The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-05-01
The Belle OF Monterey.

: cSo was d fdSHy uiHeIeHG IOWu IRON
the Monterey of to-day. The silen
property of geese, cows, and nomadi,
'hOgs, then echoed to the ringing hoofi
of the gayly- -attired cabGllero'S horse
the uniform of the English and Ameri
can naval officer cOntrasted with thu
staid black mantilla of the pretty senior,
ata the guitar tinkled on moonlight
nights under the lattice Of the dark
: eyed belle; and the romance of Spanish
life mingled with the hustle and activi
|. ty OF a prosperous seaport town. Now
an untenanted harbor, mass of half
ruined, unoccupied buildings, and q
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 windows; but the
blushing, oliye-eheeked girls that offer.
ed them to the lOunging wooers ut the
garden gates twenty five years ago have
grown into dowdy matrons, wrinkled
by family cares, or else sleep peacefully
in the old graveyard, whose margin is
washed by the spring-sides, which,
Knowing no change, murmur yet as OF
old on the crescent beach.
With all its dreary somnOlence, there
is q charm about this old town, sitting
like some sad widow by the sea, mourn
ling the commerce which has deserted
her, and yet, in all her grief, Enoch Ar
den like, hoping and waiting for a sail,
and seeing
"The great stars that globed themselves in
| heaven.
The w-be1lowing ocean, and again
The scarlet shafts of sunrise-but no saif.''
Slowly in the bay sunk the evening
sun on the oath of December, 1S48.
4 Across the waters streamed its last
i golden and purple rays, glistening on
the wet sands, tenderly shinmering
| through the branches of the oaks that
stood in the old Spanish graveyard, and
! disapp ppearing among the pines that
sentineled the hill-tops in the back
ground.
Maria Ignacia Gomez, as the engeIts
bell rung out from the Mission church,
crossed herself, devoutly, for a moment
neglecting the rose-vine that climbed
| to the red tiled roof of her low, long
dwelling. And as she stood in the
garden, with crossed hands, and large
brown eyes uplifted, her black shawl
and her red lips moving in prayer, a
painter could desire no better model
| for a Madonna OF 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.
aCome here, Maria; It's supper time"
Yes. md6yfe mia - and Maria, secur-
ing the cratic vine to nail in the
adobe wall, entered the house.
Ten years before the date of our
story, when MaEia's sweet WomanhOOd
was at its dawn, for many a mile rode
in the youth of the southern country to
catch q glimpse of and exchange @ word
with the belle of Monterey. A rosebud
from her fingers was rare gift, to be
carefully preserved aud worn with
pride, and a kind glance from heF,brOwn
eyes sent the recipient back to his ran
chO ON the Salinas q happy man. Never
d cloud rested on that calm, earnest
face, nor passion found q moments har
BORN her breast. But at last her sOr-
row came, in this wise:
u In June, 1888, the stout ship Delight
furied her canvas and dropped her
anchor in the Bay of Monterey. She
was owned by the great Hudsofss Bay
Company, and was bound north to
drain the posts of the company on the
Frazer and Columbia rivers of the
valuable fuIs which lay in their store
houses. The supercargo of the Delight,
James Gilmour, was q son Of the Vice
President of this opulent corporation,
and showing a positive disinclinatfon
for each and all Of the learned profes-
siuns. and expressing a hearty contempt
for the hundrun life of Europe, had
been sent By his father to the Pacific
shores. ia drink llis ffll Of the adventures
for for which hesthirsfeeI. He was a youth
Of d singular force of character, very
undenlonstratiye, and possessing some
decided opinions DC the tgi giIettg1tte life Of |
the wealthy youth Of Great Britain
which had won for him in his university
DAYS the title of "The Radical The |
unanimous verdict of the jury Of old
wise-heads to whom Gilmour, senior,
had appealed for an opinion Of bis sons |
character was, that james. was talented, |
but Odd-an eccentric young man, in |
fact--Wh0 unless travel tempered him |
down, sSgilIu hSeoI ~. ue g. -
me neIchang once WlCnln whose ausssy
preclncIs MS IaIneE na0 aLaassSu |
plltkg t1Plgqnie: E5o .s,alnes LoNhl nllA- ~
SELF aboard 5ne petigslt, anfnoTea ~ Glle |
pay OF monterey, anu, GhouSn noIn4liti, Iss
~ snpefcargO, FealIy II thaI Esngieu
maze OF g young man II pursuit VI
VOcatlon'
Captain Brown said Gilmour, af-
ter that worthy seaman had squared |
the yards to his satisfaction, got his /
fancy Waistcloths at the gallgWay, and
inspected the fitting on OF the good
clothes which merchant vessel dons
IN port" do you know any OF the IN