Arizona state miner., 1926-08-14
CHAPTER II
El Nido and Padilla

The Rancho Ell Nido, which means
The Nest, was well named. Behind
the lee of the tall eucalypts, planted
In two rows at right angles, nestled
the building of the ranch-hOuse, built
In old Californian fashion of adobe
brick, red tiled, in the shape of a
hollow square inclosing a patiogar-
den. 1t was on a rising ground above
the stream that ran between trees
heavily mantled with wild grapevines.
About the house, and it's barns and
sheds and corraIs, grew orchard trees,
peach and apricot, almond, cherry,
walnut There were some orange and
lemon trees and a few figs. There
was a vineyard and the patio was a
riot of flowers. A spring bubbled up
in the exact center of the court and
had been confined within a stone basin
with one outlet out of which the over
flow rippled and ran under an arch
way in the foundation of the house.
The place was above all a home,
long-settled deep-rOoted, If nest,
built on the ground, as some nests
are, may be fancied to have taken
root. The place was well styled Ell
Nido.
Back to 1t, in the twilight, at the
urgent suggestion of the girls father,
q suggestion that was half command,
holding such spontaneous invitation
that it could not be refused without
q touch of churlishness, came Caleb,
returning from the stream above the
waterfall, packing a well-filled creel.
The girl rose from an outer porch
as he came up from the stream and
met him at the steps, She was trans
formed. A soft gown of white had
wrought magic and she received the
homage of Caleb's surprised and
frankly admiring gaze demurely. He
opened the lid Of the creel for her In
spectfOn.
"YOu know how to cast fly in
Massachusetts" she said. "They are
beauties. We shall have them for sup
per. Wangt'
A fat and genial Chinaman immacu-
late in white, appeared at the far end
OF the gallery, came forward and took
"Suppeh leady twenty minnit, Miss
Betty" he said as he waddled off.
"Betty-Betty Clintonw He had her
name at last and thought it suited her.
you'll want to wash up. Maria will
show you to your room.''
"My room?"
"YOu are to stay here tonight. Fa-
ther would not hear of you going.
There is no moon. 1t is three miles
down the canyon to the station at
Hayward. Seven by the road. And
there are no trains that you could
catch conveniently"
She led the way in and delivered
him to Maria, fatter than Wang, ample
of breast, triple of chin, Spanish of
look and accent
Maria" said the girl, "is the actual
ruler of Ell Nido. You must pass in
spection by Maria to be welcome here
You have fifteen minutes. We shall be
In the big room at the north end. You
can come in through the patio"
It was altogether little astounding
Caleb reflected, as he made what toilet
he could. He had come to the valley
unheralded, without mutual acquaint-
ance, without introduction and here
he was, pressed as a guest, almost as
friend. In MassachusettS-h laughed
at himself in the mirror as he fused
with his tie. This was California,
country to itself, with very pleasant
customs. And he was aware that his
welcome would be as his behavior.
But it was all very pleasant, very
Western.
The big room ran the full length of
one side of the house. At either end a
quarter was raised by two steps,
arched off, one part library and
study, the walls covered with books,
the other end more distinctly feminine
with a piano, flowers, inviting chairs
of wicker and good rugs, some pictures
on the walls. The intermediate space
was common ground, dining room and
living room combined. The place was
Lit with oil lamps in wrought-iron
brackets and with candles in branch
ing holders for the table. The meal,
with the rustling, bestarched Maria, In
black gown and white apron, superin-
tending Wang, who served as well as
he had cooked, was perfection.
The girl presided over the main
dishes. Her father, tall, erect, gray
hairad, gray Of close-clipped mustache