The San Francisco call., 1897-06-10
Mercedes Re bles Asks the
Courts of This Land
to Protect Her.
Only One of Five Children Left
and She Tremb.eS for
That One.
Tragic Sequel TO BY and Girl
Marriage in Sunny Guz-
temala

Pretty mercedes hooles, from whose
cheeks the feeting Castillian beauty has
not yet had time % fade away trem bles
at the Sudden step behind her. In the
dark hours of the night football in the
corridor of her lodging-house causes her
to start and draw closely TO her breast her
little Marie, only 3 years of age and the
only one of five children who is left to her.
For Mercedes, though less than 80 years
of age, has known more trouble than the
majority of mothers at four score years.
1t IS a pitiful story, even in the cold
phraseology of the law, which is told in
the complaint filed by Mercedes attorney.
l.. E. Phillips, and behind 1t is q romance,
or tragedy ii you Will, " hIch even the sug-
gestion CT an atmosphere redolent with
the odor OF the magnolia and the coffee
plant does not ROB of its cruel features
This is the story OF the young southern
matron as told by her attorney. In 1888
Mercedes A. Robes, then only 10, but of
eligible age for matrimCny according to
the ethical aud social code of Guatemala
was welded TO the ashing Don Rafael Ro-
bles. Don Rafael was but little her Sc
nior, and both came OF the proud no.
blesse of the southern country who trace
with pride the Castiilian strain in their
lineage. Mercedes was beautiful and her
typical gentleman OF the tropics. AS a
lover he was ideal. as a husband-but
one must not expect too much Of hus-
band, and if the Don preferred basking in
the warm sun OF his native land and toy
ing with tie elusive dice and the treach-
erOus monte games Donna Robles was
not a first inclined to find iault.
Twelve years the young couple lived to-
gether, while happiness drew further and
further away from the household. Five
children had come In the meantime, but
these had not served to bind the affec-
tions OF their parents, and on February g.
1896 an agr cement of separation was ell
tered into. a divorce was at that time
conte m plated, but in that land where the
sentiment is strongly opposed to such dis
union a divorce is not easy to obtain.
By the agreement Don Rafael was to have
the custody of Rafael and Ricardo, the
TWO elder children, and Emma, Roberto
and Marie were TO remain in the custody
of the mother. Rafael was 20 pay Mer-
cedes 500 month.
Constancy Is not always an ingredient
in a high born Don's make up. For three
months and half, according to the COM
rlaInt, Rafael observed his promises.
Then (it was the middle Of May, 1S96) he
perpetrated a cruel coup. 1t was the day
OF a grand religious celebration in GuaIe-
mala la Antigua. Mercedes and the three
children who were eft to her had come to
view the parade, as Don Rafael knew they
would. The little ones were standing on
a raised platform when q carriage drove
pidly by. II stopped at the platform
and two OF RafaePs friends hastily seized
the children. The carriage proceeded
madly down the street.
Donna RObles saw the seizure of her
children and, knowing something of the
laws of her native place, was liz despair.
Somewhere she procured a dagger and
was about to kill herself in the public
plaza, when the chidren's S old nurse in
terfered. She promised to aid the dis
traught mother and together they trailed
the carriage.
Thirty miles from Guatemala la Antigua
they found the children. Their father
had secured them in low ad ODE, but the
windows had been barred against banditti
In vain the women sought entrance. The
place was securely barred and the servants
IN charge refused to open the doors. But
there are ways of managing Spanish
American servants, and little Marie was
passed out TO her mother through the
bars. The same thing was atte empted with
the other two, but they were too large and
the mother had to return with her ore
baby.
1t is not safe for woman in Guatemala
to violently oppose her hot blooded Dom
Mercedes knew this and il was for that
reason she decided TO put herself under
the protection OF the laws of this State
and of the United States. Here she hoped
to remain the statutory time and then OBJ
tain the coveted divorce.
The heart-broken woman was not des-
tined to be free here from the persecution
she feared. She had only had time to
consult her attorney and make a few
preparations for spending the requisite
year. preliminary 10 obtaining divorce,
in seclusion when the naughty Don ap-
peared upon the scene.
The Don was not pleasant in his man.
ner, ii the application for a restraining
order made yesterday can be relied upon
His remarks to his wife were purely
mandatory, and she had the hard choice
of giving up her little one or being killed
Until o. clock yesterday was given her to
make up her mind. The Superior Court
granted the order restraining Rafael from
carrying out this fatal alternative, and
last night Donna Mercedes Robles was
alive and her little one was with her.
The body of the com plant filed yester.
day against Rafael by his vile is for a
permanent restraining order prohibiting
the husband from taking possession OF
Marie and for $3.50 due under the agree
ment for separation.
The wiIc, though she speaks little Eng
lish, Is a refined and intelligent woman of
some considerable Spanish education.
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