RAMONA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 458, 13 September 1928, Page 5

RAMONA

A GREAT LOVE STORY BY HELEN HUNT JACKSON ♦- (Serialised by FINIS FOX, author -♦ + of the screen-plays “RESUR- + | RECTION” and "RAMONA”) j

“Is it because I am an Indian that you have always hated me?” The Senora uneasily shifted her gaze from Ramona and was at a loss to answer. Then Ramona flared up impetuously: “If I am an Indian, why do you object to my marrying Alessandro?” I am glad I am of his people! ” The words poured like a torrent from Ramona’s lips. She came closer and closer to the Senora, who, for the first time, showed a little fear of her. , “Where is my mother?” demanded Ramona. “Tell me, and I will go to her.” A cold, cruel look came into the Seuora’s eyes. Narrowing them she sneered: “She was some low, vicious creature that your father married when he was out of his senses.” “What was my father’s name?” demanded Ramona, turning the tables upon the Senora. “Angus Phail, a Scotsman. . . . He became a drunkard when my sister refused to marry him.” Ramona seemed to tower in stature above the Senora, ‘and to have the bearing of the one in authority. The Senora turned to the iron chest and, with unsteady hand, lifted out a wonderful array of garments . . . shawls and ribbons of damask, laces, gowns of satin and of velvet. Temptingly the Senora placed one after the other on. the chairs. Ramona’s eyes rested on them dreamily. "All of these are yours, Ramona, as well as the jewels,” said the Senora in a tempting voice, “if you marry ■worthily . . . with my permission.” Ramona did not answer. Dreamily she took up a ragged crimson silk handkerchief, leaving the jewels, diamonds, rubies, pearls and emeralds on the table. Then she turned to the Senora and, very humbly, asked: “This handkerchief ... it was my father’s, too?” The Senora nodded affirmatively. “You may give the jewels to the Church, Senora,” said Ramona dreamily. “I will keep this handkerchief.” The Senora's religious restraint released its grip upon her. In sudden wrath she turned to Ramona. “I will tell Father Salvierderra. You dare not disobey him!” “I shall marry Alessandro!'’ “I will put you in a convent!” shouted the Senora. “You shall never see this Indian again!” Quite beside herself with rage at being frustrated by Ramona, nervously the Senora folded up the dresses and placed them back in the chest. "I will give you one more chance . . .” said the Senora, turning to Ramona, in her most persuasive •manner. “I shall marry Alessandro!” interrupted Ramona, her head thrown

back and her gaze meeting the Senora’s unafraid. “Then the consequences be on your own head!” shouted the Senora, seized by a sudden ungovernable rage. “Go to your room and do not speak of this to Felipe.” Ramona bowed her head, glided out of the room and closed the door behind her, leaving the Senora shaking with rage in the midst of all the jewels and finery. “Felipe—Felipe! Where are you, Felipe?” Ramona called out In a loud, trembling voice, as she sped, likJ a hunted creature, down the steps and into the patio. A few moments later- Ramona was in Felipe’s arms. “Yes, dear, I know it all,” he said, tenderly. “Alessandro has told me.” Then down the steps and out into the patio came a grim, terrible figure —the old Senora, stirred to greater anger at the sight of Ramona being comforted by her son. In a fury she burst upon them and imperiously ordered Ramona to her room. Ramona clasped her hands in tragic despair, uttered a low cry—a cry that cut Felipe to the heart. Then she stepped over to the Senora. Tears were brimming in her eyes. “I wish to thank you, Senora, for the home you have given me for so many years.” The Senora received Ramona’s words in utter silence. “And you, dear Felipe—you have always been so good to me.” Ramona held out both hands to Felipe. He took them and tried to speak, but the words choked up in his throat. Then, like a wounded creature at bay, Ramano turned suddenly and faced the haughty Senora, her eyes resolute and dauntless in spite - of the tears. She raised her right hand and exclaimed: “You have been cruel, Senora. God —God will punish you!” Without waiting to see what effect her words produced, without looking again at Felipe, Ramona walked away and was swallowed up amidst the flowers and tropical plants of the patio. “Why not let her marry Alessandro?” asked Felipe, his heart burning with shame at the thought of his mother’s cruelty. “They could live here with us.” I would rather see her dead,” cried the Senora, “than married to one of these Indans.” “Alessandro comes from a race as proud as ours, and Ramona is half of his blood.” A gieat storm raged in the Senora’s bosom. Her wrath against Ramona uas forgotten for a moment in the thought that Felipe, upon whom she had poured, all of her love, would dare befriend Ramona. Like a fresh lava-stream flowing down the mountain side, came the rush of the mother’s passionate love for her son,

close on the passionate anger of his words.. She lifted her eyes. They were full of tears and self-pity. She clung tremblingly to Felipe. He tried desperately to comfort her, his heart full of sympathy for Ramona, and resentment against his mother’s unjustified cruelty. “Felipe, my son,” piteously wailed the Senora, “do not let this shameless creature come between us!” “Alessandro —I am an Indian!” proudly exclaimed Ramona, as she met Alessandro in the gloaming at the willows. “The gladness of it came to me long ago, Senorita,”. replied Alessandro! taking her in his arms and passionately kissing her. “I saw in your face—your eyes—the soul of my people! ” Ramona smiled back at him, thrilled at the thought that he should instinctively know that she was of his blood. Suddenly her heart gave way and, without premeditation, without resolve, almost without consciousness of what she was doing, she flung herself into Alessandro’s arms. “Senora Moreno will not permit me to marry you!” she cried. “She threatens to shut me up in a convent. Take me away with you, Alessandro.” “I win take you, Senorita,” said Alessandro, greatly agitated, and drawing Ramona to him; “but first I must go to prepare a home for you. "I will not be gone long—in four days I will be back again.” “Only four days! ” said Ramona, reassured. “I can bear anything for four days!” With imperious pride the Senora Moreno plotted and planned and mapped out the future in her tireless, weaving brain. . Ramona busied herself at lace-mak-ing, happily thinking that the four days would soon pass and that Alessandro would come to take Jier away as his bride. . ~ The evening of the fourth day came at last. Restlessly Ramona waited at the willows, waited far into the nigtyt. From behind a tree the Senora furtively watched with a cruel smile of satisfaction. As the stars faded away under the glare of the morning sun, Ramona wearily made her way back to the hacienda, worried and perplexed, sore at heart, wondering why Alessandro had net come, fearing that some disaster had befallen him. Surely he would come, he would not fail her. At sunset of the eighteenth day, Ramona, dressed in a sheer white dress, lay motionless on her bed, her mind vacant of all thought, her body and soul torpid. Alessandro had not come, nor had she had word of him. Slowly she sat up in bed, intent, halfalarmed, bewildered, half-alive, she looked around the room, clashed her hands and leaped from the bed, then laughed hysterically and said, aloud: “Alessandro is not dead! He is not dead! He is somewhere near!” She pulled herself together and

stole out o£ her room, down the steps of the patio her feet carried her. Out she -went to the trysting spot—just as she had gone every night for two weeks, hopefully expecting Alessandro, spending the night in fruitless waiting for him. She reached the willows and looked about hesitatingly, anxiously, half-hysterically. Then she stretched forth both her arms, threw back her head and cried out: “Alessandro —where are you, Alessandro?” As Ramona lowered her arms, slowly peering about, suddenly she saw the figure of Alessandro leaning against a tree, haggard and ill. Her face lighted up with a sudden joy as she ran forward to meet him. Alessandro clasped her in his arms. She kissed him with wild, fierce joy. without looking at him. Then she leaned back, and, at sight of his haggard, speechless face, and his hollow eyes, full of misery, she exclaimed: “Alessandro —Alessandro —what has happened?” • “My Senorita,” he said, in a strange, hard, unresona-nt voice, “my Senorita,

V I have no home —my father is dead—my people driven out of the village by a band of -white men—l am only a beggar now!” - An expression of incredulous horror crept over Ramona's face as she slowly grasped the full import of what he said. “I only came to look at you once more, Senorita,” Alessandro continued. "X will go now.” . • “Take me with you, Alessandro,” cried Ramona, bursting into tears and clinging to him frantically. “I would rather die than have you leave me again.” “My senorita knows that my life is hers, but I cannot throw my senorita's life away. She is tender. She would die.” “I am strong, Alessandro," reassured Ramona, clinging to him. “I can work. Take me with you. Your people are my people.” Alessandro conquered by her fidel-

ity, faith and love, took Ramona in his •arms, and kissed her again and again “I will take you, my most beloved senorita,'” he said. “I will take you with me till I die.” “To-night—here at the willows!” exclaimed Ramona, with great joy. “1 will come to you.” Ramona tore herself from Alessandro's arms and sped toward the hacienda, her heart pounding with joy. Alessandro looked after her, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. To-night they would go away, they would leave the old hacienda, they would be married by Father Salvierderra, they would find joy and happiness, they would build for themselves a home of their ; own. But they did not know that, cautiously peeping around a tree, overhearing them, watching them, was the grim, terrible old senora! (To be continued.>