The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-31

me to ask for her hand, to which she
consented. My proposal created con-
sternation in her parents, who had
been reared in fanaticism: the differ
ence in religion and the prospective
separation from their daughter made
it a terrible blow fer them. They ran
to the missionaries, who did not know
what to do; they hustled poor Concep-
cion to church, confessed her, and
urged her to refuse me, but her raso-
lutenesS finally overcame them all. The
holy fathers appealed to the decision
OF the throne of Rome, and if 1 could
not accomplish my nuptia5s 1 had at
least the preliminary act performed,
the marriage contract drawn up, and
forced them to betroth u.s.
Rezanof made every effort to have
the marriage ceremony performed, that
he might carry COncepcion with him
but the padre s were firm in demanding
a dispensation from the pope. So he
planned to go home to ST. Petersburg;
there to get appointed envoy extraord-
mary to the court of Spain: to proceed
to Madrid and establish commercial re-
latlons between California and Alaska.
ana then to speed, via Mexico, to San
francisco to claim his bride On May
Fl he sailed from San Francisco pron1-
lslng to return within two years.
1t was only the prospect of the future
That buoyed up Conception. She would
surprise her lover by improving her
MIND IN his absence, trying to make
ANAt2N4A a willy lIleSlC lOE l01S accom-
plished nobleman. The padres were
called upon for their French and Latin,
and she improviSed new accompani-
ments on the guitar for her tender
Spanish love songs. Then she filed
chest after chest with such drawnwor<
and embroidery as would delight the
artistic for generations. Not a mo-
ment was idle, and yet the two years
dragged.
Then they heightened into three, and
still no Rezanof. Concepcions trust
was mistaken; she waited patiently
Finally a ship brought a farewell mes
sage from hinl-a farewell of intense
love and regret, uttered with his last
breath. He had been seized by a fever
while crossing Siberia. Eager to ac-
complish his mission and speedily re-
turn to California, he had started
again on his journey while still too
weak to travel, and had been thrown
from his horse. The fall brought on
relapse, and on March, 1, 1907, in the
little hamlet of Krasnoyarsh, his spirit
had slipped from this world.
In the first Intensity of her sorrow,
Conception beseeched God to take her.
too; but she was strong and young, and
as physical strength held on, she deter
mined to make her spiritual and men
tai grasp reach to the realms of her be-
trotheI. She continued her studies,
and began to teach others, just for love.
She learned the healing secrets from
the old women. and did sickness visit
a household Conception Arguello has
tened to combat it. Her face grew
even more beautiful. Suitors in num-
bers sought her hand; but, with the
habit of women, she raised her dead
above his own humanity to the plane of
her highest ideal, and no living man
could hope to rival him.
BY her good works and beautiful
spirit she gained throughout the coun-
try the title of la Beata,'' 1.-The pious
one and when the Dominican convent
was founded at Benicia no one was sur
prised to have Conception, the first