The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-18
A Wealthy One Eyed Italian
Was Being Forced on
the Heroine.
SHE FEIGNs Acoy1EscENcE,
But the Day Before the Wedding
Rides Off With the Man of
Her Choice.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Sept. 1.-THE
LochniVar of the heathered hills of Scot
land was not more dashing and chivalrous
than Leon Morales of Comondu, who
performed a similar feat at place below
San Quintin in Lower California not long
ago. Leon is a handsome and dashing
| young Mexican of the better class, who is
widely known in the country below San
| Fernando as far south as Calmilli and over
to San Juan. He has horses and cattle of
his own, and on horseback he is considered
| the most fetching young man in all that
stretch of country.
She who became his bride was an Ameri-
can girl, and if romantic courtship and
heroic marriage count for anything she
will be happy with her Casiilian swain.
John EbersoIe, an American, went to
Santa Clara few years ago from the
United States with his wife and two half
grown daughters. He built comfortable
adobe house, with wide verandas, and the
house became popular resort for neigh
bors for miles around. His nearest neigh
Dor was Casare Perriotto. an Italian bach
elor, who lived mills away. Perriotto
was good enough man, perhaps, but his
age and cataract in one of his eyes did
not serve to make him particularly attrac-
tive to Ebersole's eldest daughter, Anna.
Her father, however, was quite an ad-
mirer of Perriotto, who owned good deal
OF land and many cattle, and one day when
Perriotto told him that he had asked Anna
to marry him and had been refused, old
Ebersoe got mad.
The father took advantage of the first
opportunity TO tell his daughter that she
had made mistake, and that he wanted
her to marry the Italian. She replied
that death would be preferable. She could
not marry him in any event, she said, be-
cause she was engaged 10 Leon Morales of
Comondu.
Old man Ebersole persisted in his en-
treaties and threats, week after week, until
finally the girl consented to marry Peril
otto. The day for the wedding was fixed,
Justice of the Peace was summoned
from San Juan and preparations were
made for grand fiesta.
On the day before the wedding was to
take place, however, Anna Ebersoie Sc
cretIy dispatched note to Leon Morales
informing him of The state of affairs. The
missive was sent by boy, who had in
structions to ride as fast as he could and
place the note in Icons own hands. AL
though the hour was late when the boy set
out he hasten ed along over the trail and
through the canyons until the following
morning, arriving safely at Comondu.
There was lively hustling about on the
part of Morales when he read the message
from Anna EbersoIe. His best horse vas
quickly put under the sllver-mounted
saddle, and when his revolvers had been
strapped to his waist Morales put spurs to
his horse and galloped away.
Late in the afternoon the foam-fecked
thoroughbred and its rider were seen afar
off by Anna Ebersole, who made out the
familiar form at glance. 1t was an hour
before the wedding was to take place.
Hastily placing a wrap over her shoulders
and hat upon her head, she disappeared
from the house before her actions were
noted. A moment later, when Mr.. Eber-
sole looked out of the open door, he was
surprised TO see Leon Morales dismount
beside his daughter. Before the father
could realize the situation Leon swung the
girl upon the horses back. Then, with
one foot in the stirrup, he sprang up be-
fore her and plunged the long spurs into
the horses sides. The old man appeared
beside himself with rage. Morales waved
a revolver over his head and, with an
"Adios. adios viejoi' galloped away to
Comondu. He was not followed, for both
Ebersole and the Italian Perrotto feared to
pursue the fiery young Mexican.
The event happened several weeks ago
and the story was told in San Diego yes
terday. The father of the boy who carried
the message to Morales says nothing has
been heard from Comlondu since he left
Santa Clara, but he thinks the young
couple are as happy as could be expected.
Perrotto is heartbroken and old man Eber-
sole is mad.