St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-09
My Uncle's Story.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
Every visitor to California has heard
of the Alameda. which now connects
San Jose and Santa Clara. Early in the
last century the Jesuit missionaries laid
out this road and caused it to be thickly
planted on either side with trees. and
to be daily swept and watered by the
Indians. The toll, which was Thus i'm
posed upon the converts in order to
keep their idle hands out of mischief,
which, according to nursery lore, Satan
always supplies. produced not only the
desired amelioratiOn of aboriginal char
acter, but one of the most magnificent
drives in the world. The Almeda of
late years has been ravaged by Cloths
and Visigoths, and like ancient Rome,
has been robbed of much of it's glory.
But twenty years ago it richly merited
the pride with which it was regarded.
The thickly interlacing branches over
head formed an almost continuous arch,
under which, for two miles OF more one
could ride on ground hard as adamant,
delightfully."- shielded from the bright
ness of the California sun. On either
side were elegant residences, embOw
cred in noble trees. Here were the
h ONES of the wealthiest citizens of that
WtdtlHS dllu Sdy Cltys tOQb cooCs
Somewhat remote from the main ave-
nue., and from neighbors, at the end of
q shady. winding approach of its own,
was the roOmy, rambling de Zaldo
house. There was here no attempt at
smartnesS or architectural display. The
building, surrounded by lawns and
flower beds and shaded by stately trees.
had spacious verandas everywhere and
upon them opened numerous long will
dows. through which could be seen the
stirring of creamy lace. Passion flowers
and hOneySurkles and lovely climbing
roses were trained at intervals over the
verandas. Light wicker chairs were
scattered about. inviting to siesta. No
excessive sagacity was required to rec
ogniZe in this charming spot the abode
of refinement.
The place was the home of a Spanish
gentleman of noble birth. now some
what advanced in years. For political
reasons he had in early life left his own
country. and during a sOiOurn in Eng
land had married an English girl. In
search of climate like that Of his own
land he had brought his bride to Cali
fornia. and finding the lost Eden, as he
said. in the Santa Clara valley, he had
here founded his home.
u.
Josephine and Mary. whom have seen
grow up from childhood. They are now
enjoying gay young ladyhood. None
of the numerous social affairs in San
Jose were complete without them.
Count. or as he preferred to be called.
Mr. de Zald0, was not rich, but his
means had been sufficient to employ
good masters for his daughters. Both
were highly accomplished. Both were
beautiful.
Josephine, in personal appearance
and In temperament, was of a more dis
tinctly Spanish type than her sister.
Tall and slender, she had the glory of
black hair and melting dark eyes which
belong TO senoritas, but the dazzling
complexion which DISTINGUISHES En-
glish girls. She added to her natural
vivacity certain winning grace which
seemed to entreat the good will of each
one she met. and made her a universal
favorite. She captiVated old and young
with equal ease.
Gossips even averred that Josephine
was something of cOquette, and that
if she would she could boast Of as many
scaps as any New York belle. 1t was
we'll known, they declared, that she
had refused viii Cottrell. the best
match in San Jose. Pray, what did she
expect? He was one of the best-hearted
fellows that ever breathed, of one of
the finest families; he had money, too,
and it was plain to be seen had Wor-
SHIPPED the ground she walked on.
They hoped she would not look further
and fare worse. As for young Cottreil.
they were very glad he was cOnSoling
himself with the sister Mary. She
would make wife any man could be
proud of.
At one of the large receptions the De
ZaidO girls attended during their sec
ond winter of gaiety. the hostess. soon
after .Josephine's entrance. approached
her with stranger.
My dear, let me introduce Mr.. Iadd,
of Menlo Park, who is dying to meet
you, and hopes you can give him at least
one waltz"
AS Josephine bowed. and murmured
the conventional words of assent, she
saw that she was being regarded by a
very handsome man. She found, too.
that he was that greatest of rarities.
perfect partner. Waiting, as he did
it, was one of the fine arts. She felt, as
he led her to seat. that she had never
danced before. Mir. Ladd was not talk
ative. Indeed. he was silent His eyes,
however. boldly expressed his admira-
ton for Josephine. They danced to-
gether several times. Shortly after
wards they met at another large dane
ing party. AS he left her, after their
last waltz that evening, he said without
any preface:
"You know. Miss de Zaldo, can't
came over from Menlo as often as |
should like. and I can't hope to see
much of you. l wish you would let me
write to you. Whenever | bore you I'll
stop"
THIS was really the longest speech
she had vet heard him make.
Now Josephine had Spanish father
and an English mother, bat she herself
had had neither duennas nor chape-
rones. She had been educated as an
American girl, and was thoroughly
American in her dislike of all conven-
tional restraint. She saw no harm III