The San Francisco call., 1896-06-10
How a Gallant Lieutenant Fell
in Love With a Fair Young
Singer.
SHE WAS LIKEWISE sMITTEN.
Senoritas Declare the Pair Will Be
Married in Defiance of
Stern Papa.

The grim old Mexican warsl;ip Zaragoza
lying out in the harbor would be the last
one in the world to tell secret A secret
of war would remain locked within it until
its spars rotted away one by one and the
rust of centuries had gathered an inch
deep on the bright steel of its guns. But
a secret OF love-ah, it had no business
there, anyway, so it has flown out of the
landward portfolios and has lit on the
tongue of deliciously low-spoken, roman
tic gossip.
When the ZaragoZa entered the Golden
Gate ten months ago she had under her
hatchways, so the local senoritas say, the
sunshine, the warmth and the love of old
tropical Mexico. The hearts of her officers
were permeated with this same sunshine
and love for what is beautiful-beautiful
in woman.
Lieutenant Rlvadeneyra was not def
cient in any of the gifts the mother coun-
try had so muniicently bestowed. He
was filled with love, but he lacked an OBJ
ject toward which this love should be di-
rected.
One day a party of Mexican ladies
visited the noble man-of-war, the lara
goZa. This was ten months ago. The
brasswork and the guns on board shone
with holiday lustre. The decks were holy
stoned until they were as white as milk.
Never did the men look so seamanlike and
martial, the senoritas aver, and never did
the officers appear so commanding and
admirable.
Among the ladies was one who was the
belle of this City's Mexican coIony-Miss
Angel Vergez, the soprano soloist of the
Church YgIesia de Nuestra Sonora de
ha
ladies were accorded the honors of
the ship, had watched with deep in
terest the different maneuvering OF the
men and had listened with little tremo ors
OF the heart TO the sharp, quick orders
given by the captain and repeated by the
lieutenant they themselves were asked in
turn TO do their share in making the visit
thoroughly enjoyable.
So there was an impromptu musical and
literary programme rendered in the cap
tain's cabin. Among the participants
was Miss Vergez. She sang one after an
other with her clear, sweet voice the songs
that are sung on the long piazzas of
Mexico of moonlight nights. In short,
she sang straight to the heart of the gai-
liant young lieutenant Rivadeneyra.
He had not been personally introduced
to her previous to the music in the cabin,
so he begged his friend the Colombian
Consul, who was one of the party to grant
him that pleasure. The young couple
were introduced. Their eyes met, and
now the story becomes comparatively
easy to narrate.
The Zaragoza soon departed for Mexico,
but three months later returned. Riva-
deneyra was aboard, but she had scarcely
cast her anchors in the bay before the
love-lorn young officer was hurrying up
Green street to the abode of his sweet
heart, the charming young soprano.
of M
waters again matters had progressed.
There was the rumor OF an engagement in
the Mexican colony. The news was whis-
pered on the laughing lips of the mis-
chlevous senoritas.
Rlvadeneyra is a Mexican officer, but
his father is something better yet. He is
a railway magnate and owns many a
broad acre down across the border. When
the youth returned from this latter voyage
he procured the full consent of his father,
although this was really not needed, for
Rivadeneyra holds an independent posi-
ton already.
At least it is told that Rivadeneyra the
father was enamored himself with the
likeness Rivadeneyra the son showed him
while confessing his passion.
The Zaragoza is in harbor now for the
second time since the first meeting of the
lovers. Next week it leaves to make the
voyage OF the world. Ten more months
will elapse before its return, anu then the
third time, Rlvadeneyra, perhaps a cap
tain. will claim Angel Vergez as bis wife.
OF course this Is the way the senornaS
tell the story. They may never be mar
ried, but still every one who knows them is
sure that their hearts will remain true not
only for ten months, but for ten years.
There is another thing connected with this
that must not be forgotten-the senoritas
say that Papa Vergez knows nothing W at
be,, ~ Fnof <har- = f,,At ; tha% i
The senoritas insist that this must be kept
profound secret.