Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-12-01


each others arms, the sonora OIscov
cred theml
Shameful creature r. she cried
smiling Ramona's protesting lips. She
hustled the girl to her room and locked
her in.
AlessandrO, watching sadly all that
night, heard two wood doves calling
Lover 'Here." Lover" "Here. =
MY Ramona is like the gentle wood
dove" thought he; ''if she is my wife
my people win call her Majel, the
Wood Dove"
In vain Felipe tried to persuade his
mother. In vain she. coaxed and
Threatened Ramona. The Jewels which
were to be Ramona's dOwry, IL she
married worthily, were no temptation.
When the sonora scOrnfully declared,
"YOur mother was an Indian: a low,
common Indian" the girl was truly
glad.
"Why do you object to my marrying
AlessandrO?" she demanded; II am
Of his people. The Jewels you can
give to>the church. shall marry Ales4
sandr0."
Felipe sent AlesSqndro home, to Te-
mecula until the storm should blow
over. But the long-dreaded Ameri-
cans in their search for more land had
just taken possession Of that peaceful
village. Dragged out of his own house
by force Pablo died Of grief. Ales-
sandro buried him. and then in utter
misery came back to bid Ramona fare
well.
Dearest senOritaI I have no
home." he faltered; smy father is
dead, my people driven out Of their
village. / am only beggar now"
But Ramona felt no fear Of priva.
tons. Take me with you'll" she
cried. After leng pleading she over
ruled his wiser arguments, and that
night they slipped away, with Bahia,
Ramona's own horse.
No trace Of the lovers was found,
for those Indians who knew Alessan-
dro's whereabouts purposeIy misled in
Quirers; and at San Diego, where they
were married, Ramona had given Ales-
sandro's pet name, 'Majella," to be en-
tered on the register.
Their first home was near Alessan-
dro's cousin in San Pasquale, where
the Indians received Ramona gladly.
She was very happy in her new life
under the sky" She accepted a tiny
Rush hut as cheerfully as the COM
Portable adobe which Alessandro soon
built and which she~beautif1ed beyond
belief. Gleefully she led Bahia when
he plowed the first burrows, In their
fields.
But Alessandro's anxiety rarely left
him. When he heard that the Mexi-
can pueblo paper of San PasQuale was
that all the village lands
belonged to the Americans in Wash
Ington. he lost hope. II think shall
go mad" he said. When American
appeared, he sold house and
crop and moved to Saboba, seeking q
place the Americans did not want.
On the way to Saboba they nearly
persisted in sncwstorm. but were
saved by an easy-goIng Tennesseean
family, the Hyers, with whom they
became friends. Already RamOna's
heart had been wrung at hearing Of
Father Salvierderra's death. Now
came a new grief; she feared for Ales-
reason. Could he bear am
other blown Sky" their
baby girl. never recovered from her
and died on the way to the
agency doctor, who would not come to
her. White men began to encroach
md to be insulting.
1--WE will hide forever" declared Al
Leaving horses and wagon
in San Bernardino with the Hyers for
the winter, they went to a tiny valley.
almost inaccessible. folded high on
Mount San Jacinto's slopes. 'Here
we are safer exulted Ramona.
"'Pears like she's gone klar out 'er
this yer world inter another" unused
Aunt Ri Hyer, as she sat weaving car
pets and gazing up at the shining
in the southern horizon.
When AIessandro saw the brown
eyesuf his second daughter he sighed,
1T is an Ill gift to have the eyes Of
they look ever on woe"
Now began attacks Of mental dis
tress-wild flights from imaginary
white pursuers. Sometimes he tried
to drive flocks he fancied were his
own. One fatal day he galloped home
On a strange horse, taken BY mistake
during one of his 'ssicknesses.
"Senor, / viii explain" But Far
rar, the enraged owner, shot him dead
a the midst of his explanations.
Child in arms, Ramona ran for-helD
to the nearest village, Cahuilla. Then
came oblivion.
Ten days afterward she opened her
eyes. Aunt RI was beside her and
Felipe He had recognized Bahia in
San Bernardino, and from the Flyers
had learned the whole sad story.
81 have been searching for you all
his time" he whispered. Il am alone,
lear. There Is no one now but you
o take care az me-
In Mexico Felipe made new home,
,nd &horo Rnmona hcrano his loving.