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

is stepped in fanaticism. You are known
far and wide as the first and most intell-
gent of his Catholic majesty's subjects In
New Spain. When you have my WORD OF
never be disturbed. 1t is impossible you
should believe that marriage with me
would ruin her chances of happiness in
the next world. But l doubt If your soul
and conscience will have the peace you de-
sire If you ruin her happiness In this.
What pleasure do you find in the thought
of an old age companioned by heart
broken daughter?
Don Jose turned pale and hitched his
chair. "Other maids have been baked
when young, and have forgotten. Concha
is but SIXTEEN
"she is also unique. She will marry me
or no one. OF that I am as certain as that
she Is the woman of women for me-"
How can you be so certain?" asked the
commandante sharply. Surely you have
had little talk alone with her?'
THE heart has a language of Its own.
Recall your own youth, senior.
1T is true said Don Jose with heavy
sigh, as he had f1eeting vision of Dona
Ignacia slim and lovely at the grating,
with a rose in her hair. But this tremen-
dous passion Of the HEARTH passes, senor
it passes. We love the good wife, but we
sometimes realize that we could have loved
another good wife as we'll"
That is bit of philosophy 1 should have
uttered myself, commandante - yesterday.
But there are women and women, and your
daughter is one of the chosen few who
take from the years what the years take
from others. l am not rushing into matri-
mony for the sake of pair of black eyes
and fine figure. l have outlived the pos
sbility of making a fool of myself If
would. Before l realized how deeply 1
loved your daughter l had deliberately
chosen her out of all the women L have
known, as my friend and companion for
the various and difficult ways of life which
I shall be called upon to follow. Your
daughter will have a high place at the
Russian court, and she will occupy it as
naturally as had I found her in Madrid
and you in the great position to which your
attachments and services entitle you"
Don Jose, despite his CONSERVATION, IT'LL
lated agreeably. He privately thought no
one in New Spain good enough for his
daughter, and his weather beaten self was
not yet insensible to the rare visitation Of
winged darts tipped with honey. But the
situation was enc of the most embarrass-
ing he had ever been called upon to face,
and perhaps for the first time in his direct
and honest life his resolution was shaken
in a crisis.
Believe me, your excellency, appreciate
the honor you have done my house, and
l will add with all my heart that never
have 1 liked any man more. But-Mother
Of God! Mother of God!'
Rezanov took out his cigarette case, a
superb bit of Russian enamel, craven with
the imperial arms and a parting gift from
Alexander. He passed 1t to his host, who
had developed preference for Russian
cigarettes
There are other things to consider be-
sides the happiness Of your daughter and
myself" he remarked. This alliance would
mean the consolidation of Spanish and Rus
sian interests on the Pacific coast 1t would
mean the protection Of California in the
almost certain event of American aggres-
sion. And 1 hear that a courier brought
word again yesterday that the Russian and
the Spanish fleets had sailed for these
AZ ok lo1f 1r1 Nff l1,,%
should it be true. 1 would remind you of
two things; that I have the powers of the
tsar himself in this part of the world. and
that the Russian fleet Is likely to arrive
first"
Again the commandante moved uneasily
The news from Mexico had kept himself
and the governor awake the better part of
the night. He fully appreciated the i'm
portance of this powerful Russians friend
ship. Nothing would bind and commit him
like taking a Californian to WIFE, If only
he had fallen in love with Caroline Ximeno
or Delfina Rivera! Don Jose had an un-
easy suspicion that his scruples a Cath
Ole might have gone down sbefore his
sense Of duty to this poor California. But
a hereto in his own family! He was just
ly renowned for his piety. Aside from the
wrath of the church. the mere thought of
one of his offspring in matrimonial COM
munity beyond its pale made him sick with
repugnance. And yet0California! And he
would have selected Rezanoy for his daugh-
ter out OF all men had he been Of their
faith. And he was deeply conscious of the
honor that had descended, HI viewer, I'M
fruitfully, upon his house. Madre de Dios!
How would 1t end? Suddenly he felt him
self inspired. In blissful ignorance of her
subtle feminine rule, he reminded himself
that Concha's mind was the child of his
own. When she saw his embarrassment,
hlial duty and womans wit would extricate
them both with grace and avert the enmity
of the Russian even though the latters
more personal interest in California must
her feel the weight of the stern paternal
hand, and then Indicate the part she had
to play.
He rang a bell and directed the servant
to summon his daughter, drew himself up
to his full height and set his rugged face
in hard lines. AS Concha entered he looked
the commandante, the stern disciplinarian,
every inch of him.
+. Thara was M fraca af the aieRfa In