The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-07-10
n ROMANCE OF CALIFORNIA

IN +
General Shernlan's Sweetheart
Waited in Vain Upon His
Promise.
Monterey, once the capital of Cali.
tornla, contains many ancient build
lngs, adobe houses and bits of history.
Overlooking the intensely-biue bay is
the old Spanish custom house, with
the very flagstaff of historical signfl-
canoe. This building was originally
erected by the Spanish, AMI afterwards
successively added to by Mexico and
the United States. The building is
two story, with wide overhanying
caves, and its creamy-white plastered
walls contrast pleasantly with the dull
red titles and mossy shingles of the
roof. There is cool, shady porch
running along the front, where fisher
men are wont 20 mend their nets, or
lounge about sm moking or telling yarns.
On little back street is a tumble
down building, very long and narrow,
with the old stage upon which Jenny
Lind sang in 1851. Back among the
pines iB San Carlos Mission, built by
Junipero Sierra in 1770, in which may
be seen the church ornaments and the
priests robes wrought in gold and sill
ver embroidery. These and many
other historic places could be mention
ed, but most interesting is the house
where Mercedes Castro was wooed by
Gen Sherman. More interesting be-
cause she still lives her solitary life
behind the high, whitewashcd, tile
covered stone wall which shuts in her
flower garden from the street and the
eyes OF Inc too curious.
Many years ago Mercedes Castro
was happy and beautiful Young
Spanish girl, the belle of Monterey,
Gen. Sherman was then a young man
and he met Mercedes and quickly sue.
cumbed to her charms. Their w,oinp
was an ideal one. Her loving, trust
ing nature had implicit faith in him,
and lac Worshiped at the shrine of her
beauty. On certain evil day he was
ordered East, and when he told her
they must part her heart was almost
broken. 70 somewhat lessen her grief
he planted n small slip Of rose bush
known rs the Cloth of Gold, ut the left
Oh her doorway, and, covering 1t with
earth, SAID: I" When this rose bush
blooms Will return and make Mer-
: ccdcs Castro my BRIDE"
Years passed, the little rose slip
tlonrished and twincd it's beautiful
branches around the latticed orbor.
Mercedes lived happily with her moth
cr, thinking always trustfully of her
sweetheart. Always fond of flowers.
the rose claimed her constant attention.
AT last she thought she saw some
buds, and even with her careful watch
ing the petals seemed to unfold before
she knew into golden-ycllow blossoms.
just rs if they had been touched bv
some Of the suns rays. Still she vail
cd cxpectantly day by day.
How soon was her young heart made
to feel the pangs of sorrow, for he IN
whom shc had such perfect faith had
easily forgotten his promise so thought
lessly given?
Gen. Sherman returned to Monterey
when the rose bush bloomed, but he
brought with him his American wife.
Again years passed., Mercedes Castro
was now woman and devoted to her
mother. Many suitors sought her
hand, but none received her favor. At |
last came one Of her own race who had |
a different aspect from the others, and
ho loved her 80 long and so truly that
she almost relented, but decided to re-
fer it to her mother. The elder lady,
not being hesirous Of losing hor daugR-
ter, strongly objected. So Mercedes
vowed that so long as her mother lived
she would not marry. After the moth.
er's death she yielded to her lovers
entrcaties, and the day for their we'd
ding was set, when suddenly the young
man died.
! longed to visit the old house and
obtain peep at tho senor.ta. The
mouse Is long, low, whitewashed
structure, and in the rear as we'll as in
front ls very pretty lower garden.
containing all the old-fashioned flow.
ers that our grandmothers loved.
noticed the Sherman rose bush "a
passed 1t on my way to her doorway
Its trunk, or stem, as near as | could
judge, measured about five ipches in
diameter, and the beautiful FOLIAGE
overhead was gay with the golden
blossoms.
The senorita had just come in from