The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-03

/ and the three were conveyed by a stout
matrOn, Casterman saw but one figure;
/ for she shot a shaft from Fer black
/ eyes that stopped his heart for a mo-
ment and then sent il leaping.
Who is she?" ne gasped, as he
| caught his breath.
! "She? All, the Dona Maria Estrada,
/ a most estimable matron aunt Of our
! Juan Alvarado, whom you know, and
mother Of our Lieutenant Estrada,
/ whom you viii meet" said Captain
/ Castro, whom he had addressed.
No, no; not that one; the girl with
] the shawl the red sash, and the flow
/ ing hair. Who is she?"
/ 'Ah, that one? She is the SenOTita
/ Rafaela Estrada. The family is most
notable" said Captain Castro. Here
! comes Lieutenant Estrada himself" he
continued a. a young man dashed up
/ on horseback, and leaped lightly to the
ground. "SenOr Casterman, let me pre-
| sent you"
( Now Senior Casterman cared not at
| all TO be presented. for his mind was
/ fastening after the group that had
/ passed; yet he could not refuse nor was
his mind so absent that he could not
: see the resentment and disfavor that
/ was conveyed so politely in the voice
and manner of Lieutenant Estrada.
/ An American, ] believe" said Es-
( tTada. The tone made it a sneer,
rather than an inquiry.
Yes, senior; and as proud Of his race
/ as Of the friends he had found in an
/ other" replied Casterman. Captain
! Castro nodded approval of the sent-
ment, and the conversation shifting for
a time, the American seized the arm Of
! Captain Martinez and drew him to q
walk. So in a few minutes they came
/ to the church, whence DOna Estrada
/ and her convoy were now coming out.
/ Casterman stood aside with eyes but
I for one, and hUngrily watched for an
other glance. How graceful how vi
/ vacious she was! The slender form,
/ the sweet face, the eloquent eyes-the
| sight Of them set his heart a-dancing.
/ Every movement showed that she
] thrilled with life to her finger tips. He
/ got no glance, and thought that his
/ presence was unnOted, Then as the
| group had passed she fell back to
/ fourth place in the party, 1Oosed a
/ flower from the handful she carried
/ and dropped it in the path.
/ Casterman sprang forward and
picked up the blossom as though it
were the treasure Of the earth. and her
I voice and laughter as she tested with
/ her companions was the sweetest music
| that had ever reached his ears.
Captain Mertinez looked at him with
a smile.
/ "Ah, los Americanos-they are net
SO cold as the proverb would have you
1 believe. But beware, Senior Casterman.
/ 1t Is through fire and water you must
go if you sail in that direction"
/ Fire and water cannot stop me-"
! mUrInured Casterman. But he said no
more, for he could not speak of his
J love. even TO the dearest friend of his
\ lie
/ SO he resolved to meet the maid, and
/ be was to have many opportunities, for
Monterey was eager TO maintain the
reputation Of Alta California as the
/ home of hospitality; yet none was the
/ opportunity he wished, for he could get
no word with her alone. Balls. feasts.
/ tandangos, races and even a fight be-
] tween bull and a bear were provided
to entertain the officers and men of the
Asia. The struggling town with its
/ loW-roOfed, Ted-tiled adobe houses re-
/ sounded with merriment from days
end TO days end.
So Casterman had the bliss Of being
! presented to Rafaela on the night after
he had first seen her 1t was at the
ball given by Governor Arguello in
] honor Of Captain Martinez, and though
the meeting was in sight of the world
and the words that passed were but
the commonplace Of convention, he