Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-02-26
THE BELLE OF MONTEREY.

THE BELLE OF MONIEhEI.
THE Monterey of twenty-five years ago
was vastly different town from the Mon
terey of today. The silent streets, now
the almost exclusive property of geese,
cows, and nomadic hogs, then echoed to
the ringing hoofs of the gayly-attired cabat-
lero's horse; the uniform of the English
and American naval officercontrasted with
the staid black mantilla Of the pretty senior
ita: the guitar tinkled on moonlit nights
under the lattice of the dark-eyed belle;
and the romance of Spanish life mingled
with the hustle and activity of prosper
Gus seaport town. Now, an untenanted
barbor, q mass of halfruined, unoccupied
buildings, and drowsy air of neglect
and indifference constitute the modern
Monterey. Still, the roses and the tall
hollyhocks cling lovingly to the adobe
walls, and peep in through the low win
dows; but the blushing, olive-cheeked
girls that offered them to the lounging
wooers at the garden gates twenty-five
wears ago have grown into dowdy ma
irons, wrinkled by family cares, or else
sleep peacefully in the old graveyard,
whose margin is washed by the spring
tides, which, knowing no change, MUIR
muir vet as of old on the crescent
beach.
With all its dreary somnolence, there
is a charm about this old town, sitting
like some sad widow by the sea, mourn.
ing the commerce which has deserted
her. and yet, in all her grief, Enoch Ar
den like, hoping and waiting for sail,
and seeing
1.-The great stars that globed themselves in
The Notwithstanding ocean, and again
The scarlet shafts Of sunrise-but no sail"
Slowly in the bay sunk the evening
sun On the oath of December, 1S4S
Across the waters streamed its last golden
and purple rays, glistening on the wet
sands, tenderly shimmering through the
branches of the oaks that stood in the
old Spanish graveyard, and disappearing
among the pines that sentineled the hill
tops in the background.
Maria Ignacia Gomez, as the d7lgelus
bell rung out from the Mission church,
crossed herself devoutly, for moment
neglecting the rose-vine that climbed to
the red Titled roof of her low, long dwell
ING. And as she stood in the garden,
with crossed hands and large brown eyes
uplifted, her black shawl dropping from
her graceful shoulders, and her red lips
moving in prayer, painter could desire
no better model for Madonna or an
Evangeline, for her face had all the
sweetness of the one, with the resigned
expression of patient waiting of the other
A sour-looking, querulous face appeared
at the deep window.
"Come here, Maria: It's supper time
eyes, Baadre mia" and Maria, securing
the cratic vine to nail in the adobe
wall, entered the house.
Ten wears before the date of our story
when Marias sweet womanhood was a
its dawn, for many a mile rode in the
youth of the southern country to catch
glimpse of and exchange word with thu
belle of Monterey A rosebud from hel
fingers was rare gift, to be carefullypre
served and worn with pride, and kline
glance from her brown eyes sent the re
cipient back to his rancho on the Salina
happy man. Never cloud rested OF
that calm, earnest face, nor passion fount
moments harbor in her breast. But q
last her sorrow came, in this wise:
In June, 1888, the stout ship Deligh
furled her canvas and dropped her ancho
in the Bay of Monterey. She was owned
by the great Hudson's Bay Company, ant
was bound north to drain the posts of tn,
company on the Frazer and Col
umbia rivers of the valuable furs which
Law in their storehouses. The super
cargo of the Delight, James Gilmour
was a son OF the Vice President of thi
opulent corporation, and showing posi-
tive dis;sciination for each and all OF thu
learned professions, and expressing
hearty contempt for the humdrum life o
Europe. had been sent by his father to tn
Pacific shores, to drink his fill Of the ad
ventures for which he thirsted. He wa
youth of singular force of character
very administrative, and possessing
some decided opinions Of the dttettdnt
life of the wealthy youth of Great Bril-
ain which had won for him in his uni
yersity DAYS the title of eThe Radical.
The unanimous verdict of the jury Of oil
wise heads to whom Gilmour, sc
nior. had appealed for an opiniol
of his sons character was, that Jane
was talented. but odd--an eccentri
young man, in fact-who,. unless trave
tempered him down. would never be q
acquisition to the merchant ONCE within
whose dusty precincts his father ha
amassed bulky fortune. so Jane
found himself aboard the Delight, an
chored in the Bay of Monterey, and
though nominally supercargo, really
that tangled maze Of young man in pu
suit of q vocation.
.Captain Brown said Gilmour, afie
that worthy seaman had squared the yard
to his satisfaction, got his fancy walls
cloths at the gangway, and inspected tn
ftting-on OF the agood clothes" which
merchant vessel dons in port-"do 20
know any of the inhabitants OF this odt
looking village on the hill-sidef"
.sVillageP Mr.. Gilmour. ! pray 20
don't cali this village. This il . cit.
si--the first city in California-and II
mi take not" continued the Captain
9vondcr NJ the custOm- houee stands I'll