Middletown transcript., 1874-03-21

% TIE zftu Of OoCom 0crs lo4c. AcrOge
the waters streamsd its last golden and
purple rays. glistenipg on the wet sands,
tsnderly shimmering through the brunch
es OF the oak that stood in the old Spanish
graveyard, sad disappearing among the
pines that sentinslsd the hill-tops in the
background. FIX gSsi 4e,ss s.,a Il
Maria Ignacia Gomez. % the angelus
bell rung out from the Mission church.
crossed herself devoutly, fer moment for
getting tho rose-vine that climbed to the
red-tilsd roof other low. long dwelling,
Aud a. she stood in the garden, with
crossed hands and large brown eyes gplift-
cd, her black shawl dropping from her
graceful shoulders, ). and her red lips NOV
ing in prayer, q painter could desire no
better model for Madonna or an Evange-
line. for the face had all tho sweetnsss Of
the one, with the resigned expression Of
patient waiting Of the other. A sour
looking, querulous looking face appeared
st the deep window. & Ill hi
"Come here. Maria It's suppcr- time. ?
eyes, Madre mia," and Maria, sesur-
ing ths. .erratic vine to nail in the adobe
wall, entered the house. a 2 z 3 ~
Ten years before the date Of our story,
when Maria's sweet womanhood was at its
dawn, for many q mile rode iD the youth
Of the southern country to catch glimpse
Of and exchange word with the belle Of
Monterey. A rosebud from her figers
was rare gift, to bs carefully preserved
and worn with pride, and kind glance
from her brown eyes sent the recipient
back to his rancho on.ths SALINAS 1 happy
man. Never cloud rested on that calm,
earnest face. nor passion found moments
barbor in her breast IA, 4 40. =
But at last her sorrow came. in this
wise: In Juno.I 1885, the stout ship De-
light furled her canvas and dropped her
anchor in the Bay Of Monterey. She was
owned by the great Hudson's Bay Compa-
ny. aud vas bound porth to drain the
company on the Frazer and Columbia riv-
ers Of their valuable fers which lay in their
store-houses. The snpcroarso of the De-
light. James Gilmour. was sou Of the
vice president Of this opulent corporation,
and showing 4 positive disinclination for
each and.sll ofthe learned professions, and
expressing hearty coptern pt for the hum
drum life Of Europe. had been sent by his
father 10 the Pacific shores, TO drink bis
6llsof the adventures for which he thirst
ed. He was youth Of a singular force Of
character, very undemonstrxtive. and pos
sessing some decided opinions of the dilet-
tante which had won for him in his uni
versity days the title of The Radical The
unanimous verdictof the jury Of old WISE
heads to whom Gilmour, senior, had ap-
pealed for an opinion Of his son 8 character
was that james was talented, but odd
an cccentric young man. in fact-who.
unless travel tempered him down, would
4 never be an acquisition to, the merchant
office within whose dusty precincts biz
father had amassed bulky fortune. So
James found himself ateard the Delight,
anchored in the Bay of Monterey, and
though nomiaally supercarge, really in
that tangled maze of young man In pur.
suit of vocation.
captain Brown" said Gilmour, afte,
that worthy seaman had squared the yard.
to his satisfaction, got his fancy waist
clothes at the gangway, and inspected The
6tting-on Of the good clothes, which /
merchant vessel dons. i'm port-ssdo yer
know. any Of the inhabitants Of this odd
looking village on the hillside n ~
1 "'VillageY Mr.. lGilnour. I pray yos
4 don't call this village. This is a city
sir-ths FIRST city in Cslifornia-and il
J mistake not.' continued the ca plain. yen
der at the custom house stands the alcalde
hospital gentleman to whom our conpa
ny is indebted for many favors." r
4 A few moments afterward. both speak
ers were heartily greeted by that official
who, as the boats keel grated on the sand
welcomed them to Monterey.
Among the many young and prett,
Spanish girls whom Gilmour met in Mon
terey was Maria Ignacia. A spirit .
rivalry induced him to throw himself int
tho list with the Spanish gallants VIII
strove for the fair ! Maria's smiles III
was more than successful. The difFerenc
: Of his napnas. !. his. recitals 81. sdsentpse il
Europe, ind descriptions of the gran
places Of history, were something % noys
ia Marie, so totally different from I'll
: stereotypcd compliments Of her woere
} that she found charm ia his socist
which, 10 her innocence, she cared not I
conceal. But the end came at last .-Th
: Delight was to proceed northward. an
the sopercargo prepared to take leave (
all his Spanish friends. lle.s = sel..si.
,s.And 80, Maria. =. said Gilmour. on, til
evening preceding bis DEPARTURE sou
\ pleasant visit comes 70 IN end. Well,
!. have improved my Spanish. and you. III
! tie Madonna, IL ever the fates take you I
: England. will recognize The abbeys an
the churches from my descriptions, ~
Maria Ignacia did not reply. but stooI
:. ed to pick up an abalone shell. which. y,
8 and sheeny, lay 10 the sand at Her feet.
"And now, Maria, | have only one II
= quest to make. which our charming q,
' qnsintance warrants. 1t has three part,
however, soucenir from this dark ha
of yours; letter. now and then. whe
you weary Of. your Monterey lovers. an
= wish to talk to mo across the water: an