I was near Miss Dolores Estudillo, and overheard her say quietly to her sister, in Spanish, “Magdalena, see how care-free the young girl at my side seems tonight.  The far-away look so often in her eyes leads me to think that our dear Lord has given her many crosses to bear.  Her hands show marks of hard work and her clothing is inexpensive, yet she appears of good birth and when I can throw pleasure in her way, I mean to do it.”

Whereupon Miss Magdalena turned to me and asked, “Do you live in Sacramento, Miss Donner?”

“No, I live on a ranch twenty miles from the city.”

“Do your parents like it there?”

“I have no parents, they died when I was four years old.”

She did not ask another question, nor did she know that I had caught the note of sympathy in her apology as she turned away.  From that time on, she and her coterie of young friends showed me many delicate attentions.

While still a new pupil, I not infrequently met Sister Dominica resting at the foot of the steps after her walk in the sunshine, and with a gracious, “Thank you,” she would permit me to assist her up the flight of stairs leading to her apartment.  Bowed by age, and wasted by disease, she was patiently awaiting the final summons.  I became deeply interested in her before I learned that this wan bit of humanity was the once winsome daughter of Commandante Arguello, and the heroine of a pathetic romance of Spanish California’s day.[17]

The hero was Rezanoff, an officer of high repute, sent by Russia in 1806 to inspect its establishment at the port of Sitka, Alaska.  Finding the colony there in almost destitute condition, he had embarked on the first voyage of a Russian vessel to the port of San Francisco, California.  There being no commercial treaty between the two ports, Rezanoff made personal appeal for help to Governor Arrillago, and later to Commandante Arguello.  After many difficulties and delays, he succeeded in obtaining the sorely needed supplies.

Meanwhile, the young officer frequently met in her father’s house the vivacious Dona Concepcion Arguello, and Cupid soon joined their hearts with an immortal chain.

After their betrothal, Rezanoff hastened back to the destitute colony with supplies.  Then he sped on toward St. Petersburg, buoyant with a lover’s hope of obtaining his sovereign’s sanction to his marriage, and perhaps an appointment to Spain, which would enable him to give his bride a distinguished position in the country of her proud ancestors.  Alas, death overtook the lover en route across the snows of Siberia.

When Dona Concepcion learned of her bereavement, her lamentations were tearless, her sorrow inconsolable.  She turned from social duties and honors, and, clad in mourning weeds, devoted her time and means to the poor and the afflicted, among whom she became known and idolized as “the beautiful angel in black.”  After the death of her parents, she endowed St. Catherine’s Convent with her inheritance, took the vows of the Dominican nun, and the world saw her no more.