The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-10

face crossed now and again by the ami
nation of the clever American woman?
What an anomaly to find on the shores
of the Pacific All / had heard of The
Doomswoman, The Golden Senorita,
gave me no idea of this. What pity
that our houses are at war! She is not
at all events. / never saw
baby held so awkwardly. What poise
of head She looks better fitted for TRACE
dy than for this little comedy of life in
the CALIFORNIA;. A sovereignty would
suit her-were it not for her eyes. They
are not quite so calm and just and mex
orable as the rest oe her face. She would
not even make a good household tyrant,
like Dona Jacoba Duncan.
"Unquestionably she is religious and
swaddled in all the traditions of her
race; but her eyes-they are at odds with
all the rest of her. They are not lovely
eyes; they lack softness and languor and
tractability: their expression changes too
often, and they mirror too much intelli-
gence for loveliness, but they never will
be old eyes, and they never will cease to
look. And they are the eyes best worth
looking into that have ever seen. No,
a sovereignty would not suit her at all;
a salon might. But, like few Of us,
she is some years ahead of her sphere.
Glory be TO the Californias-of the
future, when we are dirt and our chill
dren have found the gold!'
The baby was nearly baptized by the
time he had finished his soliloquy. She
had kicked alarmingly when the salt was
laid on her tongue and squalled under
the deluge of water which gave her her
name and also wet Chonita's sleeve. The
godmother longed for the ceremony to
be over, but it was more protracted than
usual, owing TO the importance of the
restless object on the pillow in her weary
arms. When the last word was said she
handed pillow and baby to the nurse
with an eager sigh of relief, which made
her appear girlish and natural.
After Estenega had lifted her to her
horse he dried her sleeve with his hand
kerchief. He fingered over the task; the
cavalcade and populace went on with
out them, and when they started they
were in the rearward of the bithesome
crowd.
"Do you know what / thought as
stood by you in the church," he asked.
NO" she said indifferently. Il hope
you prayed for the fortune of the little
one"
II did not. nor did you. You were too
afraid you would dropit. Twas thinking
how unmotherly-I had almost said un-
womanly-you looked. You were made
for the great world-the restless world,
where people fly faster from monotony
than from tidal wave"
She looked at him with cold digrSF,
but flushed little. Il am not unwom-
only, senor, although l confess I do not
understand babies and do detest TO sew.
But if ever marry shall be good wife
and mother. No Spanish woman was
ever otherwise, for every Spanish woman
has had good mother for example"
You havo said exactly what you
should have said. voicing the inborn
principles and sentiments of the Spanish
woman. / would be interested to know
what your individual sentiments are,
but you misunderstood me. said that
You were too good for the average lot Of
woman. You are a woman, not doll;
an intelligence, not n bundle OF shallow
emotions and transient desires. You
should have larger destiny"
She gave him swift, sidelong fash
from eyes that suddenly looked childish
and eager.
1T is true" she said frankly. al have
no desire to marry and have many chill
dren. Ny father has never said TO me,
Thou must marry and l have some
times thought / would say No when
that time came. For the present / am
contented with my books and to ride
about the country on wild horse, bu,
perhaps-I do not know-I may not al
ways be contented with that. Sometimes
when reading Shakespeare have imag'
ined myself each of those women in turn
but generally of course / have thought
little Of being any one but myself. What
else could be here"
Nothing, excepting Joan OF Arc
when the Americans sweep down upor
us, but that would be only for day
We would be sich easy prey. II | could
put you TO sleep and awaken You fift!
years hence when California was a mod
ern civilization God speed the Ameri
cans. Therein lies our only chance"
"Whatw she ciied. "You-you would
have the Americans? You-a Cahfor
nian! But You are an Estenega. Tha
explains everything"
Il am Californian" he said, ignoring
the scorn of the later words, "but / hop,
/ have acquired some common sense il
rowing about the world. The women o
California are admirable in every way
chaste, strong Of character, industrious
devoted wives and mothers. born will
sufficient capacity for small pleasures
But what arc our men? Idle, thriftless
unambitious too lazy TO walk across TN
street bue with horse for every step
sleeping all day in hammock. gamblin,
and drinking all night. They are tn
natural followers of race of men VIII,
came here TO force fortune ont Of an nm
broken country with little 10 help then
hut brains and will.
"The great effort produced great re