The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-15

Casa Grande, the mansion Of the
Iturbi y Moncadas in Santa Barbara,
stood at the right of the preside, facing
the channel A mile behind, under the
shadow of the gaunt rocky hills curving
about the valley, was the long white
mission, with its double towers. corridor
of many arches, and sloping roof COW
cred with red tiles. Between was the
wild valley where cattle grazed among
the trees and the massive powders. The
red tiled white abode houses of the
preside and Of the little town clustered
under its wing, the brown mud huts of
the Indians, were grouped in tLs fore
ground of the deep valley.
The great house of the Iturbi y Mon
cadas, erected in the first years of the
century, was built about three sides of a
court, measuring one hundred feet each
way. Like most of the adobes Of its
time it had but one story, and n wide
pillared corridor. protected by a sloping
roof, faced the court, which was as bare
and hard as the floor of ballroom. Be-
hind the dwelling were the manufac-
tories and huts of the, Indian retainers.
Don Guillermo Iturbi y Moncada was
the magnate of the south. His ranches
covered four hundred thousand acres;
his horses and cattle were unnumbered.
His Indians, carpenters, coopers. sad
dlers. shoemakers, weavers. manufac-
turers Of household staples. supplied tho
garrison and town with the necessaries
of life. He also did large trading busi-
ness in hides and tallow.
Rumor had it that in the wooden
tower built against the back of the house
he kept gold by the bushel basketful,
but no one called him miser, for he
gave the poor of the town all they ate
and wore and kept supply of drugs for
their sick. So beloved and revered was
he that when earthquakes shook the
town or fires threatened it from the hills
the poor ran in body TO the courtyard
of Casa Grande and besought his pro-
lection. They never passed him without
saluting to the ground. nor his house
without bending their heads And vet
they feared him, for he was an irascible
old gentleman at times, and thumped
numerically when in a temper. Chonita
alone could manage him always
When / returned TO Santa Barbara
with Chonita after her visit to Monterey
the yellow fruit hung in the padres or
chard; the grass was burning brown: sky
and water were the hard blue of metal.
The afternoon Of our arrival Don Gull
lermo. Chonita and were on the long
middle corridor of the house--in Santa
Barbara one lived in the air. The old don
sat on the long green bench by the sala
door. His heavy, flabby, leathery face
had no wrinkles but those which curved
from the corners of the mouth 10 the
chin. The thin upper lip was habitu-
ally pressed hard against the small pro-
truding under one. the mouth ending in
straight lines which seemed no part of
the lips. His small, slanting eyes. usually
stern, could snap with anger, as they
did today. The nose rose suddenly from
the middle of his face; it might have
been applied by a child sculpturing with
putty; the fat bridge was crossed by
erratic lines A bang of grizzled hair
escaped from the black silk handker-
chief wound rs tightly as turban about
his head. He wore short clothes Of dark
brown cloth, the jacket decorated with
large silver buttons. red damask vest,
shoes of embroidered deerskin and era
vat Of fine linen.
Chonita. in a white gown. pale green
reboso about her shoulders. her arms
crossed. her head thoughtfully bent for.
ward, walked slowly up and down be-
fore him.
Holy Godr cried the old man. pound
ing the floor with his stick. That they
have dared TO arrest my son-the son of
Guillermo Iturbi y Moncadal That Al.
varado. my friend and thy host, should
have permitted it,
dc rot blame Alvarado my father.
Remembsr. he must listen 20 the de-
partmental junta. and this Is their
work" Fool that ami" she added 10
herself. "why do not tell who alone is
g. blameS But need no one 10 help mo
hate him.'
''Is IL true that this Estenega Of whom