Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
REZANOV.
CONTINUED from Sixth Page.

had her eyes met Is in a glance Of under
standing. At the dances she showed him
as secret as might be in that small COM
munity, until his return with consent Of
pope and king, he was forced to concede
that her conduct was irreproachable; but
when on the day of the betrothal she was
oblivious to his efforts to draw her into
the garden. he mounted his horse and rode
off In huff.
The truth was that Concha liked the
present arrangement no better than him
self, and knowing that her own appeal
against the proprieties would result in a
deeper seclusion, she determined to goad
him into using every resource of address
state of affairs. And she accomplished her
object. ReZanov, at the end of a week, was
not only Infatuated but alarmed. He knew
the imagination Of woman, and guessed that
Concha, in her brooding solitude, distorted
all that was unfortunate in the present and
dwelt morbidly on the future. He knew
that she must resent his part In the long
separation. no doubt his lack Of impulsive-
ness in not proposing elopement There
was a priest in his company who, although
he ate below the salt and found his as
sociates among the sailors could have per-
formed the ceremony Of marriage when
the Juno, under full sail in the night, was
scudding for the Russian north. 1t Is not
to be denied that this romantic alternative
APPEALED to Rezanov, and had 1t not been for
the starving wretches so eagerly awaiting
his coming he might have been tempted to
throw commercial relations to the winds
and flee with his bride while San Fran
cisco, secure in the knowledge of the Juno's
empty hold, was in Its first heavy sleep. 1t
is doubtful If he would have advanced be-
yond impulse, for Rezanov was not the
man to lose sight of purpose to which
he had set the full strength of his talents.
and life had tempered his impetuous ma
ture with much philosophy. Moreover,
while his conscience might ignore the double
dealing necessary to the accomplishment of
patriotic or political acts. 1t revolted at
the idea OF outwitting, possibly wrecking,
his trusting and hospitable host. But the
mere fact that his imagination could dwell
upon such an issue as reckless flight in
famed his Impotence, and his desire to
see Concha daily during these last few
weeks of propinquity. Finally he sought the
cooperation of Father Abelia, and that wise
student of maids and men gave him cheer.
place the long delayed Indian dance and
bull-bear fight; not in the Preside. but
at the Mission, the pride of the friars inclt-
ing them to succeed where the military
authorities had failed. All the little world
of San Francisco would be there. and 1t
would be strange If In the confusion be-
tween performance and supper lover
could not find moment alone with his
lady.
The elements were kind to the padres. The
afternoon was not too hot. although the
sun flooded the plain and there was not
cloud on the dazzling blue Of the sky.
Never had the Mission and the mansions
looked 30 white, their tiles so red. The trees
were poisoning pink and white in the or
of the fields; and into this valley came
neither the winds nor the fogs Of the
ocean.
The priests and their guests of honor sat
on the long corridor beside the church;
the soldiers, sailors and Indians Of Pre-
sidio and Mission forming the other three
sides Of hollow square. The Indian women
were blaze of color. The ladies on the
md
the gayest of artificial flowers. There were
as many fans as women. Rezanov sat be-
tween Father Abella and the commandante.
and not being In the best of tempers had
never looked more imposing and remote.
Concha, leaning against one Of the pillars.
stole a glance at him and wondered miser-
ably IL this naughty European had really
sought her hand II II were not a girls
foolish dream. But Concha's humble mo-