang.ns.
l did not think myself that, remem-
Der. L had been glad when Paolo
thought me fair, for / loved him. Tut
faoio was u sailor, and had TO leave
me now and then. With him all the
JOY OF my life used to depart, and only
returned when he came home again
from one OF those long voyages, with
coral and shells and bright birds and
other presents Of the sort that sailors
bring 10 those Who stay at home. Thee
ne gave mostly 10 my aunt, Donna
Maria, 4 Spanish woman. who spoke Of
herself us an unhappy exile, and grew
fat on her sorrows.
She made plenty Of money in her lit
Tie restaurant, where she sold catableS
OF all ~s"rtS-Colfec, omelcts, and all
Kinds Of cOrn-Ine2l dishes Of her own
Invention. People came to eat there,
or took the things away in baskets;
she did not care, so that they paid her
her price.
At II side Of the wide room was
what might he called an extra depart
ment, where | stood behind q counter
and sold cigarCttes-which women
bought as often rs men-bcads of the
cheapest sort Of amber, and Il sort of
WArln-tnted powder, which gave a
mysterious look to the dusky faces of
the black-"y"d women who used it.
Sometimes | would light a cigarette
for some gay youth or gallant elderly
man, ito perfume it," as they used 10
say. But my aunt'S eye was always
on me; | was never left alone.
You Ii never compromise your
self" my aunt would say, for l wish
you to make a good match"
When PaOlo began &C. court me she
was angry, and would have turned him
away, but that / said to her:
IF PaOlO is driven from the door l
leave you"
She knew I meant it, and had 10 ac-
ccpt the situation.
| was PaOl0's betrothcd, and though
he was now only a sailor, he vowed to
be captain and owner of a vessel soon
to make himself rich for my sake.
Oh, how happy I was in his love! how
bright and glad the future looked! The
skies Of my life were SO bright hat l
could nOt dream that clouds would ever
come.
The first One gathered on the day
he told Inc he was about to go upon a
long vOyage-tO be gone two years.
81 ghnl1 r,4al-. ,,,n 1 Cl,nlI un-,a
home 10 marry you, Lorena," he said.
But the cruel parting for such n long
time seemed very terrible to Inc. When
he sailed all was very dark, but /
counted the days and weeks and
months, and now and then l got a let
ter. It was on these letters that l
lived. when with n strut and Il stride.
4 hat on n side of his head. and a
cloak tossed over his shoulder, Don
Pietro walked into our place.
On the first day he gave me a look;
on the next 4 word. Then he began to
tell my aunt how rich he was-how
great, how wonderful q man alto
gether.
My aunt repeated all that he sale.
What is that 10 me?' / used to an
swer. Il hope he pays you for the
time he occupies in Boosting"
After a while she told me that he
wanted to marry me, for / was the
most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Tel him | am betrOthed already"
! said, land that l will never marry
any II but my PaOlo while he lives"
At that time | had inst had a letter
from PaOlO, and it Lay against my heart
as l spoke; but from that day no other
came.
| waited and waited.
Don PietrO stared at me over the
counter, whispered praises In my ears,
told me of his possessions, his wealth.
his grandeur. and in spite of glanceS
that were almost insults, words that
turned his lips pale.
l was wild with anxiety, and it grew
greater and greater, and one day q
sailor, with great earrings in his ears,
walked into the shop.
Where can / find the Sen0rita Lor-
ena?' he asked.
My aunt pointed TO me.
He bowed and his face grew grave.
"SenOrita. forgive me for bringing bad
news" he said. Il cannot help IL.
l vowed a VOW to Il dying man. i have
come Il long way to keep my promise,
made on an open raft, on Il raging sea.
The Santa Estella had been wrecked.
Some of us chung together on this raft.
1t was midnight The man mex to
me put his lips to my ar. Il grow
faint he said. I am dying, If you are
saved, swear to go 10 Los Angeles, IN
the shop of Donna Maria, and tell her
niece, LOrcnG, how Paolo died, and that
his last thought :yas for her. swear
! shouted.
AT day:break, I was alone on the
raft. / have said all"
dropped to the floor As he spoke,
and for hours knew no more.
And now all hope was gone, life was
an empty blank to me. Yet still Don
Pietro came to the shop, still he wooed
me In spite Of my repulses.
MY aunt pleaded with me, and l was
weak with woe; so, when a year a
passed. / said 10 her day:
DO with. me what you viii. Tell
Don Pietro that / hate him., but VIII
marry him if he viii be satisfied with
hate"
The don's answer was:
.Iorcna's hate Is better than the
love of any other, / only ask her TO
marry me-"
Then he gave my aunt much satin