The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-29
THE NCSs-GATAERER OF MONTEREY.
from the Overland Monthly. |


ton of the present, was little different
from the Monterey Of to-day. The
wars of the outside world, the king
makings. and revolutions, and discov-
cries, and inventions, had no power to
send single thrill of interest or excite
ment through the veins Of her somno-
lent Spanish population. So long as
the roses doomed, and the winter rains
made the hills green for the immense
herds of cattle which then tenanted
the Salinas plains-now great harvest
field-so long did the people of Monte
rey proud of their long stretch Of sea-
beach, their roses, and the dark beauty
Of their daughters. take the pleasant
afternoon sies!d, and dance to the mu-
sic of the guitar at carnival time.
Twenty years ago, as to-day, the cattle
roamed through the quiet streets, and
the same loving hands that planted
feeble rose-cuttings, now. with less OF
the dimpled molding of yore, Gull with
the same delicate care the buds from
the mature trees.
On glorious May dawn in 1856, as
the sun crept over the pines that SEN
tinel the hills in the rear Of the town,
young girl stood on the beach watch
ing the receding tide. As the sunlight
silvered the long reach of sand and glls-
tened on the wet rocks, it touched with
loving splendor face of singular beau
ty, with features as clear cut as cam
co. Juanilla was the daughter OF an
old whaler who for many years had
followed the leviathan in the lagoens Of
South California, but an accident caus-
ed by the staving in Of a boat made him
cripple, aud, except his little adobe
homestead and the labor of Juanilla, he
had nothing in his Cd age to depend
on. She vas moss-gatherer, who
made pretty picture frames of shells
and sea-weed and sold them to the
crews of naval and merchant vessels.
An early riser was Juanllla. The dawn
saw her on the beach when the tide
suited her occupation, and the porch
of the adobe cottage was wilderness of
crimson, white, and yellow roses. Her
beauty was not Of a sleepy, lndolent
sort, so characteristic of the Spanish
women. 1t had more eff the animated
grace and little supple vigor of the fish
ermen's daughters of the British is
lands.
"Nadre DE- Dios, - said she, softly,
as she sprung from the top of a treach-
erous granite rock to the sands, 'how
those strangers are carrying of my
shells! This beach is being ruined by
those people. shall soon be without
material for single pict frame.
Now JuaniIla S labors, though Mon.
terey was still slumbering, were not I'M
observed. A young man stood on the
bluff above the beach, looking down in
intensest admiration at the bare-footed
beauty below. He wore the loose gray
clothes of tourist, and, from the sea-
glasses that hung by his side, was evil
IDENTIFY out early to observe the sunrise.
Clambering down the rocks with sure
footed base that indicated the expert
enced mountalneer, the stranger drew
near her, and watched, with an amused
| expression on his handsome Saxon fea-
lures, Juanilla S contest with an envi-
Gus wavelet for the possession OF rare
bit of moss. "Bravo' he cried, as,
returning from successful rush into
the spray, she carried Off her prize.
The moss-gathcrer turned quickly
and blushcd in the most charming man
| ner imaginable as she hastily arranged
the short petticoat which chung limp
and lovingly to her pretty ankles. The
stranger took off his hat and apoligized
for his presence.
'Ah, senor,' said the moss-gatherer,
ARE you, too, looking for shells on my
beach Well, you shall have soma. as
you are out so early. Come and will
show you where the tide has thrown
them up And quite recovered from
her first mbarrassment, she beckoned
| him % follow her o, er the rocks. John
| Thorpe. fresh from the London drawing
rooms, and in search of health broken
down by the dissipations of London
life, mentally decided that this was the
most delightful adventure he had met
with since he shook the dust of Bond
street from his feet. He followed her,
and when after an hour scramble with
this daughter of the coast he returned :;
wet and weary. to the hotel. he made
an entry in his diary that his morn
ing IS lesson in concholoey was more in
teresting than any he had ever heard
from the lips of his Oxford professor.
And Juanilla averred to herself it was
pity that this young Englishman, who
said such odd things in such nice way,
should have such pale checks. and get
so tired from the exercise that only re-
freshed her for the labors of the day
That afternoon. as her deft fingers wove
the MOSES into tasteful patterns, her
fathers voice summoned her to the YER
anda.
There is stranger here, Juanilla.
who would like to see our picture
frames. Quick, my daughter. and
show the gentleman what we have for
SALE
Mr.. John Thorpe bought almost the
entire stock. and then asked permission
to visit the garden.
This is my pet said Juanilla, gent
" lifting up the blossom of a tiny moss
rose bush. but it is very sickly, senior,
and fear that this will be it's last
vI0rar Coma vop Sbail bayo hid