The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-11

In the long dining room. opening upol
the large. high walled garden at the bacl
of the governors house, IA feast wa
spread for fifty people. Dona Martins
sat for n little time at the head of tn,
table, her yellow gown almost hidden by
the masses of hair which her small heaC
could not support. Castro was on on,
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 Ia
bic, sat between Dona Modesto Castro
and myself, and between the extremes
of the board were faces glowing, beauti-
ful, 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 a string of black
pearls. never saw her without il.
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:
"Dona Chonita is of your opinion,
coronel, that California was the direct
gift of heaven to the Spaniards, and that
the Americans cannot have U.S."
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 flavor
Of discord, but did the bandoleros dare
tn approach our peaceful shores with
dastardly intent to rob, then, thanks be
to God, j 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. 'Possi-
bly,. But in American possession lies the
hope of California. What have we done
with 1t In the seventy years that it has
been ours? Built few missions which
are rotting, terroriZed or cajoled a few
thousand worthless Indians into civilized
mbecility and raised number of horses
md cattle Our hide aSd tallow trade is
anly good; the Russians have monopoliZed
The fur trade; we continue TO raise cattle
md horses because il would be an exer-
lion to suppress them. and meanwhile we
aawdle away our lives very pleasurably,
while magnificent territory, filed with
gold and richer still in soil, lies idle be-
meath our feet. Nature never works
without plan. She compounded n
wonderful country, and she created a
wonderful people TO develop it, She has
allowed us 10 drone on it for a little time,
but 1t was not made for us, and am
sufficiently interested is California 20
wish 10 see her rise from her sleep and
teel and live III every part of her"
He turned suddenly TO Chonita. "IfI
were a sculptor" he said, IL would use
you as a model for 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 Es-
tenega had finished speaking in fact.
Castro brought his open palm down on
the table, his eyes blazing.
oh, execrable profanationr he cried.
'Oh, unhcard Of periidyl Is il possible
that man calling himself Californian
could give utterance to such sentiments?
Oh, aboniinationl You would invite,
welcome, uphold the American adven-
turerI You would tear apart the bosom
Of your country under prctense Of doc
torng its evils, You would cast this
tair gift of Almighty God at the feet of
American swineS Oh. Diego, Diego!
This comes of the hereto books thou
hast read Il is better 10 have heart
than brain"
"Irne. the palpitations do not last ~
long We have had proof, which 1 neel
not recapitulate, that TO preserve Cali
tornia to itself IL must be tied fast 10
Mexico. otherwise would IL die of an
lrchy or fall a prey 20 the first invader
80 far so good. But what has Mexico
done Tor California; Nothing, and she
viii do less She is mother who has
forgotten the child she put out to nurse.