Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-05-20

IN JHe long uiHlIlS TOOiu. opening upon
the large, high walled garden at the back
of the governors house, a feast was
spread for fifty people. Dona Martina
sat for little time at the head of the
table. her yellow gown almost hidden by
the masses of hair which her small head
could not support. Castro was on one
side of her. Estenega on the other, Cho-
nita by her arch enemy. A large bunch
of artificial flowers was at each plate,
and the table was loaded with yellOwed
chickens sitting proudly in scarlet gravy
tongues covered with walnut sauce
grilled meats, tamales. mounds of tor
tillas and dulces.
Alvarado, at the lower end Of the ta-
BILE, sat between Dona Modesto Castro
and myself, and between the extremes
of the board were faces glowing, beauti-
full, ugly. but without exception fresh
and young. From all the mantilla and
serape had been removed; jewels spar
kled in the lace shirts of the men: white
throats were encircled by the invariable
necklace of Baja Californian pearls
Chonita alone wore string of black
pearls. never saw her without it.
Dona Martina took little part in the
talk and laughter, and after a time
slipped away, motioning to Chonita to
take her place. The conversation turned
upon war and politics, and in its course
Estenega, looking from Chonita to Cas-
tro with smile of good natured irony,
said:
10 nf nTAfy,
coronel, that California was the direct
gift of heaven to the Spaniards, and that
the Americans cannot have us"
Castro raised his glass TO the comadre
"Dona Chonita has the loyal bosom of
all Californian women. Our men love
better the olive of peace than the favor
of discord, but did the bandoleros dare
to approach our peaceful shores with
dastardly intent to rob, then, thanks be
to God, know that every man among
them would fight for this virgin land.
Thou. too, Diego, thou would unsheathe
thy sword in spite of thy pretended ad-
miration of the Americans.
Estenega raised his shoulders Posi-
bly,. But in American possession lies the
hope of California. What have we done
with it in the seventy years that it has
been ours? Built few missions which
are rotting, terrorized or caioled a few
thousand worthless Indians into civilized
mbecility and raised number of horses
md cattle. Our hide and tallow trade is
only good; the Russians have vemonopolized
the fur trade; we continue to raise cattle
and horses because it would be an exer-
tion to suppress them, and meanwhile we
dawdle away our lives very pleasurably,
gold and richer still in soil, lies idle be-
meath our feet Nature never works
without a plan. She compounded a
wonderful country, and she created a
wonderful people to develop it. She has
allowed us to drone on it for little time,
but it was not made for us, and ! am
sufficiently interested in California to
wish to see her rise from her sleep and
feel and live in every part of her."
He turned suddenly to Chonita. ''lfl
were sculptor he said, Il would use
you as n model for a statue OF Califor-
MIA | have the somewhat whimsical
idea that you are the human embodi-
ment of her"
Before she could muster her startled
and angry faculties for reply. before Els
tenega had finished speaking in fact
Castro brought his open palm down on
the table, his eyes blazing.
oh, execrable profanationT' he cried
oh. unheard of perfidy! Is it possible
that man calling himself Californian
could give utterance to such sentimentsf
Oh, abomination! You would invite
welcome, uphold the American adven-
turer? You would tear apart the bosom