Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20

ton, revealing the rare gift OF making
every one appear at his best. In the even
ing she had sometimes danced alone for
few moments, but more often with her Rus
sian guests and readily learning the Eng
lish country dances they were anxious TO
teach. Rezanov would have found the gay
informa1ity Of these evenings delightful
had his mind been at ease about his S1tkans
and Concha tride more personal. He had
begun by suspecting that she was maneu-
vering for his scalp, but he was forced 10
acuuit her; for not only DID she show no
provocative favor to another, out she
seemed to have gained In dignity and PRIDE
since his arrival. actually to have Kissed
her hand in farewell to the childhood he
had been 30 slow in divining; grown-he
felt rather than analyZed-above the pettl-
ness OF coquetry. Once more she had sur
red the dormant ideals of his early. man.
hood; there were moments when she hoateo
before his inner vision as the embodiment
of the worlds beauty. Nor ever had there
been woman born more elbaorateiy
equipped for the position OF pupllc mans
mate; nor more ingenerate, perhaps, with
the power to turn earth into heaven.
He had wondered humorousy If he were
fallen in love, but although he retained
little faith In the activities OF the near.
after youth, he beginning seriously to
consider the expedience of marrying Con-
cha Arguello. He had not intended to
marry again, and 1t was this old and pas
sionate love Of personal freedom that alone
held him back, for nothing would be SO ad-
vantageous to the Russian colonies In their
present crisis as strong individual alil-
ance with California. Concha Arguello was
the famous daughter of its first subject
and with the powerful friends she would
bring to her husband, the contamination
of ends dearer to his heart than aught on
earth would be a matter OF months instead
of years. And he thrilled with pride as he
thought of Concha in st. Petersburg. Two
years of court life and she would be one
of the greatest ladies in Europe That he
could win her he believed, and without un-
I,,o a,,;tx 10 hoa N n
tious clever girl conscious Of her superior
ity to the men Of this province of Spain,
and chatting at the prospect OF lifetime in
a bountiful desert. His only hesitation lay
in his own doubt II she were worth the loss
Of his freedom, and all that word involved
to a. man of his position and adventurous
spirit
He shrugged his shoulders at this argu-
ment; he mad walked off some Of his ILL
humor and reverted willingly to theme
that alone had given him satisfaction dur
ing the past few days. At the same time
he made a motion as If fingtng aside an
old burden.
ut is time for such nonsense to end" he
thought contemptuously. And In truth these
three years have wrought such changes in
me 1 doubt should have patience for an
hour of the old trifiing. Ny greatest need
from this time on, 1 fancy, Is work. l
could never be Idle month again. And
when a man is in love with Work-and
power-and has passed forty-does he want
q constant companion? That is the point.
At my time of life power exercises the most
Irresistible and lasting Of all destinations.
A man that wins 1t has little left for a
woman.
He had reached the summit Of the rocky
outpost, the highest Of the hills where the
peninsula turned abruptly to the south,
and. scrupulously refraining from down.
ward glance at the battery Of Yerba Buena.
stood looking out over the bay to the east
ern mountains; dark, almost formless,
wrapped in the intense and menacing mys-
terry of that last hour before dawn.
"Senor" called low cautious voice.
Rezanov stepped hastily back from the
point of the bluff and glanced about in
wonder, his pulses suddenly astir. But he
could see no one.
'.Senor
This time the direction was unmistakable,
and he went to the edge Of the plateau
facing the south and looked over. Half
way down a shallow and almost perpen-
dicular gully, he saw girl forcing mus
tang up the harsh loose path. The girls
white and oval lace looked from the folds
of black reboso like the moon emerging
from clouds. and its young beauty was
out of place in that wild and forbidding
setting. She refined in her horse as she
caught his eye and beckoned superduously;
then guided her mustang to little ledge
where he could plant his feet firmly, per-
hitting her to reassume her usual pride Of
carriage and averting the danger of a sud-
den scramble or need of assistance.
AS Rezanov reached her side she gave
him a grave and friendly smile, but no
opportunity to kiss her hand.
IT have followed your excellency," she
said. II saw you leave the Juno, and as
am often up at this hour, and as no one else
ever is, my father ignores the fact that I
sometimes ride alone. have never come
as far as this before, but there is some
thing I wish to say to you,. and there is
no opportunity at home. I anked Santiago
to find me one last night, but he was In
bad temper and would not Men! How
ever-I suppose you have heard nothing Of
the cargo?'
II have not" said Rezanov grimly, al
though acutely sensible that the subject
suited neither his mood nor the hour.
But the governor hast Madre de Dios!
all the women of the Preside and the
Mission have pestered him. They are sick